Impact on visitors:
As a general understanding, visitors gain a positive experience from visiting a zoo or aquarium. When it comes to the actual impact that the experience has on the individual’s understanding and action towards conservation and wildlife, there is a little more debate going on. An important study done in 2006 by the AZA reports that visits to these facilities “prompt individuals to reconsider their role in environmental problems and conservation action, and to see themselves as part of the solution,” (Vehrs, 2). If this is the case, than zoos and aquariums are serving their full potential. However, is report really accurate? Many skeptics, such as Dr. Lori Marino, argue it is flawed due to “significant methodological weaknesses” in the report. One example of a weakness is that “they maintained a refusal log… [however] they did not report any of the results from this log…” which means that the sample was not random, despite what the report claimed (Marino, 129). With these back-and-forth’s, it is hard to know which study to believe, but in order to understand exactly how visitors are absorbing the experience and information, it is necessary to understand the different types of visitors that are attending these places.
As previously mentioned, one main benefit of these facilities is that they bring families together and provide an important opportunity for teachers and students. Visiting these places has been popular among families and children for a long time. Most zoo’s and aquariums target their efforts towards young children because children will bring in the most money. Aside from the societal benefit of family bonding and monetary gain, zoos and aquariums have one focus right: Children. The experience zoos and aquariums provide to children is a very important part of their developmental life. Many studies have been done to show how exposure to certain things at a young age is a major staple in human life. Zoos and aquariums provide a means for children to learn to appreciate and respect things, (not things they can own, possess, or control) which is a major part of emotional development. With this understanding, “animals [are] potential targets of children’s moral reasoning and behavior,” making development of the human-animal relationship at a young age important for children’s understanding of not only animals, but other humans as well (Melson, 82).
To get an example of how people engage with and react to the animals and displays provided at these facilities, an observation was done earlier this year at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Some results of this observation can be seen in the chart below.
As a general understanding, visitors gain a positive experience from visiting a zoo or aquarium. When it comes to the actual impact that the experience has on the individual’s understanding and action towards conservation and wildlife, there is a little more debate going on. An important study done in 2006 by the AZA reports that visits to these facilities “prompt individuals to reconsider their role in environmental problems and conservation action, and to see themselves as part of the solution,” (Vehrs, 2). If this is the case, than zoos and aquariums are serving their full potential. However, is report really accurate? Many skeptics, such as Dr. Lori Marino, argue it is flawed due to “significant methodological weaknesses” in the report. One example of a weakness is that “they maintained a refusal log… [however] they did not report any of the results from this log…” which means that the sample was not random, despite what the report claimed (Marino, 129). With these back-and-forth’s, it is hard to know which study to believe, but in order to understand exactly how visitors are absorbing the experience and information, it is necessary to understand the different types of visitors that are attending these places.
As previously mentioned, one main benefit of these facilities is that they bring families together and provide an important opportunity for teachers and students. Visiting these places has been popular among families and children for a long time. Most zoo’s and aquariums target their efforts towards young children because children will bring in the most money. Aside from the societal benefit of family bonding and monetary gain, zoos and aquariums have one focus right: Children. The experience zoos and aquariums provide to children is a very important part of their developmental life. Many studies have been done to show how exposure to certain things at a young age is a major staple in human life. Zoos and aquariums provide a means for children to learn to appreciate and respect things, (not things they can own, possess, or control) which is a major part of emotional development. With this understanding, “animals [are] potential targets of children’s moral reasoning and behavior,” making development of the human-animal relationship at a young age important for children’s understanding of not only animals, but other humans as well (Melson, 82).
To get an example of how people engage with and react to the animals and displays provided at these facilities, an observation was done earlier this year at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Some results of this observation can be seen in the chart below.
As expected, children were the prominent age group found at the aquarium. Circumstantially, adults (ages 20 and older) were the next two categories of visitors. This accounted for the parents, teachers, and random adult couples that were attending there. Surprisingly enough, through the entire observation, not one teenager was seen. In an interview with biology professor, Jason*, from Plainwell High School, this coincidence is explained. “When you’re a child, everything is new and exciting. You are the most impressionable when it comes to learning about other species. Then, when you are older, an adult, you are not as awe stricken, but you have wisdom and the knowledge that it is important. Teenagers on the other hand, are at a point in human life where interactions with peers and navigating the social, human world is the most important thing," (Jason, 2014). This couldn’t make more sense since teens go through such a crucial turning pint in their lives, its understandable that attention to things like wildlife conservation wouldn’t be on their list of priorities. For children, keeping them engaged in the mission of the aquarium proved equally as difficult. Unsurprisingly, most of the children visiting swarmed to the tanks that held fish most familiar to them, and completely bypassed the interactive displays in front of each tank that told them more about the different species. “I often feel the urge to try and educate my kids and actively explain about the animals, but I don’t do it all the time. I sort of wish there were more staff walking around and engaging the kids,” said Holly when asked her about how zoos and aquariums could improve their educational efforts (Benson, 2014).
Impact on the Animals:
Although there are many good aspects to zoos and aquariums, there are many areas that need to be improved but are often overlooked. One argument is that they send a false message about wildlife. People believe that the facilities give a false impression of the animals they are trying to educate the public on. Zoos and aquariums engage in “censoring nature”, that is, certain animal behaviors and husbandry practices are kept from the public eye for the sake of not offending anyone. However, it defeats the purpose of educating the public on the true nature of wild animals. Real animal behaviors are hidden, “despite the potential contribution that revealing such realities to the public might make toward their educational mission,” (Grazian, 558).
