When did zoos first start?
2,500 B.C. when nobility started to accumulate exotic animals. But first modern zoo as we know it opened in Vienna in 1765
What did explorers of the New World do with animals they found?
Brought home the exotic creatures, including sloths and anteaters. In Montezuma, Cortez admired the bronze cages that held jaguars and pumas
What were some initial problems with zoos?
- Nobody really cared that pack or social animals were held usually in captivity by themselves
- the animals would lose the skills that helped them survive in the wild.
- idleness in animals made animals self mutilate and were apathetic.
What came of the improvements to the treatment of the captive animals in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s?
Animals welfare started to be taken seriously and animals started to actually breed in captivity
What are some pros of zoos?
- educational tool
- captive breeding, can maintain small endangered populations, conserving them
- research
- raise funds for conservation
What are some cons of zoos?
- less genetic diversity in captive populations
- animals can imprint on humans
- time, effort and money to build and maintain habitat for animal
According to the “Ark Concept” how can plants and animals be returned to their native range? (if two things are met)
- if the human overpopulation problem stops and stabilizes so that we aren’t ruining natural habitats
- habitat restoration and rgteintroduction has been perfected
What’s wrong with the Ark Concept?
- around 60 species have been saved by being bred in captivity
What was the Dusky Seaside Sparrow?
35 pairs of the bird were recorded in the 1970’s and habitat restoration efforts were started
- captive breeding program initiated
- only 5 males were recovered and the last male died in Disney World in 1987
What did Rall and Ballou find in their research?
- studied inbreeding in animals
- animals started breeding with close relatives since there were relatively few of the species in captivity
- intense selection occurs (diseases develop)
- They came up with Species Survival Plan to computer generate mates for them based on pedigrees
?Whats wrong with Species Survival Plans? (SSP)
- For large animals, that would require a large amount of animals from the species and a large amount of land. Plus a lot of animals need SSP’s.
- Also not enough room for all the animals that need to be saved on the “ark” (zoos)
- A lot of “surplus” animals in zoos when there is already a male and female animal of a certain species, and it is expensive
What are alternatives to the “ark” concept?
- Field conservation - zoos help raise money for foreign parks. san diegos’ rubber snakes saves snakes in peru
- Education-outreach to people going to zoos
- Research-
