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There are thousands of animals across the globe that call zoos their homes. Depending on the size of the facility and the number of animals in their care, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums can spend between $500,000 and $20 million (or more) on animals every year. Zookeepers and animal carers play an essential role in ensuring these animals are cared for.
Just like every human is different, each animal from each species is unique. Caring for them requires a special approach, as what works for some may not work for others. No wonder the zookeepers have their favorite and least favorite furry beings to care for.
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Every species presents a new challenge. For instance, hippos are pretty messy, grumpy, and also quite aggressive. Surprisingly, though, hippo attacks on humans (including zookeepers) are underreported. But they can occur frequently, especially in captivity.
The gentle giants, aka elephants, also have a dark side and are difficult to care for. A PLOS One study found that numerous zoo-housed elephants exhibited stereotypic behaviors due to inadequate space and social environments.
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It’s already been established that caring for some animals can be challenging. However, a Frontiers study surveyed 1695 animal care and health professionals and found that these individuals report higher levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout and lower levels of professional fulfillment than other zoo staff and volunteers.
Heavy workload and the emotional toll of animal loss are the driving factors for this emotional stress these professionals face. Experiencing the loss so closely does induce grief, even if the worker might not have been a huge fan of that animal.
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However, the bigger question is the toll zoos take on animals’ mental well-being. The debate over keeping them in captivity or in their natural habitats is longstanding, as experts have supported both positions.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing zoos and aquariums in conservation, education, science, and recreation. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums meet the highest standards in animal care and welfare and provide a fun, safe, and educational family experience. The trouble is that not all zoos adhere to ethical animal conservation.
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‘They reek like the strongest human B.O. you could imagine. Major risk for zoonosis because they are so closely related to us. They are on the short list of animals I would never apply to work with. They are fun to watch… from far away.
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‘I would say any of the primates or monkeys but more specifically Baboons.
‘They live for destruction, the episode of the Simpsons where Ned ends up in a Baboon enclosure is 100% accurate.
They are just total bastards with no redeeming qualities.
European Wildlife Conservation believes that the role of zoos is more than just displaying animals; they are also meant to fund conservation, breed endangered species, and inspire people to actually care about wildlife. They let visitors connect with animals in close proximity. Besides, their breeding programs have saved species from extinction.
On the other hand, some zoos often harm animals through confinement. They also spend barely any funds on wildlife conservation, instead pocketing them. Even their breeding programs hardly help any species that can’t survive back in the wild.
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‘But they never, ever want to be friends with you no matter how much you feed them. They hate being touched. No amount of trying to tame them will ever get them past aloof indifference.
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Wildlife biologist Stephanie Manka points out the differences between ethical and unethical zoos. “Ethical zoos are those that prioritize animal welfare, education, and conservation efforts above profits. They are run by non-profits or the government and have AZA accreditation.”
“Meanwhile, unethical zoos are largely run by private individuals and non-professionals. Therefore, one individual usually makes decisions about the animals and enclosures, and these decisions do not need to be approved by animal experts or professionals. Owners frequently make decisions by determining what is most profitable, not by what is best for the animals,” she adds.
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‘I love them but the smell is not worth the cuteness for me.
‘Pair the ultra-fast metabolism of a creature that eats 25% of its body mass in raw fish every day with superpowered ferret-like scent glands, and you get an animal that’s real efficient at turning fish into goopy piles of fish-gut-anal-gland-poo-goo and spreading it everywhere to help mark territory.’
When animals are being exploited in this manner, it’s important that visitors like us fight back for their rights. After all, isn’t caring about nature the whole point of zoos? The Nature Conscious Tourism Initiative offers helpful tips folks can use to take action against unethical zoos.
They can exist only if the money keeps flowing. Instead of boycotting all zoos, supporting the good ones, like the AZA-accredited facilities, is the first step. If enough people spend their money right, the unethical ones will struggle to stay open.
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