Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Welfare
When
it comes to zoos and aquariums and the welfare of their animals, it seems that
everyone has an opinion. There are those who support them – more than 700
million yearly visitors worldwide. And those who oppose them – look at the
furor stirred up last year over the movie about killer whales and the recent
killing of a healthy giraffe at a Danish zoo
So, should we do away with zoos and aquariums
or is their contribution to public enlightenment and to conservation just too
compelling? In the United States alone, zoos and aquariums have spent more than
a billion dollars on field conservation projects over the last 10 years. Who
else can say that?
I
would like to explore this issue in some detail, visiting cities in North
America and Europe and talking to the people at the center of this controversy
– the zoo keepers, the animal rights activists, and the public at-large. The goal of the project is to begin a rational
discussion that explores what is truly best for the animals. I will explore
these issues and set up an ongoing, international forum for discussion – a
discussion that will take place via social media and a series of on-line seminars.
I would also like to develop a think-tank of people with open minds, clear
thinking, long-term vision, and compassion for animals to come together with a
common purpose – to preserve animal populations that are at the mercy of the
relentless advance of human civilization.
A Vision for the Future of Animals in Captivity
Perhaps we can develop standards of
protection similar to the United Nations’ Declaration of Rights for Indigenous
Peoples (which protects the rights and dignities of those human populations
that cannot defend themselves) while ensuring that the valuable contributions
of zoos, marine parks, and aquariums are honored and supported. .
How
do we stop the decline of species on a planet that is hungry for human space? I
don’t have all of the answers, but I want to ask the questions.
