Zoo/Aquarium Hot Takes

[ThylacineAlive]

I wasn't aware that such populations existed, can I have a citation for that?

So digging around more, it seems that "feral camel" is a term applied almost exclusively to the Australian population, whereas animals in West Asia and Africa are simply referred to as "domestic camel". I find this to be a pretty pointless semantic distinction. I will admit, it seems there are far fewer feral populations in this region than I expected, but they are there. Additionally, there are large populations of what are referred to as "free-roaming" camels. Herds of camels that live freely and roam freely but are somewhat managed and relied on by locals and nomads. I don't see there being any meaningful difference ecologically between these "free-roaming" camels and feral camels honestly.

~Thylo

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

So digging around more, it seems that "feral camel" is a term applied almost exclusively to the Australian population, whereas animals in West Asia and Africa are simply referred to as "domestic camel".

Yeah, from my own plunge down the rabbit hole, it seems that this specifically was the cause of confusion. I disagree about the term "domestic camel" being a "pretty pointless semantic distinction" from feral camel, but otherwise agree with you.

I don't see there being any meaningful difference ecologically between these "free-roaming" camels and feral camels honestly.

Well, other than this, anyway. Feral camels can not be ecologically beneficial to the Australian ecosystem because the Australian ecosystem never had an equivalent to the camel in the past.

This is why I can and will continue to argue that conflating Australia's feral camels with North Africa/the Middle East's domestic camels is confusing and should not be done. Distinct terms exist for good reason.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Yeah, from my own plunge down the rabbit hole, it seems that this specifically was the cause of confusion. I disagree about the term "domestic camel" being a "pretty pointless semantic distinction" from feral camel, but otherwise agree with you.

A feral camel is a domestic camel that is living feral. The two terms can be used interchangeably, or should be able to be used interchangeably anyway. We use these terms interchangeably for wild-living dogs, cats, cattle, donkeys, Domestic Bactrian Camels living alongside Wild Domestic Camels.

Well, other than this, anyway. Feral camels can not be ecologically beneficial to the Australian ecosystem because the Australian ecosystem never had an equivalent to the camel in the past.

This is why I can and will continue to argue that conflating Australia's feral camels with North Africa/the Middle East's domestic camels is confusing and should not be done. Distinct terms exist for good reason.

I am, again, clearly referring to populations in West Asia and Africa. Whether a camel is living "feral" or "free-roaming" in these regions, its ecological role remains more or less the same. Obviously camels do not belong in Australia, no more than the portions of East Africa (such as Tanzania) they live in where they are considered invasive or Texas when they used to be there.

~Thylo

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

We use these terms interchangeably for wild-living dogs, cats, cattle, donkeys, Domestic Bactrian Camels living alongside Wild Domestic Camels.

I'm aware, I just hate that because it's confusing and will always speak out against it.

I am, again, clearly referring to populations in West Asia and Africa.

The point that I've been trying to make to you is that you haven't been clear. The term Feral camel = Dromedary camels living without human assistance in Australia for the vast majority of people. Including the user base on ZooChat.

If you're going to insist on using that term for free-roaming Dromedaries elsewhere, then the least that you can do is clarify that you aren't talking about the Australian population every time.

 

[Ituri]

I'm aware, I just hate that because it's confusing and will always speak out against it.



The point that I've been trying to make to you is that you haven't been clear. The term Feral camel = Dromedary camels living without human assistance in Australia for the vast majority of people. Including the user base on ZooChat.

If you're going to insist on using that term for free-roaming Dromedaries elsewhere, then the least that you can do is clarify that you aren't talking about the Australian population every time.

I feel like you are conflating the word "feral" with the word "invasive". A feral animal is not necessarily one that brings harm to the ecosystem it is living in. Technically the word feral specifically means "a domesticated animal living wild"

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

I feel like you are conflating the word "feral" with the word "invasive". A feral animal is not necessarily one that brings harm to the ecosystem it is living in. Technically the word feral specifically means "a domesticated animal living wild"

That's probably because I grew up in Florida, lol.

