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The original was posted on /r/hobbydrama by /u/KingOfTheUzbeks on 2024-08-29 03:14:34+00:00.
I’m pretty sure you know what these places are. They are defined by Wikipedia as “a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes.” I’m sure you could find Zoos that are excluded by this definition and non-Zoos that are included. But this is not a Hobby Drama about the definition of Zoo.
Zoos are traditionally thought of as something that if not exclusively for children, are very much a family activity. But, if there is one thing r/hobbydrama has taught me, it’s that the Internet has an inexhaustible amount of adults unhealthily interested in things. (That’s me, I’m the guy unhealthily interested in zoos.)
Of course, Zoos are not just niche blog subjects, or a toy line forgotten by all but a hardcore few. They are a big deal out in the real world. American Zoos combined to over 183 Million visitors in 2018. Which is more than Disney World manages, although obviously there are a lot more zoos than there are Disney Worlds. (Although one quarter of Disney World is just a zoo with some rides…)
Most Zoos are some form of non-profit entity. Some are owned and operated by cities (Como Zoo in Saint Paul), states (Minnesota Zoo in Minnesota), and even the Federal Government (the National Zoo via the Smithsonian). Others are owned and operated by non-profits with very close links to the local community (Detroit Zoo in Detroit). So drama at the zoo is drama involving something held in trust for the people.
Zoos also have animals in them. Many of them cute. Some of them endangered. People like cute, endangered, animals. So if anything might happen the animals, well…that’s a big deal too.
So when Zoo drama goes down, yes the forums talk about it. But it’s also going to get picked up by the media.
So, without further ado, here is the tale of how one of the most respected zoos in America went through the wringer, and lost a lot of respect along the way.
What Makes A Good Zoo?
But first, let’s talk about what makes a zoo respected in the first place.
Zoos have always held themselves a bit above things like circuses in terms of animal care, but If you look back at old enough zoo photos, you will cringe and you will feel sad. Cages everywhere. Animals trapped on slabs of concrete. This is not a long gone issue either.
Until 2007 they were keeping an Elephant in Alaska. And if you Google “Blackfish” you’ll learn some terrible terrible things if you haven’t already.
Even leaving aside obvious abuse, there is a growing understanding that keeping certain animals well comes to mind takes a lot of time, manpower, space, and money. Elephants, Great Apes, and Dolphins, for example, are increasingly being chased out of small operations that lack resources to properly care for them.
In this context, who watches the watchmen?
In some cases, the Federal Government regulates Zoos. The Department of Agriculture has regulations relating to the care and upkeep of animals, under the Animals Welfare Act. The US Fish and Wildlife Service handles animals covered by the Endangered Species Act, including the international CITIES(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) framework. The EPA has a hand, what with the dangers of invasive species and such. OSHA, also, regulates Zoos, although more on the employee side. Apparently large carnivorous animals can be considered “safety hazards” by the federal government. State agencies may add additional layers.
However this is a fairly patchwork set up, hardly a comprehensive guide to running a zoo. Different acts and different agencies, none of whom see zoos as their number one focus. Meeting the bare minimum standard is not ideal for producing a good experience for guests or a friendly environment for animals.
If, hypothetically, you were to buy a zoo like Matt Damon did in We Bought a Zoo and merely obeyed the above guidelines you could open a zoo. Or a wildlife sanctuary. But it would not necessarily be a good one.
Think Tiger King. Or the sort of conditions that proceed a plucky child freeing the animals in a movie. These sorts of operations often have deep links to the illegal exotic pet trades, and have a generally poor record of health and safety for animals and humans alike. Among hardcore zoo people being labeled a “roadside zoo” is among the harshest criticisms imaginable.
This is where the AZA comes in. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums is the big name you need to remember, when it comes to zoo accreditation.
The AZA, is, as the name suggests, an association of the top tier of zoos in the United States. They have their own set of standards. And not just for zoos in general. Many animals have their own Animal Care Manuals published by the AZA. For example the ACM for the Greater Roadrunner (meep meep) requires:
- Limits on the temperature of their exhibit (between 40° and 100° F)
- Features their exhibit (must have places to perch, hide, and run)
- Recordkeeping of the birth, life, and death of every roadrunner in captivity.
- Each bird must be identifiable
- Nutritional Tables be followed
- Veterinary care
- Any shared exhibits be restricted to a given list of other animals
And much more. And this is an animal that is neither endangered, nor a major attraction for zoos or concern of the public.
There are even more stringent requirements for certain animals (elephants, dolphins) as well as animal ambassadors. Those are the animals that keepers might bring out for a show, or to pet, or to schools, or to lobby politicians. Since animal ambassadors are moved around a lot and face new environments, they often have a lot of stress. So there are additional requirements for them. More documentation, more costs because having compliant transportation is pricey, and to cap it all off all of the really eye-catching animals (apes, big cats) are not particularly viable to bring out as ambassadors.
Moving animals around in general is, as you might expect, something of a hassle both for the animals and for the zoos in question. But it happens all the time, via the animal exchange system.
The AZA generally tried to avoid straight “cash for animals” exchanges. Instead they tend to utilize transfers between members. Sometimes these are just temporary transfers, “we’re renovating, can you hold our rhinos for a bit,” or “can we borrow a male Zebra so we can breed our mares.” Others are more permanent swaps. A wolverine for one of your pumas to replace the lynx that died. Transfers can fill empty exhibits and free up overpopulated ones.
AZA rules require that “animals are not transferred to those not qualified to care for them properly”. Transfers to non-AZA members ARE allowed, but require due diligence, and support from AZA members familiar with the destination facility. AZA members are also supposed to take care in who they get their animals from, vetting them carefully to avoid creating demand for the illegal animal trade.
Animal transfers are also managed by Species Survival Plans. These are, well, plans to help a species survive. Drawn up under AZA guidance, these SSPs look at current population, genetic outlook, breeding success and other factors. Animals under SSP are moved around in the hopes of a successful captive breeding program, often being loaned instead of fully transferred. There is a large degree of micromanagement in this process, but it has led to success. Successful reintroductions, like the California Condor and the Black Footed Ferret have their roots in AZA SSP breeding programs. Many big name animals have SSPs, elephants, komodo dragons, giraffes, hippos, and tigers for example. Not every animal with a SSP is actually part of the SSP program (see the tigers in Tiger King) but participation in the AZA and SSP is one of the few ways of getting these animals for a zoo.
Compliance with SSP and AZA requirements can be expensive and complicated. In the interests of ensuring animals have homes that are not going to get foreclosed soon, the AZA requires financial disclosure as well. Revenue, plans for a catastrophic decrease in revenue, leadership that is engaged with the conservation mission. One way of getting funding is AZA grants, including SSP program supports, which of course are only available for AZA members.
It’s you’re thinking “hey this is kinda like a cartel” you are not alone. The AZA has been criticized for keeping anim…
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