Very good!!!
You and Hix are now running neck and neck for the "Quote of the Year" award!
Homosexuality In zoos
- Thread starter foz
- Start date
Very good!!!
You and Hix are now running neck and neck for the "Quote of the Year" award!
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@foz: Can I reply to your original questions with a question?
Why should zoos represent homosexuality in particular, and why should zoos be "the place for homosexuality"?
That homosexual behaviour can be observed in several species other than Homo sapiens might only be new to pigheaded religious hardliners. Yet why thus zoos should highlighten that aspect, is beyond me. When a zoo happens to have homosexual specimens in the collection, it might or might not emphasize that aspect, depending on the management and visitors. If not, why should it?
As for "gay nights" and other similar events at the zoo: if the zoo can use the money, why not?
I always wonder, however, about the duality of such activities: on the one hand, equality and fairness for all social groups is demanded in Western societies. On the other, special events for a minority are arranged. Isn't that a bit inconsistent?
Regarding homosexuality among zoo staff: I have had the same experience as John described: when you do a proper job, no one really cares.
On a lighter note:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2004/birds-of-a-feather
Why should zoos represent homosexuality in particular, and why should zoos be "the place for homosexuality"?
That homosexual behaviour can be observed in several species other than Homo sapiens might only be new to pigheaded religious hardliners. Yet why thus zoos should highlighten that aspect, is beyond me. When a zoo happens to have homosexual specimens in the collection, it might or might not emphasize that aspect, depending on the management and visitors. If not, why should it?
As for "gay nights" and other similar events at the zoo: if the zoo can use the money, why not?
I always wonder, however, about the duality of such activities: on the one hand, equality and fairness for all social groups is demanded in Western societies. On the other, special events for a minority are arranged. Isn't that a bit inconsistent?
Regarding homosexuality among zoo staff: I have had the same experience as John described: when you do a proper job, no one really cares.
On a lighter note:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2004/birds-of-a-feather
Nothing in the way he writes suggests that this can be backed up by any kind of source, it is just his feeling.
Of course you can! but thats not to say I have any of the answers. I think that is should be highlighted more in zoo signs etc for common knowledge. I myself only realised that homosexual animals occur within the last five years, and I still think it remains largely unknown to the general public. Whilst a big deal may not be made of it, I would hope that it could be acknowledged along with other animal behaviours. In addition i feel that as a much understudied area (it has beeen suggested in this thread that the evolutionary advenatage remains unclear) that it could be a good area for zoo's to explore and also allude to other subjects such as evolution and animal behaviour etc.
KCZooFan
Well-Known Member
I feel that animal homosexuality should be explained in zoos only with homosexual animals. If the zoo has none, then what purpose does it serve telling about it. I see nothing wrong with it as long as a zoo does not drag politics into it. It should not be explained in the same way as another behavior, such as nesting, as it does not occur in all animals.
Neither does nesting occur in all animals?
When you talk about "only with homosexual animals" do you mean individuals are species which display homosexual behaviour?
How could politics be dragged into it?
Speaking of politics, surely all zoos are in a sense political i.e. against measures that would lead to biodiversity loss and supportive of measures that would protect biodiveersity, such as renewable energy.
Education?
As has been noted in this thread, even among people more than usually aware of the animal world, many are not aware that other animals can be homosexual.
Panthera Puss
Well-Known Member
I've certainly had to answer questions on blatantly 'bi/curious' behaviour in big cats!
KCZooFan
Well-Known Member
I did not mean to state anything controversial at all.
@foz: nesting will occur in all, for example, straw-necked ibises, so put some info on a sign for that species. And I do mean individuals as it is a fairly uncommon occurance. And by politics, I mean the issue of gay marrige, which would probably be more common in the US. Rather I'm for or against it, I don't want that to come near my zoo experiance.
@Maguari: But why educate about something not displayed. Would a zoo without jaguars have signs about jaguars? Again I did not mean to upset anyone.
@foz: nesting will occur in all, for example, straw-necked ibises, so put some info on a sign for that species. And I do mean individuals as it is a fairly uncommon occurance. And by politics, I mean the issue of gay marrige, which would probably be more common in the US. Rather I'm for or against it, I don't want that to come near my zoo experiance.
@Maguari: But why educate about something not displayed. Would a zoo without jaguars have signs about jaguars? Again I did not mean to upset anyone.
there is a very good (and thick) book on the subject of homosexuality in animals by Bruce Bagemihl called "Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity". Well worth buying or searching for in your local library.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
I can't help thinking that this issue is more about humans and their cultures and attitudes than about animal behavior or biology. Is same sex pairing in animals really what we know as homosexuality? Zoos may or may not want to present info on same sex pairings among animals, but does it add to our understanding of wildlife or of ourselves? Or both? Or neither?
So if this question is worth much discussion, then we might add the question; What would be the purpose of adding signage about same sex pairs among animals?
So if this question is worth much discussion, then we might add the question; What would be the purpose of adding signage about same sex pairs among animals?
Why not? If you have, say, tapirs, then you could put up a sign explaining that jaguars predate them and giving a bit of jaguar info to broaden the educational scope.
My point really was that there's no reason a zoo shouldn't mention something just because it's not there to be seen. Also doesn't mean they need to, of course, but there's no reason they couldn't.
With my Devil's advocate hat on, I'd be interested in evidence that every Straw-necked Ibis engages in nesting behaviour.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
This may be off-topic, but at the Bronx Zoo's Congo Gorilla Forest there are signs about forest elephants (because of their role in ecosystem dynamics) even though there are no elephants there. In fact, a great deal was spect building a fake tree "damaged by elephants" so we could tell that story.
Actually, there are no pygmys there either, yet there is a pygmy hunting camp
I dont think you have have said anything controbersial or offensive. i see and take your point with the politics (I do think it is more of a US thing).
However I feel you have contradicted yourself a slight bit. One you say show sings foir individuals, but then the nesting and jaguar allegories are confusing. Surely if ahomosexual bhevaiour can be seen in a speciees this would be included in the education, as opposed to being exclusive to the individual. The same as other behaviours such as hunting in jaguars or nesting in various species?
I refer to my above post - maybe I'm being idealist and have watched one too many episodes of QI ([ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QI]QI - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]), but I tend to find the idea of any information not being worth sharing fairly odd.
For the record, I tend to think that wider awareness of homosexuality in animals would help to reduce homophobia (and hence murder and suicide rates) in human society. Perhaps not by much, but I'm sure it would help.
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
Not always the case, of course - the incredible story of Ota Benga, the Mbuti pygmy who was once kept in the Bronx Zoo monkey house, is one of the most fascinating zoo episodes of the C20th...
Attachments
I would like to see signs on animal homosexuality at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm*.....
*(I wonder if animals choose to be gay in the same way people do....)
*(I wonder if animals choose to be gay in the same way people do....)
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
I would like to see signs on animal homosexuality at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm*.....
*(I wonder if animals choose to be gay in the same way people do....)
Excellent!
And yes, they are recruited by other gay animals