 

[RandomZooVisitorYT]

Hot Take (or at least I think it's hot for all I know it's ice cold): I believe without a shadow of a doubt that the Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium is better than the Dallas World Aquarium especially for the concept of hosting mammals and birds. Hear me out: DWA while accredited has some truly abysmal exhibits and especially for a lot of their birds. While immersive, the whole place has the vibe of being owned by a hoarder that doesn't know where to put half of the collection. WOWA on the other hand I think matches the DWA in terms of immersive qualities and I can only remember being unsatisfied by four individual exhibits: (Black Bears (its a gorgeous space, but a tad small), Flamingos (just isn't enough space), Fruit Bats (would be a decent terrarium or tank), and Iguanas (not bad, just undersized). I think it is upsetting that such a large disparity in quality could occur with two facilities with only twenty years between them. I believe WOWA handles the concept better as most of the birds and mammals are semi-aquatic (the only exceptions being the marmosets, bears, and bats).

 

[Sphenisciologist]

I've never visited DWA and I don't have much knowledge on the subject, but I do think WOWA is phenomenal and very underappreciated when it comes to acknowledging aquariums in the USA. Beautiful designs everywhere, a great species collection in the aquarium area, and the gallery section is a plus for learning about non-aquatic native species as well. I would put it in the same tier rank as Tennessee Aquarium; maybe not the best in the country but still quite spectacular for what it is.

 

[RandomZooVisitorYT]

I've never visited DWA and I don't have much knowledge on the subject

Zoo Tours just made a video compilation where he also points out the DWAs flaws, it should give you a good sense of the place.

 

[Van Beal]

There are also no wild populations of Domestic Yak, there are wild populations of Wild Yak. These are two different animals.

I was unclear with what I meant by that statement. I was referring to the fact that there are wild yak populations (albeit not the same species as the domestics) and as such the domestic is at least a reasonable substitution for the wild species.

 

[The_Leopard_Seal]

I think zoos in very biodiverse regions such as Latin America and Australia should prioritize native species over exotic species.

 

[Great Argus]

I think zoos in very biodiverse regions such as Latin America and Australia should prioritize native species over exotic species.

Australia already does exactly that given their extensive import restrictions, I'm not sure if that's a hot take.

 

[The_Leopard_Seal]

Australia already does exactly that given their extensive import restrictions, I'm not sure if that's a hot take.

True. But I still think native species should have more representation in Latin American zoos.

 

[birdsandbats]

True. But I still think native species should have more representation in Latin American zoos.

Depends on the country. ZooAve, Costa Rica's largest zoo, is focused primarily no native species. The Belize Zoo is, as well.

 

[Aardwolf]

Depends on the country. ZooAve, Costa Rica's largest zoo, is focused primarily no native species. The Belize Zoo is, as well.

Yeah, I’ve been to about a dozen Central American, South American, and Caribbean facilities, and I think I’ve seen maybe 10 nonnative species between them all, with some being solely natives

 

[JVM]

The cold take is that like many, I would love to see more creativity in how zoos build and construct habitats for Australian wildlife. It's understandable import restrictions, unique diets, and short lifespans mean that every zoo has to make choices where to invest, and that Australian wildlife can be more difficult, but I agree with many in wanting to see more creativity.

The hot take, though, is that while I understand many of us view wallaby walk-through exhibits as reflecting a lack of creativity since they are becoming broadly common, I find them charming and think they are still preferable and an improvement over some older zoos where the kangaroo were held in generic Hoofstock Yards (Lincoln Park Zoo, Denver Zoo at the time of my visit) and vastly preferable to a total non-representation of macropods or Australian mammals (Milwaukee County Zoo) and I've found it's possible to make these walkthrough exhibits distinctive in their own right -- Racine Zoo's Walkabout Creek is in a more wooded area, and Indianapolis includes cockatoo and doubles as an aviary, adding more to the experience than just kangaroos.

 

[choeropsis-fan]

I'm not sure whether this qualifies as a hot take, or whether this opinion has already been expressed in another thread, but France is crucially underrated as a zoo country imo. I would probably say that it is one of the three best countries for zoos in Europe.
And I'm thereby not necessarily thinking about the obvious Zoo de Beauval, but rather about lesser-known parcs like Parc Animalier d'Auvergne, Réserve Africaine de Sigean, Zoo de la Barben, CERZA, Branféré, Zoo de la Boissière du Doré, Zoo de Mulhouse and others. And than, there's the incredible Bioparc Doué...

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

I feel like the name "Boo at the Zoo" for Halloween events at zoos is extremely overused, like could they really not come up with something just a little bit more unique?

 

[RandomZooVisitorYT]

No offense, but I don't think this is a hot take.

 

[EagleScout610]

I feel like the name "Boo at the Zoo" for Halloween events at zoos is extremely overused, like could they really not come up with something just a little bit more unique?

I like it personally. It's simple for the kids, easy to remember, and even easier to market. That may be my marketing/design side speaking, though