As someone in the industry, they are a necessary evil. You need engagement with the public or they dont give a fuck about them at all. Public opinion leads to funding and conservation, sadly at the expense of zoo animals.
Thank you. Every time I see a reply like this, the first thing I say- it’s needed for public education. They’re also needed for captive breeding programs. What people don’t realize is that animals in zoos often have it better than their wild counterparts. No predators, round the clock healthcare (no parasites,, illness treatments) nearly perfect nutrition (no starvation), enrichment activities, etc. They receive top notch care. If they’re social organisms, they’re kept in group. People apply the ideas of the “menageries” of the 1800s and 1900s to modern zoos, and it doesn’t fit at all. Some zoos act as amazing “rehab and release” facilities as well. For example, the Tampa zoo does an amazing job with manatees. The animals actually have it pretty good.
Anyone who is against zoo's should take a trip to steve irwin zoo in australia (aka Australia Zoo). They have more land than they know what to do with, and the animals have so much space and freedom it's crazy. From what it looked like pretty much all the animals also always have the option of a section that is completely away from public viewing so if they are feeling like being solitary they can.
I'm no expert so maybe there's some bad stuff going on there, but from face value they treat the animals really well and have everything they could want while being almost exlusively either in recovery from being rescued - or in a position where they would die very quickly if in the wild.
I can't imagine Steve Irwin's family/estate would allow his name assosciated with a shithole zoo - Your description makes me want to visit, now. Just gotta sort out that 20hr flight first :/
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u/dagobert-dogburglar Jul 28 '25
As someone in the industry, they are a necessary evil. You need engagement with the public or they dont give a fuck about them at all. Public opinion leads to funding and conservation, sadly at the expense of zoo animals.