Zoos and the Great Depression

[ThylacineAlive]

I'm just curious on what zoos did during the Great Depression? Surely people didn't go to zoos during a time when they could barely keep themselves fed yet we still have zoos like Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Central Park, and London which all seem to have survived the Great Depression.

~Thylo

 

[TropicWorld54]

Many zoos in the U.S. have building built by the wpa. The Little Rock Zoo seem to have most of it's exhibits built during the Great Depression.

 

[Moebelle]

I'm just curious on what zoos did during the Great Depression? Surely people didn't go to zoos during a time when they could barely keep themselves fed yet we still have zoos like Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Central Park, and London which all seem to have survived the Great Depression.

~Thylo

As TropicalWorld54 mentioned the WPA, you can see 'WPA' engraved on the steps as you go down Wildlife Canyon.

 

[Arizona Docent]

I was going to post the same thing. For those outside the US (or in the US but too young) who do not know what WPA means, it stands for Works Progress Administration. It was a program to put people to work for the federal government building public projects. Many national park roads and buildings, some dams, and several city projects (including zoo improvements) were constructed in the late 1930's by the WPA.

 

[Buldeo]

A lot of the SF Zoo has its roots in the WPA.

Towards that end, with all the talk of "infrastructure" upgrades and improvements throughout the American political scene, could there be the possibility of a WPA 2.0 specifically for zoos?

It would give a lot of American zoos the opportunity to upgrade seriously antiquated features, put a lot of construction workers to work, and maybe a few architectural firms in the process. The end result, of course, would hopefully be twofold -- the proverbial bump in the economy and new habitats.

 

[reduakari]

A lot of the SF Zoo has its roots in the WPA.

Towards that end, with all the talk of "infrastructure" upgrades and improvements throughout the American political scene, could there be the possibility of a WPA 2.0 specifically for zoos?

It would give a lot of American zoos the opportunity to upgrade seriously antiquated features, put a lot of construction workers to work, and maybe a few architectural firms in the process. The end result, of course, would hopefully be twofold -- the proverbial bump in the economy and new habitats.

You may recall that the last stimulus legislation in 2009 SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED zoos (together with casinos and golf courses) from even being considered for funding under the act. A tragic demonstation of how poorly understood and unappreciated the conservation and education roles of zoos are by those who make the big decisions.

 

[tschandler71]

You may recall that the last stimulus legislation in 2009 SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED zoos (together with casinos and golf courses) from even being considered for funding under the act. A tragic demonstation of how poorly understood and unappreciated the conservation and education roles of zoos are by those who make the big decisions.

Not to get political but very very little of the stimulus went to infrastructure in the first place. It was a pay off to state and local governments that have to balance budgets.

 

[Buldeo]

You may recall that the last stimulus legislation in 2009 SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED zoos (together with casinos and golf courses) from even being considered for funding under the act. A tragic demonstration of how poorly understood and unappreciated the conservation and education roles of zoos are by those who make the big decisions.

I do recall hearing about that now that you mention it. There was something from a Cleveland-area paper I read while passing through the airport once upon a time.

Casinos and golf courses make sense. But to completely discount the "living textbook" that is a zoo is baffling. Sure, they have an entertainment aspect but that's only on the surface. Tragic, yes, as you've mentioned. I wonder if a petition would do any good.

With even the Field Museum massively slashing its budget and science department, I wonder if any museums actually took part in the stimulus free-for-all.

 

[Arizona Docent]

I think the trend in zoos is towards privatization, so they are no longer seen as essential parts of a city government as they were in the 1930's. From what I can see, this is actually a positive trend.

 

[gerenuk]

Zoos often got by during the depression because they encouraged visitors to feed the animals.

 

[tschandler71]

I think the trend in zoos is towards privatization, so they are no longer seen as essential parts of a city government as they were in the 1930's. From what I can see, this is actually a positive trend.

Yes this is actually something worthy of a political science article though no one may touch it. The privatization of Zoos in the US has been an interesting concept over the last 2 dozen odd years.

I've seen similar models done elsewhere but I can only speak for Birmingham. Originally the Birmingham Zoo was a city department like most zoos started out as. Lack of consistent and adequate budgeting is what ultimately led to the Zoo losing AZA accreditation in the 90s. The mayor of birmingham at the time Richard Arrington (ironically a Zoology major himself) organized the privatization of the zoo.

The management of the Zoo was handed over to a non-profit organization formed specifically to run the zoo with the board of directors being community leaders. The city still owns the land and the buildings but leases them to the non profit for a nominal fee.

They were able to fund improvements in order to regain AZA accreditation and even hire former head of the entire AZA Bill Foster to be Zoo President. After Accreditation and leadership came intensive capital campaigns involving Birmingham industry (Southern Company, Regions, Buffalo Rock, Barbers).

In an ironic twist in order for the Zoo to complete the funding to complete Trails of Africa (bear in mind this was in the time of Lehman and Bear Sterns and bailouts) the City itself under then Mayor (and sadly convicted felon) Larry Langford (who is a crook but a crook who loved the Birmingham Zoo) pledged an annual contribution to the Zoo that may or may not be tax deductible (im not a tax lawyer so I dont know for sure) thats still a lot less than running the zoo outright.

Is this pretty much the model of most zoos now a formerly public entity privately ran as a non profit with contributions from public sources?

 

[Zooplantman]

1. At that time a great many US zoos were municipal and had free or very inexpensive admission.

2. The zoos themselves were often in very bad straits during that period but managed to survive.

3. Remember that not everyone was on the dole and

4. Just as today, people could only sit in their living rooms and mope for so long before they went out and did something nice (and cheap)

 

[Pertinax]

I'm just curious on what zoos did during the Great Depression?

Thylacine Alive- have you read the chapter on the demise of the last Thylacine and subsequent closure of Hobart Zoo the following year in Robert Paddle's book? This also happened during the Depression in Australia. Political wrangling, mistreated staff and neglected animals (including the last Thylacine), it makes for extremely depressing reading.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Thylacine Alive- have you read the chapter on the demise of the last Thylacine and subsequent closure of Hobart Zoo the following year in Robert Paddle's book? This also happened during the Depression in Australia. Political wrangling, mistreated staff and neglected animals (including the last Thylacine), it makes for extremely depressing reading.

I have not read the it but I'm aware of the neglect and the mistreatment. I am also aware that Ben's body was just thrown in the dumpster after he died.

~Thylo

 

[Pertinax]

I am also aware that Ben's body was just thrown in the dumpster after he died.

I believe it was 'forwarded to the Museum' but it was not thought in good enough condition for them to preserve it, presumably they didn't want even the skeleton as they had any number of skins/skeletons already. So presumably it was them rather than the Zoo who actually discarded it?

You should really read that chapter about the last year/months at Hobart Zoo- its an eye-opener!