What makes a good zoo?

Are the animals stimulated? 

 We recently shared our reasons for believing that zoos are crucial in the world today. However, it goes without saying that sadly, not all zoos are up to scratch, and for every zoo that does great conservation work and takes good care of the animals it has, there is usually another zoo which does not show animals the respect and care they deserve. The majority of people who go to a zoo want to know that whichever zoo they visit is a "good" zoo, that treats animals well and contributes to worthwhile conservation projects, but it can be hard to know what to look for in a "good" zoo. Here are a few pointers:

• Does the zoo operate as a charity? Many zoos in the UK and around world also work as charities. Well reputed examples of this are London and Whispsnade Zoos (Zoological Society of London), Howletts and Port Lympne (Aspinall Foundation) and Marwell. That's not to say a zoo which is not a charity does take good care of the animals it has, but before you visit, consider that your money (entrance fee, souvenirs, food and drink) might be put to better use visiting a zoo which does operate as a charity?
• Do they do conservation work? This is usually found out by a quick look-see at the zoo's website before you visit - they are usually keen (and rightly so) to shout about any conservation work that they do.
• Do they inform? A decent zoo should aim to educate the public about the animals on display, and their wild counterparts. This can be done through guidebooks, signs at enclosures, kids activities and public talks.
• Do they operate a green policy within the zoo? Are there recycling bins for example, encouraging the public to recycle their rubbish? Do products and foods that they sell come in environmentally friendly packaging? Do they charge for plastic bags to discourage use? 
• Do the animals seem content?  It's a sad fact that any animal kept in captivity is unlikely to ever have as much space to live in as it would in the wild, no matter how small the animal or how large the zoo. However, most zoo animals are born in captivity and become accustomed to their lives. But if an animal seems agitated, paces excessively or is completely inactive, it's a suggestion that the animal may not be content in its environment. Don't jump to conclusions though, the animal may be temporarily unwell or having an off day - but if this behaviour continues over a longer period of time without zookeepers attempting to intervene, then the animal may not be receiving the care it deserves.
• Do the animals have privacy? It can be frustrating to visit a zoo and find the lion is asleep and the tiger is nowhere to be seen, but the fact is that animals need their privacy, just as humans do. Enclosures should provide a good balance of "on show" and "off show" space, allowing animals to remove themselves from the public eye when they wish to, where appropriate.
• Are there animal shows? Note the difference between talks, where the public are told a little bit about the animals, and shows, where the animals are made to perform. No animal in captivity should be made to perform tricks for the public's entertainment, and any zoo that makes animals do so is to be questioned. Most zoos do train animals to do basic commands, such as stretching, lifting paws etc. This is done so that zookeepers and vets can check the health of the animal without having to get close or tranquilise it, particularly for dangerous animals such as big cats. Many zoos also hide the animals' food around enclosures, rather than handing it to them on a literal or metaphorical plate. This is often known as 'enrichment' and is to aid psychological stimulation and recreate the skills and behaviours that animals would have to use to scavenge their food in the wild.

Of course, these are just a few basic pointers for anyone unsure about visiting a zoo. If in doubt, approach the zoo and ask them - if they have nothing to hide, they will be happy to liaise with the public, and should be happy that people care enough about animals to ask.

Further resources can be found here:

EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums) has a stringent policy which all institutions must adhere to in order to retain membership. A full list of EAZA members can be seen here. 

Why do we need zoos?

In this day and age, even the most modern of zoos can seem archaic. Many people, even avid zoo supporters, are in agreement than in an ideal world, we would not need zoos. Animals would be free to roam their natural habitats without threat of poaching or extinction, but sadly this is not the case, and therefore zoos are needed.

Of course, there are many individuals and organisations who contest this viewpoint, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have had an internal debate going for some time now regarding my  beliefs about zoos and the ethics that surround them. I believe that until the day comes when zoos are no longer required,  when animals can live in the wild without threats, they are necessary. Of course, it goes without saying that all zoos should be managed and monitored to ensure that animals receive the best treatment possible, in terms of living quarters, food, stimulation and protection from intrusion, a point made only more obvious in recent months by publicity from the likes of Copenhagen Zoo, Longleat, and Seaworld.

• Safeguarding an entire species.There are only around 300 Sumatran tigers left in a small pocket of Sumatra. Similarly, there are only around 400 Asiatic lions left, in the Gir Forest in India. If either of these areas were hit by a natural disaster, such as a forest fire, or a disease epidemic, the entire sub-species could be wiped out in a matter of hours, after centuries of living on this planet. At the moment it is very rare for a captive animal to be released back into the wild, however with more research in the future, it is likely to become more common, meaning that captive animals can act as a "back up" for some of the most endangered animals in the world.
• Raising funds. Sadly, as with everything in life, it all comes down to money. A good zoo will run, or at least contribute to, conservation or research projects in the wild - all of which require funds. Zoos which operate as charities usually generate funds from admission fees, and money spent inside the zoo, such as on souvenirs and food and drink.
• Raising awareness. How passionate are you about saving the pangolin? Not very, probably, as you have never heard of, or seen, one, and probably couldn't pick it out of a line-up. Lions or tigers however, you probably have more interest in protecting, because they are more familiar to you. Zoos give people a chance to see these animals close-up. It's one thing reading about them in the newspaper, but it's hard to appreciate the true majesty of a big cat, or the true prowess of an elephant until you've seen one in the flesh. And in seeing these animals, the public become more interested in trying to save them. They are no longer a distant creature on a far off continent that has no relevance to the public's day to day live. They become real.
• Research and observation. Zoos offer researchers and scientists a chance to observe animals in close quarters, in a way they would never be able to in the wild. Learning about behaviours can help to understand the species in the wild, and the threats it faces. And yes, when animals in captivity die, as all animals do sooner or later, their deaths can be used to further existing scientific knowledge. All zoos are required, as far as possible, to provide a cause of death for each animal that dies. This is how it was discovered that silverback gorillas are particularly susceptible to heart disease - patterns of death in captive animals were recorded, and traced back to the wild.  

Wild animals banned from UK circuses

After many years of campaigning by groups including Born Free and RSPCA, a ban is being imposed on animals being used in travelling circuses in England. According to this article, there are 24 wild animals including big cats and zebras still used in circuses in the UK.

Although the practice seems somewhat outdated, animals such as lions, tigers, zebras and snakes are still used by several travelling circuses in the UK. The practice is recognised as cruel for several reasons:

• Animals are often kept in cramped cages whilst in transit.
• They are forced to perform tricks which are not natural to them
• They are subject to loud noises from the crowds, light, and special effects such as pyrotechnics, which can be scary for the.

This report, published by the RSPCA shows that circus life has a negative impact on animal welfare.

According to the BBC in July last year, some MPs believed that the then-intended ban went too far, saying that animals such as snakes and zebras* should still be allowed in UK circuses.

It is thought that Born Free and the RSPCA will help to rehome animals currently in circuses.


*On a side note, after elephants, zebras are responsible for the most human deaths in zoos worldwide, predominantly because people fail to realise how dangerous they are, and assume they can be treated the same as domestic horses.

Snakes on loose in London under threat

The Evening Standard has reported that a species of snake whose London population is on the increase is under threat of being culled.

The Aesculupian snakes were released into the Regent's Canal are in the 1990s as part of a scientific experiment. However, an increasing number of them have been seen on rooftops and in trees in recent months.

The species is capable of crushing children to death, and it is thought their presence is having an impact on the natural ecosystem of the area - they have been spotted eating rats and birds.

What do you think? Should these snakes be culled? Or is it wrong to cull a species that would not have been released into this habitat in the first place, were it not for human intervention?