Zoos, aquariums and marine parks are amongst the most common tourist attractions in the world and are often maligned in the simplistic black and white argument that no animal should ever be caged and they are therefore unethical.
This is an understandable base response but again, is too simplistic to be the answer.
The truth is many zoos and aqauriums do a fantastic job at maintaining excellent animal welfare standards that conform to international regulations and the high standards set by WAZA, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, contributing to conservation efforts internationally monitored breeding programmes and providing education to the general public. Quite frankly without the funding from this traditional side of the wildlife tourism industry there would be no conservation efforts worldwide and many species would now be extinct.
That isn’t to say however that all zoos and aquariums are good. There are also many zoos, aquariums and marine parks out there that in no way conform to international standards nor care for the animals welfare and should be shut down with extreme prejudice. Thanks in part to a lack of uniformity in the way different countries regulate and run them, in many zoos and animal attractions around the world it is not uncommon to see small and inappropriate cages or enclosures, substandard conditions, ill treatment, poor care and even cruel training practices in order to get the animals to perform. It is absolutely abbhorrent, but it is far too simplistic to tar all facilities with the same brush.
The same is true for animal sanctuaries too. The same simplistic argument that castigates all zoos as bad often states that all sanctuaries are good. Even the term sanctuary itself implies safety, welfare and care. In many cases this is absolutely true, there are many facilities around the world that use the money from tourism to buy land for animals and care for their welfare, often even rescuing animals from substandard zoos or private collections. Again, unfortunately this isn’t always the case, with many so called sanctuaries simply using the term as a way to greenwash their bad, exploitative facility and make a quick buck. There are many that are nothing more than baby farms, that line up a constant stream of cute lion cubs for tourists to take photos with, but hiding the fact that this constant stream of cubs mean the older lions are sold on for roadside zoos or more often canned hunting. There are others that promise they are rescuing orangutans or elephants from a life of torture, and then have them perform for tourists pleasure.
It is not always easy to tell the good from the bad, and it is difficult to do the right research beforehand and know what type of facility you are visiting. Unfortunately there are always going to be times you don’t get it right either, some of the greenwashing involved can be very convincing, but it is essential that you try to make the right choice and only support and visit zoos, sanctuaries and animal attractions with demonstrable efforts towrad suitable and correct animal care and conservation.
The Horrible Truth About Animal Sanctuaries.
Responsible Orang Utan Spotting In Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
Visiting The Dragos Voda Bison Reserve In Romania.
Why Zoos Are An Important Part Of Responsible Wildlife Tourism.
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