Zoos

A zoological garden is an establishment housing collections of both wild and domestic animals that are exhibited to the public. Zoos reflect the curiosity and intrigue of humankind toward our animal kingdom. Zoos also reflect our responsibility as a species to promote conservation through education and make an attempt to manage our globe by studying the species within. Modern trends include perfecting husbandry techniques for many exotic species and carefully managing captive breeding programs. A key focus of zoos is the breeding of endangered species in captivity, while meticulously managing their gene pools, functioning as a modern “Noah's Ark.” Zoos are capable of sustaining viable populations of endangered species, even after the animals have disappeared from the wild.

The current trend in zoos is to display animals in simulated natural environments. This provides a more beneficial environment for the resident animals, while also immersing the public in many unique ecosystems, such as an African Savannah. Most large cities currently have zoological reserves, and many serve as centers of research for conservation and the study of exotic animals. Centers of research include London (Regents Park), New York City (The Bronx Zoo), San [Page 2366]Francisco (San Francisco Zoo), Paris (Jardin des Plantes,Jardin d'Acclimatation, and Bois de Boulogne), Honolulu (The Honolulu Zoo), Melbourne (Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens), Rome (Zoological Garden of Rome), and Berlin (Tiergarten). A zoo can be a municipality owned by the city, privately owned, or managed by a nonprofit zoological society or a combination of several. For example, the Honolulu Zoo is owned by the City and County of Honolulu, but also has a nonprofit branch, the Honolulu Zoological Society, to assist its efforts in conservation and education.

Source: © iStockphoto/Kevin Tate.

The purpose of a zoo has many facets, including entertainment, education, conservation, research, and captive breeding programs. In the past, zoos were only looked at as a source of entertainment. The current focus of zoos has become much more complex. A zoo's responsibility is multifaceted, including research on rare and endangered species, conservation efforts on all continents, and education of the public to increase people's awareness of global issues and responsibilities. The American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AZA), founded in 1924, is the main accreditation body in North America and the Pacific. With 214 accredited institutions and more than 6,000 members, AZA supports the advancement of zoos and aquariums, holding zoos to high standards, as well as managing captive breeding programs. The AZA has the profound potential to promote and fund conservation and education efforts, benefiting both species and habitat conservation. The Honolulu Zoo is an accredited AZA member, reflecting high zoological standards in its mission statement: “to foster an appreciation of our living world, with an emphasis on tropical ecosystems, by serving as a center for environmental education, biology study, and recreation and conservation activities.”

The practice of keeping wild animals in captivity is an ancient idea. Stone tablets found in the Sumerian city of Ur, dated to around 2300 BC,document the establishment and management of the earliest known animal park. In ancient Egypt, wild animals were regarded as objects of wealth, and were presented as gifts to the pharaohs. Around 1500 BC, the pharaoh Tuthmosis III (1501–1447 BC) imported many animals to Egypt and maintained his own collection. Queen Hatshephut, his stepmother, organized expeditions to capture wild animals. In 1490 BC, Queen Hatshephut sent an expedition to the coast of present-day Somalia, bringing back monkeys and exotic birds for the royal animal park.

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