how do zoological societies work?
- Thread starter J.simpkin
- Start date
As for the first part (how they work), it depends if a zoo is publicly or privately governed. In private zoos (such as Phoenix or San Diego), they basically run everything as far as I understand it. In public zoos run by city (or county) government, they are partners with varying degrees of control. The zoo I volunteer at (Reid Park) is owned by the city of Tucson. The zoological society maintains membership, maintains the website, and funds certain staff members, namely education department and very recently the ticket booth operators. They also run all special after hours events. The keepers and senior staff, however, are city employees. The zoological society has input, but no real control, over the animal collection and new exhibits, which the city staff decide.
The partnership of city/county government and private zoological society has varying degrees of success, depending on the location. The AZA chastised the Los Angeles Zoo years ago for tension between the two groups. And the Rio Grande Zoo maintains two competing websites - one run by the society and one run by the city. Many publicly governed zoos have privatized in recent years (Dallas, Fresno, etc) and it seems to be a positive move when it happens. My zoo may be heading that way eventually, but the process is going slower than some (myself included) would like.
As for the second part of your question (how to start one), you need to form a nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS, which entails having a board of directors. Attracting such a group means you are passionate enough and articulate enough to get the right people to join you. Having good connections and/or money helps too. Of course if you want to start your own private zoo you do not necessarily have to have a zoological society, but it would help if you want to set up the zoo as a non profit entity.
The partnership of city/county government and private zoological society has varying degrees of success, depending on the location. The AZA chastised the Los Angeles Zoo years ago for tension between the two groups. And the Rio Grande Zoo maintains two competing websites - one run by the society and one run by the city. Many publicly governed zoos have privatized in recent years (Dallas, Fresno, etc) and it seems to be a positive move when it happens. My zoo may be heading that way eventually, but the process is going slower than some (myself included) would like.
As for the second part of your question (how to start one), you need to form a nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS, which entails having a board of directors. Attracting such a group means you are passionate enough and articulate enough to get the right people to join you. Having good connections and/or money helps too. Of course if you want to start your own private zoo you do not necessarily have to have a zoological society, but it would help if you want to set up the zoo as a non profit entity.
Sorry, I just noticed you are in the UK and not the US. The term IRS refers to our tax collecting branch of the federal government. But I would imagine most of what I said applies in the UK as well.
you don't need a zoo to have a zoological society though.....
The position in the UK is similar, although we tend to use the words 'public' and 'private' in a rather different way. A private zoo belongs to an individual or a company; the zoological societies which run non-profit zoos are charitable trusts, registered with and regulated by the Charities Commission (you can check their website to find out more). These trusts are run by a board of trustees, who must be responsible people (like the board of directors of a company) who appoint the managers to do the day to day running of the organisation. These trusts get a tax advantage because they can claim back income tax paid on money donated by tax payers (Gift Aid).
Of course any group of people can form a society and call it any name they choose, but I think the Zoological Society of London and the West of England Zoological Society were founded specifically to start and run the London and Bristol zoos. On the other hand Chester, Jersey and Twycross zoos were started by private individuals, who effectively then set up a Trust and gave the zoo to it.
Alan
I think Edinburgh was started on the same premise as London and Bristol too. Possibly Dudley also?
Marwell is similar to your other Trust examples. Not sure about Howletts & PL though.
Yes, I didn't have time to do the research before, but Edinburgh and Dudley were founded as zoological societies.
Marwell, Howletts/Port Lympne, and Paignton/Newquay/LivingCoasts were founded by individuals but are now charities, Marwell Wildlife, the Aspinall Foundation and the Whitley Wildlife Trust reespectively.
Alan
I have an idea Newquay was originally started by the local Council in the early 1970's and run by them for a number of years before it was taken over privately(and considerably improved). Then the Paignton link up came later still, with further improvement, so it has in fact had three 'phases'. Living Coasts I think was started as a recent Paignton offshoot.
Correct. I oversimplified a little, the Whitley Wildlfe Trust now runs all three, plus a few nature reserves, notably Slapton Ley NNR.
Alan
The current Newquay Zoo (not to be confused with a small children's zoo that existed in the popular seaside resort for many years) opened in May 1969.