Do some zoos not teach about evolution to avoid angering creationist groups?

Pleistocene891 said:
It’s more so because very few people would actually be interested in learning about evolution
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I wouldn't say that any more than any other information about animals. Why would someone want to hear "Lions grip their prey with their huge claws." but not "Lions evolved huge claws over time to grip their prey." Its the same information, just with a bit of added context. Not sure what about that would make it more boring than anything else.
 
I don't know any example in France, as there isn't any zoo run by a sect or group that denies evolution, or in a place where people disagrees with evolution.
It's probably the same situation in most if not all European countries.
 
BmAQ said:
Why would someone want to hear "Lions grip their prey with their huge claws." but not "Lions evolved huge claws over time to grip their prey." Its the same information, just with a bit of added context.
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sorry to necro quote lol this is just popping up on the front page and i think it's an interesting discussion

I'd argue this doesn't add much valuable context at all. It feels equivalent to me as saying "Yesterday's sunny weather is now rainy" in place of "It's raining today". It doesn't really tell me much information of substance- I know that lions evolved, but that's kind of entry-level understanding when it comes to evolution. Everything evolved from something, so hearing that something evolved to have a certain trait is kind of like hearing the sky is blue. Of course it happened- the lion has claws!

The alternative, and IMO the best option if a zoo wants to really teach evolution, is to be specific. Talk about Proailurus lemanensis, talk about their potential link to mongooses and hyenas, talk about ancient cave art and the Eurasian cave lion.

This is why I think most zoos don't have a larger focus on evolution- it's complicated! Spanning literally millions of years and hundreds, if not thousands, of different permutations and distinct ancient species. It has more to do IMO with paleontology and phylogenetics than zoology. I think that comparative anatomy is awesome, and simple enough to present very easily (I had a very interesting chat a few months ago with a Minnesota Zoo educator about the comparative anatomy and evolution of great ape hands). And I think that there's small places where evolution conversation is fitting- cichlids, like some have mentioned here, or in the context of Darwin and Madagascar. But on the whole I think that zoos should focus on current animals, and that education about evolution are better suited for museums.
 
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