Scares near the bears?
Terror at the terrarium?
Ghosts at the moats?
Witches at the female canids?
Candy at the Pandy? (selected places)
Zoo/Aquarium Hot Takes
- Thread starter pachyderm pro
- Start date
Scares near the bears?
Terror at the terrarium?
Ghosts at the moats?
Witches at the female canids?
Candy at the Pandy? (selected places)
NNM.
Well-Known Member
Perhaps, but it’s better than something like “Zoo Howl.” Like, that’s not even a pun.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Not exactly sure if this is a true hot take, but I feel one thing all zoos REALLY need to have that most do not is a mandatory full security check upon admission to make sure there are not any questionable items entering the zoo similar to airport flights, concerts, and sports arenas. It may make entering the zoo take a bit longer but tons of stuff goes unnoticed and a zoo, as it has living animals, is certainly not the place to be sneaking darts into. Security cameras over all the exhibits is probably not a bad idea as well, but probably not as good as a security check. Some examples of banned items can be sharp or heavy metal objects (darts, knives, hammers, baseball bats, among others that may cause a threat with the chance of killing or injuring the animals if they are hit with it or swallowed in the case of smaller dangerous items), any items with sound that are a threat to the animals (airhorns, whistles, and other loud sounds to try and call over, attract, or scare away the animals), and other extremely dangerous items to the animals and their environment (drugs, cigarettes, vapes, alcohol etc.). While there may be signs that say "No Smoking" or "Do not Feed or Tamper the Animals" for example, I have seen many people of all ages abuse these rules and zoos should take full initiative to hopefully resolve this issue by installing mandatory security checks of guests' belongings to make sure nothing of risk enters the zoo. I will say that a zoo is certainly a place that should always have a security check as part of respecting the animals and the zoo.
I'm a little surprised the larger zoos in particular don't do this, but at the same time I can't remember ever hearing about incidents with sharp/heavy objects or even noise-making items. Probably a few out there but none that I ever remember hearing about. Usually any incident is somebody crossing barriers or throwing food/coins.
Smoking though does happen, but even that's not real common that I've noticed.
More common than you seem to think, especially for apes and large carnivores. They're often just relatively hidden.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
That might be the case in some countries and random checks are in place here at Chester (for example) but how do you suggest small collections fund and police this vs the tiny real world benefit?
Can you link instances of airhorns, hammers etc being used at zoos on the animals to the extent that would justify security checks equivalent to an airport at all zoos?
Have you researched the impact of security checks on queuing times and the resulting impact on staff numbers etc as well as logistics? If not, you probably should. And reflect on the space and layout needed - how many smaller collections would have the room?.
While you conflate airport and other venue security together they are often very different.
While I can understand checks for things people might use to hurt each other (which let’s face it in the US are often carried anyway and interestingly you don’t mention guns at all) it’s fanciful to suggest zoos are going to implement this level of security without some evidence of genuine need.
Some places may have security teams or random checks and I expect those are there due to specific local requirements, but I don’t think many collections face the universal danger of people attacking the animals with hammers.
The North Carolina Zoo used to do a red wolf-themed Halloween event called Howl-O-Ween
Sphenisciologist
Well-Known Member
St. Louis started implementing security upon entry after COVID, though I do think we in particular needed it since we’re a free zoo so you can just walk in without needing to pay/confirm your ticket, which can also serve as an inspection time of your belongings to a certain extent. My brain now couldn’t even imagine walking in there without security being present (even if you’re an employee they still have you do it).
I also think the importance of zoo security depends on the country’s safety laws, and it may be less necessary for countries that strictly impose no weapons or that sort of thing.
I also think the importance of zoo security depends on the country’s safety laws, and it may be less necessary for countries that strictly impose no weapons or that sort of thing.
I know it´s probably culture-dependent. But unless your zoo is situated in super high-crime area or has frequent incidents of some type, I can´t wrap my head about need of any security check at zoo entrance. What would those checks even target - guns, hammers, food, water bottles or something else?
The greatest problem here, and it is not a huge problem, is people picking up stones or sticks that they find on-site to throw at an animal that may not be awake or moving. Just for them!
