Zoo/Aquarium Hot Takes

Sphenisciologist said:
Moving away from the topic of aquariums, one of my hot takes is that zoos should have more vegan/vegetarian food options for guests.
I’m a vegetarian myself and a majority of zoos I’ve been to have very little vegetarian-friendly cuisine. A lot of zoo food, at least in America, is fast food options like chicken, burgers and hot dogs, but considering that zoos are focused on animal conservation and preservation, the menus should have a balanced option of vegan, vegetarian and meat-eating choices.
This is not me saying you can’t eat meat, I just think zoo diets should be more vegetarian friendly.
Click to expand...
I was able to get a good black bean burger at the San Diego Zoo and some version of the Impossible Burger at both the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Seaworld San Diego… so at least some zoos in the US are doing a good job moving in that direction.
 
evilmonkey239 said:
I was able to get a good black bean burger at the San Diego Zoo and some version of the Impossible Burger at both the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Seaworld San Diego… so at least some zoos in the US are doing a good job moving in that direction.
Click to expand...
They’re certainly moving in that direction, but one menu item does not a vegetarian-friendly menu make. There’s still a lot more effort they could do to make their menus fitting for all sorts of diets.
 
Sphenisciologist said:
They’re certainly moving in that direction, but one menu item does not a vegetarian-friendly menu make. There’s still a lot more effort they could do to make their menus fitting for all sorts of diets.
Click to expand...

The food services at zoos are rarely run by the zoos themselves, they're contracted out. They can push for things, or decide to go with a different contractor, but ultimately it isn't their menu. It's all about economics. Many zoos stick with the standard hamburger/hot dog/chicken tenders because they're popular, cheap to get, freeze well, and are what people are expecting. Salads need to be replaced often, frozen veggie burgers take up space, in the freezer, etc. Bigger zoos, especially city zoos, are more likely to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and vegan, because they're more likely to have vegetarians and vegans come in.
 
TinoPup said:
The food services at zoos are rarely run by the zoos themselves, they're contracted out. They can push for things, or decide to go with a different contractor, but ultimately it isn't their menu. It's all about economics. Many zoos stick with the standard hamburger/hot dog/chicken tenders because they're popular, cheap to get, freeze well, and are what people are expecting. Salads need to be replaced often, frozen veggie burgers take up space, in the freezer, etc. Bigger zoos, especially city zoos, are more likely to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and vegan, because they're more likely to have vegetarians and vegans come in.
Click to expand...
Well absolutely, I never said it would be easier or zoos have control over all food options they sell, I’m just saying it would be a lot better for than what I currently see on zoo menus and I think it would be a lot easier. Even then, bigger zoos still stick to the classic American foods and there’s very little expansion or other options.
 
Sphenisciologist said:
Well absolutely, I never said it would be easier or zoos have control over all food options they sell, I’m just saying it would be a lot better for than what I currently see on zoo menus and I think it would be a lot easier. Even then, bigger zoos still stick to the classic American foods and there’s very little expansion or other options.
Click to expand...

It *isn't* easier, at all, which was the entire point of my post. Bigger zoos have plenty of options outside of American foods.
 
Sphenisciologist said:
Well absolutely, I never said it would be easier or zoos have control over all food options they sell
Click to expand...

You implied this the way you worded things.

Sphenisciologist said:
Even then, bigger zoos still stick to the classic American foods and there’s very little expansion or other options
Click to expand...

Right - because it's easy, cheap, and what the majority of people will be satisfied with.
 
IMO, zoo exhibits these days rly need to focus on telling a story as well as the usual box ticks of animal welfare and guest enjoyment.

My 2 main examples for this are Congo Gorilla Forest and Tiger Mountain (2 Bronx exhibits as that's what I have the most experience with)

They are amazing at communicating both the threats that animals face in the wild and what people are doing to save them. That does much more for conservation education and advocacy than just a few words on a sign

Additional take: More zoos need stuff people can touch. Like brass/plastic casts of body parts, foot prints, etc.
 
tigris115 said:
Additional take: More zoos need stuff people can touch. Like brass/plastic casts of body parts, foot prints, etc.
Click to expand...

I think a lot of the AZA Zoos already have stuff like this (if not touch, then interactive). Especially if it's on the smaller scale, is educational in purpose, and doesn't infringe on exhibit space, I completely agree with this point. Education should be a core principle of Zoos, and as such this needs to be woven into all facets of designing a complex, including the addition of small, interactive areas and/or mini-playgrounds.
 
Shedd isn't one of the best aquariums in the country, but that's because its practically a zoo with some fish in tanks as a side gig
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top