The lion paces, longing for some form of entertainment. Could a lone gazelle cross its path? Could a zebra wander into its den? Unfortunately, this lion is confined to its enclosure. All it sees are the gloating faces of the humans who have travelled to stare at its torment. It crumbles to the ground, succumbing to its one form of entertainment: sleep. But is that true? Is this really the life of a lion in a zoo?
Despite how the media may portray them, zoos have come a long way from their disappointing history. Animals in the captivity of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos each receive their own unique care and enrichment. Additionally, zoos–including the local Saint Louis Zoo–partake in some of the world’s most vital conservation efforts.
The Saint Louis Zoo, like many in the country, has made incredible strides within environmental protection.
“We have conservation centers around the world. We work with penguins in Peru, polar bears in Alaska, and amphibians in Ecuador,” a St. Louis Zoo worker, who chose to remain anonymous, said.
Similarly, most AZA accredited zoos work with animals does not end at their front gates, as they will participate in some form of conservation outside of their main location. Whether it be field work, rehabilitation, or research, there are teams of scientists employed by zoos to further the protection of endangered and threatened species.
So with these efforts in mind, why is it still so common for people to view zoos as prisons for wild animals? Many people see the morality surrounding the captivity of animals as cloudy.
“It depends on the zoo, and if they are keeping animals for care or for profit,” Cameryn Emberton (10) said. In the end, the zoo’s mission is the most important factor on whether or not it is truly immoral for an animal to be kept outside of the wild.
“There are plenty of [zoos] that focus on conservation, and give animals that need it the proper space,” Mark Berry (12) said.
Another common complaint about zoos is in the care the animals are receiving. Many believe the animals at the zoo should be given better enclosures or enrichment.
“I think that the facilities of the zoo could be improved,” Deveshisai Chitturi (11) said. Even zoo keepers share this feeling.
Craig Saffoe, the curator for large carnivores at the Smithsonian National Zoo, explained that, typically, “staff want to do better,” but may not have the means to do so. The workers at accredited zoos give everything they can to the animals in their care, but there is always a way an exhibit could be improved. Despite this, having room for improvement should not be mistaken for a lack of proper space or enrichment.
Each animal housed at an accredited zoo is required to have care that will fit its unique needs. What people may identify as the behavior of an animal that is bored with their environment, like resting, is not proof of poor care.
“Just because an animal is resting does not mean that they are not engaged with their environment,” the anonymous zoo worker said. “We like when they can rest.”
Saffoe explains people tend to “romanticize life in the wild.” They forget that many behaviors animals exhibit in the wild are their efforts to stay alive. In an environment where a species no longer faces the threat of starvation, they do not need to stay alert like they would in their natural environment.
“I wish people knew that it takes more than what you are seeing… There are many people working behind the scenes,” the anonymous St. Louis Zoo worker said.
At the end of the day, the public is never able to fully comprehend the care each animal is receiving during their visit. It’s necessary for those who visit the zoo to recognize the time and energy spent caring for these animals. No matter an individual’s belief about the morality of maintaining animals outside of the wild, it is a fact that zoos are integral to the overall conservation of endangered species.