Sure, but it is simple, rhymes, and is catchy. We also have to remember, most people have one zoo that they attend regularly/in their lifetime, it's not even something most people are aware of being used elsewhere.
LaicaTheDino
Member
Big disagree. A species shouldnt be overlooked and unappreciated just because they arent going extinct. And a lot of them can be extremly unique, take one of my favourite birds ever, the channel-billed cuckoo. Its a stunning bird that makes you fall in love with it at first sight (happened to me, and also to a friend that doesnt care that much about biology and all its details), and it has quite interesting biology, like it parasitising magpies and currawongs, also it being the largest cuckoo and the largest brood parasite. Despite all of these cool stuff about it, most people dont know it exists, moreover brood parasites are often demonised, so displaying a handsome bird thats a brood parasite, when most people only know of the brown-headed cowbird and the common cuckoo, can help induce more appreciation for them. In adition, there are some species and subspecies that have a limited range, so even if they arent threatened, they could take a big hit if there are some unlucky years. A captive population in zoos can help raise awareness about them and the uniqueness in different regions of the world along with being a safeguard (which now i realise im sure most people here already know). But ALSO a them being in captivity allows the population to exand over what the native habitat would normally allow without causing the echological damage associated with overpopulation.
Iguana_Cabana
Well-Known Member
Cute birds. Must preserve
It's not their job to, but I wish zoo staff could recommend other attractions to do in their town/city, especially nature activities. I've asked different smaller zoos in more rural locations if they know good sites for wild birds and mammals, and typically nobody knows.
Sphenisciologist
Well-Known Member
Here in the USA, I feel like there’s a significant disconnect between zoos and people involved with native wildlife, at least professionally. I know a lot of zoos have programs to protect and work with natural spaces, but as someone who’s worked in both, a majority of people who work in native natural areas who aren’t involved in such programs tend to not be present in the zoo world, and vice versa. Working with native wildlife is also not very hands-on with animals, so people who work in those types of settings are usually drawn to other aspects about the field. People who work with natural resources also have a much larger presence in academia, which I think contributes to such disconnect when people who are studying for their degrees are learning about all these native species in wild settings, but the closest real exposure most people will get to exotics is limited to captivity only, which can drive people away.
I don’t blame either for this being the way it is, if you work in a state park you’re not going to have much reason to associate with people who work with exotics in zoos, and vice versa, but I could see a lot of beneficial work towards local and global conservation, public education and outreach, and possibly redirecting stigmas that zoos face come out of such intersectionality if both fields came together more often.
yadokari
New Member
Is there many zoos outside of Australia that display channel-billed cuckoos? They're very beautiful birds (and I enjoy seeing wild ones regularly at Taronga) but I've never seen them in captivity before.
ZootierlisteHomepage
Only Berlin, maybe it is still present somewhere in private keepers' possession in Europe.
They are indeed beautiful birds but, as a result of my limited experience with them, I would be reluctant to try to keep them in captivity.
We have had several injured specimens brought in for care over the years and have had good success in restoring them to health - they are a robust species to begin with.
However, they are a migratory species and I have found that, if still in care by late February/early March, they will be trying desperately to get out and go. Not a pretty sight.
I do know of a couple that have been kept successfully for a number of years without obvious signs of distress but they seem to be the exceptions to my experiences with the species.
LaicaTheDino
Member
That is very interesting information and good to keep in mind, I have also heard of private keepers in Australia keeping them successfully and the few zoos that have them also appear to be doing well with them, so I'm wondering if the difference is how wild the birds are. Like, it would make sense if a wild bird that has survived and migrated for many years panicking when they know is time for migration, while a bird that was raised in captivity since it was young without knowledge of migration may not attempt to migrate. But yeah this sounds interesting and would definitely benefit from more research!
MC Baron
Well-Known Member
I really don't like the trend of replacing moated exhibits with glass, or loose mesh. I'd rather have a clear, unobstructed view. Even better if it has a solid background that isn't a see-through fence. Not sure if that's a hot take in the community, but it seems like the zoos themselves want to go this way.