The Evolution of Zoos - Essay Sample

Introduction

The evolution of zoos started as early as the 1930s when scientists observed the gradual environmental degradation that has resulted in the extinction of some wildlife with some of the remaining plants and animals still facing extinction. In the early years of its inception, zoos were considered by some people as terrible places where animals were preserved for humans to enjoy. However, the move was a long-term plan for preserving some of the animal species that were deemed endangered in their natural habitat. The animals were kept in cages that were made from concrete and steel where they were provided with food and water and their environment was cleaned to keep it conducive. The early environment presented by the zoos was not conducive for their survival since they lacked natural food and enough space for roaming. Hence, some of these animals became stressed up and eventually died or failed to cope with the environment. However, as time went, things began to change and the human perception of zoos changed. The zoos gradually transformed into conducive places for the endangered species. They were enlarged and fused with natural habitat o enable the animals to ret and play. The current zoos are designed to resemble the natural habitat of the animals they contain. The natural characteristics of the animals are also enhanced by regulating their food to enable them to look for food by themselves. Public safety has also been enhanced in the zoos. For instance, the use of webcam has immensely reduced the threat posed to visitors of the park by coming directly contact with the animals. The disturbances created by human beings on the animals in the zoo have equally been minimized by the webcam. The idea of placing animals in zoos was initially viewed as unethical but with time the perception changed. Zoos are currently being viewed as conservation centers and they also act as learning centers for the current and future generations (Keulartz, 2015).

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The existence and enlargement of zoos are faced by numerous factors such as lack of resources, space, and capacity. The secondary objective of many zoos of reintroduction to the wild also faces challenges due to limited costs. The objective is also impounded by the lost necessary skills by the animals living in captivity that enable them to survive in the wild once released. The global shock of economic collapse has not just reverberated throughout the world but also through various zoos across the USA. Facing a budget shortfall of more than $15 million because of endowment losses, several zoos in the country have had to cut down the expenditure (LEES & WILCKEN, 2009). For instance, the gorillas in most zoos can no longer be provided with blueberries since they are expensive. Most zoos are freezing or cutting jobs, reducing hours of operation or eliminating programs or are making plans to effect such change during the next fiscal year. In the direst circumstances, some institutions have reduced the number of animals in their collections. For instance, in the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, two hyenas are about to be released. The zoos are also affected by the constant increase in the human population. The ever-growing population has led to limited land for wildlife. This has increased the number of animals that are facing extinction that need to be kept in zoos which are already crowded. The pieces of land that were initially allocated for zoos are currently being encroached by human beings, thus reducing the space which has resulted into a reduction in the number of animals in the zoos due to lack of enough space (Keulartz, 2015). Additionally, the increasing number of people is putting the government under pressure during budget allocation. The government has been forced to cut down its expenditure on wildlife to carter for woman needs.

It is a common knowledge that some of the animals such as polar bears and rhinos are considered to be endangered species. However, the number is not limited to the few animals that we are aware of an endangered species. There are many animals that are feared to be facing extinction. For wildlife species to be put in the endangered species list there are numerous factors that are considered. A species can be listed in the ESA through two ways. An interested person may petition the secretary of the Interior to add a species to or remove species from the lists of the endangered and threatened species. The species can also be assessed by Service biologists by using the Endangered Species Act. The species must first be added to the federal lists of threatened and endangered wildlife and plants. The list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants contain the names of all species that have been validated to be in danger and in the greatest need of federal protection. All the species that are added to the list of endangered species after being determined to be endangered or threatened must be predisposed to some specific conditions. Some of these factors are disease or predation, overutilization for commercial, scientific, educational or recreational purposes, the current or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range and the inefficiency of existing regulatory mechanisms; or other human or natural factors that are affecting its survival ("Endangered Species Act and the States," 2012).

The webcam captured the real-time behaviors of monkeys when they are not interrupted by human activities. The activities of the money as reflected in the webcam comply with the perceptions that I held about monkeys. However, direct interaction with the monkey would have resulted in a restriction of its behaviors. Hence, the application of webcam is very effective in minimizing human interruption on wildlife. The new technologically-driven monitoring and recording of wildlife by the use of webcam have both impulses. Some people view it as an extension of human domination over wildlife while other people view it as a mechanism of reducing human disturbances on the animals (Kobilinsky, 2016). In reality, there are minimal impacts of webcams and internet-based technology that enables people to encounter real wildlife in a virtual way.

Ethogram

Species: Monkeys Date: 16/3/2019 Time: (min) Behaviors (sleep, eat, play, groom) Other (Notes) Location

• 30 R The monkey is not asleep but not engaging in other behaviors HPF/HTH/HMV
• 1:00 R The monkey has eyes closed and appears to be asleep HPF/HTH/HMV
• 1:30 DD The monkey moves away when the other one approaches it HPF/HTH/HMV
• 2:00 SD The monkey is scratching its back HPF/HMH/HFV
• 2:30 SD The monkey is playing with self HPF/HMH/HFV
• 3:00 F The monkey is eating some leaves HGH/HFV
• 3:30 V The monkey curiously looks down on an object that has distracted it HGH/HFV

References

The Endangered Species Act and the States. (2012). The Endangered Species Act, 173-202. doi:10.1201/b12933-8

Keulartz, J. (2015). Captivity for Conservation? Zoos at a Crossroads. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 28(2), 335-351. doi:10.1007/s10806-015-9537-z

Kobilinsky, D. (2016).New live cam technology might help conservation. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wildlife.org/new-live-cam-technology-might-help-conservation/

LEES, C. M., & WILCKEN, J. (2009). Sustaining the Ark: the challenges faced by zoos in maintaining viable populations. International Zoo Yearbook, 43(1), 6-18. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.2008.00066.x