Zoo

A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called a zoological park, animal park, or menagerie) is a facility where animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for conservation purposes.

The term zoological garden refers to zoology, the study of animals. The term is derived from the Ancient Greek ζῷον, zōion, 'animal', and the suffix -λογία, -logia, 'study of'. The abbreviation zoo was first used of the London Zoological Gardens, which was opened for scientific study in 1828, and to the public in 1847. The first modern zoo was the Tierpark Hagenbeck by Carl Hagenbeck in Germany. In the United States alone, zoos are visited by over 181 million people annually.

However, animal welfare organizations have expressed criticism of zoos and the conditions in which animals are kept. Concerns have been raised about the impact of zoos on animal welfare, including both housing conditions and the effects of visitor behavior. In recent decades, efforts have been made to improve conditions in zoos.

Etymology

The word "zoo" comes from the Ancient Greek word for animal. The London Zoo, which opened in 1828, was first called the "Gardens and Menagerie of the Zoological Society of London." The short form "zoo" started being used in writing around 1847, especially for the Clifton Zoo.

Later, new names like "conservation park" or "bio park" were created to show a modern approach to animal care. The National Zoo in Washington D.C. helped create the term "bio park" in the late 1980s.

History

Royal menageries

Further information: Menagerie

The earliest versions of zoos were called menageries, which date back to ancient times. One of the oldest known animal collections was found in Hierakonpolis, Egypt, dating to around 3500 BCE. It included animals like hippos, elephants, and baboons. Kings and emperors across different cultures, such as King Wen of Zhou in ancient China and Alexander the Great in Greece, also kept animals. During the Roman Empire, animals were often kept for public spectacles.

Enlightenment era

Further information: List of zoos by country

The world’s oldest zoo still in operation is the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. It opened in 1752 for the royal family but began allowing public visits in 1765. Other early zoos included ones in Madrid and Paris, which opened in 1775 and 1795 respectively. These zoos focused on scientific study and education.

The modern zoo

By the 19th century, zoos evolved from private royal collections to public institutions aimed at education and scientific research. Major cities in Europe, inspired by zoos in London and Paris, established their own. The Zoological Society of London founded London Zoo in 1828, which became a model for zoos worldwide.

British Empire

The modern zoo in the United Kingdom focused on education and scientific study. London Zoo was the world’s first scientific zoo and opened to the public in 1847. Other notable zoos in the British Empire included Dublin Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo. The first zoo in Australia was Melbourne Zoo, opening in 1860.

Germany

Important early zoos in Germany included those in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hamburg. Carl Hagenbeck in Hamburg introduced open enclosures with moats instead of bars, allowing animals more natural environments.

Poland

The Wrocław Zoo is the oldest in Poland, opening in 1865. It is known for its large collection of animals and its Africarium, which focuses on African wildlife.

United States

The first zoo in the United States was the Philadelphia Zoo, opening in 1874. Other early zoos included those in Chicago and Cincinnati. During the 1930s, government programs helped zoos expand. By 2020, the U.S. had 230 accredited zoos and aquariums.

Japan

Japan’s first modern zoo, Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, opened in 1882. During World War II, it was used for educational purposes, and in 1943, some animals were euthanized due to fears of bombing.

Environmentalism

In the 1970s, zoos began focusing more on conservation. Many stopped animal shows and started breeding programs for endangered species. Today, zoos work to protect wildlife and teach visitors about conservation.

Human exhibits

Further information: Human zoo, Scientific racism, and Social Darwinism

In the past, some zoos displayed humans in ways that compared them to animals, often to show differences between races. One famous example was in 1906 when Ota Benga, a Congolese man, was displayed in the Bronx Zoo in New York City. These displays were controversial and are now seen as unethical.

Type

Further information: List of zoos by country and Immersion exhibit

Zoo animals live in special enclosures designed to look like their natural homes. These enclosures help both the animals and visitors. For example, nighttime animals might stay in buildings with dim lights during the day so they can be active when people visit. Some zoos have areas where visitors can walk among gentle animals like small monkeys or birds.

Some zoos have large outdoor areas called safari parks. Visitors can drive through these areas and see animals up close, sometimes even feeding them through car windows. The first safari park opened in England in 1931. Other popular places mix zoo exhibits with fun rides and shows, creating animal theme parks that are both educational and entertaining for families.

Zoo population management

Most animals in zoos today are born in zoos from other zoo animals. When animals move between zoos, they spend time in quarantine and get used to new enclosures that look like their natural homes. Some animals, like penguins, need special cold enclosures.

Zoos manage their animal populations carefully because space is limited. They work with groups like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and EAZA to make sure healthy animals are kept and to prevent inbreeding. