Some people believe that zoos are vital because of their conservation efforts. Zoo professionals are pundits on breeding small numbers of an endangered species. Their knowledge and efforts to save imperil species make their jobs and the system of zoos essential to these species’ well-being. Zoo professionals use their expertise to save endangered species through “[collaborating] with organizations worldwide on conservation breeding, habitat preservation, community development, public education and research.” (hyperlink https://www.stlzoo.org/conservation/) The Species Survival Plan (SSP) help animal specialist to get results. The Saint Louis Zoo cites that they have “witnessed dozens of cheetah births at the Zoo, hatched and reared endangered Micronesian kingfisher” (hyperlink https://www.stlzoo.org/conservation/) as a result of their preservation endeavors made through the SSP.
Kelly Traw questions “How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?” (hyperlink https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-zoos-help-endangered-animals/) in her article published in Scientific American. She accredits the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA’s) (hyperlink https://www.aza.org/assets/2332/aza_arcshighlights_2015_web1.pdf) with maintaining healthy, once endangered populations that are now stable. AZA publishes their triumphs in an annual report each year. The astonishing numbers this association reports make the function of zoos seem undeniable. For instance, in 2015 alone AZA reports that 700 species benefitted from conservation action, 227 of those listen under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The benefits that animals reap from AZA and the SSP make people believe zoos are essentially beneficial to animals.
Supporters of zoos because of their conservation efforts cite success stories that programs like AZA and SSP have helped to achieve. Michael Schwartz, a journalist and African wildlife conservation researcher, fixates on one specific zoo, among many, that has made a difference in his article entitled “How One U.S. Zoo is Supporting African Wildlife Conservation” published in the National Geographic (hyperlink http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/21/how-one-u-s-zoo-is-supporting-african-wildlife-conservation/). He recalls a somber time when zoos were only made for entertainment of humans and not at all for the well-being of animals, but he states that things have changed for the best. In his article, he singles out the Seneca Park Zoo. This particular zoo has been wildly successful in maintaining the welfare of animals, wildlife rehabilitation, and facilitating in projects in countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Madagascar.
Animal activists, such as Schwartz, believe “Conservation problems are human challenges,”. People who are in the industry of caring directly for animal welfare are not only vital to the health of animals but also a duty of humans to protect animals we are able to.
Kelly Traw questions “How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?” (hyperlink https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-zoos-help-endangered-animals/) in her article published in Scientific American. She accredits the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA’s) (hyperlink https://www.aza.org/assets/2332/aza_arcshighlights_2015_web1.pdf) with maintaining healthy, once endangered populations that are now stable. AZA publishes their triumphs in an annual report each year. The astonishing numbers this association reports make the function of zoos seem undeniable. For instance, in 2015 alone AZA reports that 700 species benefitted from conservation action, 227 of those listen under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The benefits that animals reap from AZA and the SSP make people believe zoos are essentially beneficial to animals.
Supporters of zoos because of their conservation efforts cite success stories that programs like AZA and SSP have helped to achieve. Michael Schwartz, a journalist and African wildlife conservation researcher, fixates on one specific zoo, among many, that has made a difference in his article entitled “How One U.S. Zoo is Supporting African Wildlife Conservation” published in the National Geographic (hyperlink http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/21/how-one-u-s-zoo-is-supporting-african-wildlife-conservation/). He recalls a somber time when zoos were only made for entertainment of humans and not at all for the well-being of animals, but he states that things have changed for the best. In his article, he singles out the Seneca Park Zoo. This particular zoo has been wildly successful in maintaining the welfare of animals, wildlife rehabilitation, and facilitating in projects in countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Madagascar.
Animal activists, such as Schwartz, believe “Conservation problems are human challenges,”. People who are in the industry of caring directly for animal welfare are not only vital to the health of animals but also a duty of humans to protect animals we are able to.