Do you think that zoos will last?

[Flyriver256]

So, with all of these scary developments that the anti-zoo people are making (Like the banning of orca breeding at SeaWorld) some people in the media are making it look like zoos' days are numbered.

I'm personally unsure about they're long term future. I hope they survive.

What do you all think?

 

[Pleistohorse]

There will always be zoos somewhere.

 

[azcheetah2]

Nobody is banning orca breeding at Sea World. They chose to stop. And what are the "all the scary developments"?

 

[Flyriver256]

Sorry, I didn't mean to say that they banned orca breeding. But the reason they chose to stop was because of the massive out-cry from animal rights activists and the media.

This is I meant by scary developments. Stuff like the fairly recent vilification of SeaWorld, and the drop of zoo attendance within North America. Increased pressure from animal rights activists could push zoos to edge in 20-30 years.

As a zoo-lover, these kinds of things do sound scary.

 

[taun]

Sorry, I didn't mean to say that they banned orca breeding. But the reason they chose to stop was because of the massive out-cry from animal rights activists and the media.

Actually your wrong there they stopped breeding them as it made the most financial sense

 

[Coelacanth18]

and the drop of zoo attendance within North America.

Zoo attendance within North America has actually been increasing, and at a faster rate than can just be accounted for by population growth. Most zoos in the US have been setting record annual attendances in the last five years.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Actually your wrong there they stopped breeding them as it made the most financial sense

I've also heard that it was due, at least in part, to pressure from rights activists. Whether they've been publicly announcing that is another matter.

As for other "scary events" perhaps he is referring to all the new recent laws that have been passed/are in the works in the US such as the banning of large boas and pythons across state borders, the banning of salamander/newt crossing state borders, and a similar deal with turtles. I suppose this affects the private sector and pet trade more than zoos, but I do believe zoos are affected by the snake one at least. Expect to see a large decline to large snakes in zoos in the upcoming future.

~Thylo

 

[Coelacanth18]

As for other "scary events" perhaps he is referring to all the new recent laws that have been passed/are in the works in the US such as the banning of large boas and pythons across state borders, the banning of salamander/newt crossing state borders, and a similar deal with turtles. I suppose this affects the private sector and pet trade more than zoos, but I do believe zoos are affected by the snake one at least. Expect to see a large decline to large snakes in zoos in the upcoming future.

Is there a reason why you expect large snakes to decline in zoos? It's still legal to source snakes within state borders, and you can apply to the FWS for permits to make interstate exchanges for zoological and scientific purposes. I was under the impression that many species are already under these kinds of restrictions, and I can't imagine these new regulations are injurious enough to shut them out.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Is there a reason why you expect large snakes to decline in zoos? It's still legal to source snakes within state borders, and you can apply to the FWS for permits to make interstate exchanges for zoological and scientific purposes. I was under the impression that many species are already under these kinds of restrictions, and I can't imagine these new regulations are injurious enough to shut them out.

Well I'm not sure about how this affects FWS permits but outside of that I'd imagine it depends on whether the private/pet sector has a self-sustaining population within each state. The person who was telling me about the laws said some zoos are having/going to have trouble sourcing new large snakes, implying a decline of sorts.

~Thylo

 

[Coelacanth18]

Well I'm not sure about how this affects FWS permits but outside of that I'd imagine it depends on whether the private/pet sector has a self-sustaining population within each state. The person who was telling me about the laws said some zoos are having/going to have trouble sourcing new large snakes, implying a decline of sorts.

I suppose that's possible. Since permits will still allow exchanges between zoos in different states, I wonder if it will lead to these species being managed rather than being primarily sourced by private breeders.

 

[Chlidonias]

the pythons and boas in question are only banned from interstate transfer and from importation into the country. It doesn't affect private people nor zoos from keeping and breeding the snakes. And zoos can easily apply for permits for interstate transfers, because the law is primarily designed to stop releases/escapes from private individuals.

The only way it will mean "a large decline [of] large snakes in zoos in the upcoming future" is if the zoos actively choose not to display them.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

the pythons and boas in question are only banned from interstate transfer and from importation into the country. It doesn't affect private people nor zoos from keeping and breeding the snakes. And zoos can easily apply for permits for interstate transfers, because the law is primarily designed to stop releases/escapes from private individuals.

The only way it will mean "a large decline [of] large snakes in zoos in the upcoming future" is if the zoos actively choose not to display them.

Fair enough then. I didn't mean to imply that it meant the private sector or zoos couldn't breed or keep them, just meant in the long run if it were more difficult to obtain them, then we might see a decline. But I'm glad to hear that I was wrong about the severity of the law, thanks for the correction.

~Thylo

 

[Chlidonias]

But I'm glad to hear that I was wrong about the severity of the law, thanks for the correction.

the "severity" depends on who you listen to. For python/boa breeders - especially breeders of morphs which are worth more - it is a major issue because they can no longer sell anything they breed except within their own state (i.e. it could potentially impact their businesses heavily because they cannot trade nationwide).

For zoos it is not really any issue at all.

 

[TheMightyOrca]

Zoos aren't disappearing any time soon. They'll change, of course, (look at zoos 100 years ago; if zoos never changed they probably would have lost a lot of popularity over welfare concerns. Maybe in 100 years people will look back at todays zoos and say "How barbaric! Good thing our zoos are so much better!") but the anti-zoo crowd is a vocal minority. Also, a lot of the laws that restrict/ban ownership, transport, or importation of certain animals mostly affect the private sector. Usually the laws are made out of fear that a species will escape or get released and become invasive or introduce a disease. Zoos are trusted to be more careful on that front.

I also wouldn't consider the orca thing as a sign of things to come because SeaWorld is a for-profit theme park, not a zoo. They always have and always will make different decisions than the average zoo will. It's also worth noting that people have been criticizing SW for decades, it's not a new thing. (though it certainly has become more popular) The increase in criticism of SW has more to do with changing attitudes about the use of animals for entertainment, kind of like how people are less tolerant of circuses now.