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vegannerdgirl: princessofharte: lovedrugsandfanfic: coffeeandufos: cephalopodvictorious: useless-zoofacts: 6 zoo myths that arent true Most behaviors that you see keepers demonstrate at the zoo or aquarium are natural behaviors that the animals do in the wild. When the animals do them, the keepers give them a treat and pair it with a gesture or a word, so that they associate them, and eventually the word or gesture is enough to elicit the behavior because the animal knows that there’s a reward. But here’s the thing: most of those behaviors are encouraged because they help veterinarians and keepers do health checks. Yeah, its cute when they nose boop the stick, but also keepers need to check their vision and depth perception and mobility. Sea lions are so cute when they wave! But vets and keepers need to check under those flippers to make sure that they’re healthy and that they don’t have any restrictions on their motion or cuts on their skin. Why do they ask animals to jump? Again, to make sure that they’re healthy, and also because its fun and animals LOVE to move around and jump and have fun, its mentally stimulating.  This is the most important thing I will ever reblog and anyone who is still ignorant enough to think zoos are awful can fuck off my blog. Zoos are necessary. If you think otherwise please unfollow me because I don’t want you here. This is super important for people to see. I have worked at a zoo and I can not tell you how many times I’ve had to defend the zoo for the good they do. People need to learn that zoos are actually helping save endangered species. Remember: Sea World is not a zoo and doesn’t really care about animals unless they can make a profit. Fuck Sea World. Alternatively, Busch Gardens does care for their animals. It’s 2018 and tumblr still thinks keeping wild animals in captivity for entertainment is a good thing. Here we go.From @acti-vegSummary of The Born Free Foundation’s study into the conservation status of animals kept in Consortium of Charitable Zoos facilities, widely considered to be the gold standard of conservation in zoos:91.1% of mammal species under threat, and over 90% of EDGE mammal animals aren’t being represented within the most progressive zoo consortiums. Almost 95% of endangered bird are excluded in CCZ zoos. The CCZ only keeps 11 out of a total 1,811 endangered amphibian species, this equates to a mere 0.6%. The CCZ just keeps 3.5% of animals in total (birds, amphibians, mammals) that have been listed on the Red List by the IUCN Red as endangered species. Over 60% of CCZ species are classified as ‘Least Concern’. Just 37% of CCZ creatures are deemed as high risk. The CCZ only keep a third of the species that classify to be in a breeding programme. Only a quarter of CCZ animals are incorporated in breeding programmes in Europe that are categorised as Least Concern. Almost 70% of the public think that zoos are spending a lot more on conservation programmes out in the wilderness compared to what actually happens. The CCZ spends approximately 4-6.7% of its yearly budget on wild conservation programmes. The public’s perception seem to believe that UK zoos spend around 4 times this amount. Whilst the public believe that about 41% of CCZ animal species kept in UK zoos are under threat in the wilderness, the actual figure is below 25%.From my own education as a conservation biologist and ecologist alumni:In not one of my classes was it ever stated that zoos are fundamental to wildlife conservation. In fact, my biology conservation professor said captivity in zoos is very antithetical to the physical and mental health of large land mammals, especially elephants and big cats.Animals, especially far-roaming species, exhibit stereotypical behavior in order to cope with their cramped, unnatural living conditions (i.e. bar biting, circling, pacing).Rehabilitation programs only work when endangered species have an environment to return to (in many cases, they do not), and the most successful programs I have seen are in closed facilities - not zoos open to the public.Human beings are causing the sixth mass extinction event, and zoos are not going to help stop global warming, deforestation, ocean acidification, or poaching. Zoos aren’t even a temporary stop-gap solution. It’s a feel-good option for people who want to stare at wild animals in an artificial environment.Unlike wildlife sanctuaries, which put the animals’ welfare first and foremost, zoos place a large amount of importance on giftshop and ticket sales, and that prioritizes species that are easily identifiable to the public - not animals who are the most threatened.Often low-risk and “popular” animal species, ones which the public recognize, are referred to as “charismatic megafauna” by people in the industry. These species are specifically chosen to house in zoos because they bring in ticket sales and media attention. It has nothing to do with saving endangered species.Captive-breeding in zoos will only go so far, and it is estimated that relying on captive-bred animals only (and not capturing more from the wild) will only allow 100-years of breeding before the species becomes so inbred they are no longer genetically viable.Zoos have been known to kill “surplus” animals.The vast majority of zoos DO NOT release animals back into the wild.Sometimes zoos sell “surplus” animals to circuses, canned hunting facilities, or the exotic pet trade.Chances are, many of you have seen Blackfish and boycott SeaWorld. While that is admirable, zoos are simply an extension of the captive animal entertainment industry. Some zoos even make their animals perform tricks to the detriment of the animals.Do Zoos Really Teach Visitors Anything?Zoos teach young children, as well as adults, that it is acceptable to keep animals in cages and pens for the rest of their lives, rather than live in their natural habitats.Zoos are inherently cruel because profits come first, and animals cannot consent to captivity.The fact of the matter is, you don’t need a BS in Conservation Biology to understand how placing wild animals in pens for us to pay money to look at sounds dubious and suspect. We need to use our critical thinking skills and stop being dogmatically worshipful of these institutions that profit from the captivity of sentient, living beings. The pro-zoo circlejerk on Tumblr is so aggravating -- source link
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