Not only doe zoos and aquariums falsify the raw experience of nature, some critics also argue that they create a conservation fallacy. By having endangered and wild animals readily and easily available for the public to view, the reality of habitat loss and endangered species isn’t a tangible threat. “A zoo filled with empty cages might be a more realistic way to convey impending loss of species,” (Bradshaw, 26). Bradshaw also points out that attempts by zoos to re-introduce animals back into the wild in attempt at conservation efforts also falls short. The stress of confinement for an animal often destroys its mental health and usually results in the animal being unable to adjust to the wild.
Although there are many good aspects to zoos and aquariums, there are many areas that need to be improved but are often overlooked. One argument is that they send a false message about wildlife. People believe that the facilities give a false impression of the animals they are trying to educate the public on. Zoos and aquariums engage in “censoring nature”, that is, certain animal behaviors and husbandry practices are kept from the public eye for the sake of not offending anyone. However, it defeats the purpose of educating the public on the true nature of wild animals. Real animal behaviors are hidden, “despite the potential contribution that revealing such realities to the public might make toward their educational mission,” (Grazian, 558).
Not only doe zoos and aquariums falsify the raw experience of nature, some critics also argue that they create a conservation fallacy. By having endangered and wild animals readily and easily available for the public to view, the reality of habitat loss and endangered species isn’t a tangible threat. “A zoo filled with empty cages might be a more realistic way to convey impending loss of species,” (Bradshaw, 26). Bradshaw also points out that attempts by zoos to re-introduce animals back into the wild in attempt at conservation efforts also falls short. The stress of confinement for an animal often destroys its mental health and usually results in the animal being unable to adjust to the wild.
The Need for Hands-On:
With the need for constant entertainment in a society with little patience and a self-centered attitude, zoos and aquariums are becoming more and more commercialized. Emphasis on animal welfare is often swept under the rug to make room for new and exciting interactive exhibits for visitors. But what are these exhibits accomplishing? The simple answer seems to be that they are simply providing entertainment for the viewer, with little educational purposes. Other than the food and souvenir kiosks everywhere you turn, consumerism is apparent in how the animals are used as well. Visitors want to be hands-on with the animals, and to comply, zoos and aquariums set up displays where you can directly interact with the animals, such as animal petting and feeding. These sort of interactions can be traumatic for the animals involved, however. In the previously mentioned observation, the catfish petting room showed the dysfunction first hand. Children swarmed around the petting pool yelling and grabbing at the fish, which were showing obvious signs of stress. While a staff member stood by repeating instructions to “be gentle” and trying to engage the kids in learning more about the fish, it wasn’t very effective since her voice was barely heard.
Other than hands-on activities, most zoos and aquariums offer some sort of show in which the animals perform. This seems to be the biggest cause on controversy among animal rights activists especially involving the debate about killer whales and Sea World. The film Blackfish highlights the corruption within the marine park industry, focusing on orcas. Whales are kept in unnatural environments that are particularly unaccommodating for them and then they are forced to show for the entertainment of the paying customers. The film points out that "all whales in captivity have a bad life. They’re all emotionally destroyed. They’re all psychologically traumatized. So they’re ticking time bombs,” (Blackfish, 2013). Although denounced by SeaWorld itself, for obvious reasons, the film provides exposure to many truths that occur behind the scenes. It makes one question what the importance of these animal shows are. Are they teaching the public anything about the natural behavior of these animals? In short, no. So why are they so popular and available? The answer is obvious. People will pay big bucks to come sea a great big seemingly wild beast be tamed for the sake of entertaining them. This mentality is the closest to the original corrupted driving force behind the first animals on display mentioned in the history portion.
With the need for constant entertainment in a society with little patience and a self-centered attitude, zoos and aquariums are becoming more and more commercialized. Emphasis on animal welfare is often swept under the rug to make room for new and exciting interactive exhibits for visitors. But what are these exhibits accomplishing? The simple answer seems to be that they are simply providing entertainment for the viewer, with little educational purposes. Other than the food and souvenir kiosks everywhere you turn, consumerism is apparent in how the animals are used as well. Visitors want to be hands-on with the animals, and to comply, zoos and aquariums set up displays where you can directly interact with the animals, such as animal petting and feeding. These sort of interactions can be traumatic for the animals involved, however. In the previously mentioned observation, the catfish petting room showed the dysfunction first hand. Children swarmed around the petting pool yelling and grabbing at the fish, which were showing obvious signs of stress. While a staff member stood by repeating instructions to “be gentle” and trying to engage the kids in learning more about the fish, it wasn’t very effective since her voice was barely heard.
Other than hands-on activities, most zoos and aquariums offer some sort of show in which the animals perform. This seems to be the biggest cause on controversy among animal rights activists especially involving the debate about killer whales and Sea World. The film Blackfish highlights the corruption within the marine park industry, focusing on orcas. Whales are kept in unnatural environments that are particularly unaccommodating for them and then they are forced to show for the entertainment of the paying customers. The film points out that "all whales in captivity have a bad life. They’re all emotionally destroyed. They’re all psychologically traumatized. So they’re ticking time bombs,” (Blackfish, 2013). Although denounced by SeaWorld itself, for obvious reasons, the film provides exposure to many truths that occur behind the scenes. It makes one question what the importance of these animal shows are. Are they teaching the public anything about the natural behavior of these animals? In short, no. So why are they so popular and available? The answer is obvious. People will pay big bucks to come sea a great big seemingly wild beast be tamed for the sake of entertaining them. This mentality is the closest to the original corrupted driving force behind the first animals on display mentioned in the history portion.
*Name has been changed.