Animal deaths or injuries at zoos often result in renewed debate about whether wild animals should be kept in captivity. Recently, the deaths of over 40 cownose stingrays at the Calgary Zoo and the death of a visitor at the San Francisco Zoo stirred up more questions on whether animals should be kept for public viewing.
While the institutions often tout their educational programs as one of the many reasons for people, and especially children, to visit, saying they can learn a great deal about animals from zoos, Rob Laidlaw, executive director of Zoocheck Canada, a national wild animal protection charity, disputes this argument.
"The menagerie-style zoo, like Toronto and Calgary, emerged in the 19th century in Paris and London and Berlin. This concept emerged at a time when there was no international travel, there was no internet, there was limited access to books for most people, there was no television, there was no Discovery Channel.
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The reality is that it’s simply a much more entrancing and exciting experience when these amazing creatures are just feet away from you. Not in a picture or a movie but almost within reach. And it’s that environment that generates the desire to learn, which isn’t something that’s going to happen flipping channels.
Hi Matt,
I agree. I don’t think zoos are outdated. Television really can’t give the same sensory experience that being within a few feet of a living wild animal can.
My favorite part of zoos have always been the petting zoos, because then you can really touch and interact with the animals. I wish ordinary people like me could interact this closely with all sorts of animals, but I know it usually takes a lot of training and still poses risk. A tiger petting zoo would be a lawsuit waiting to happen (but I would be willing to risk it)!
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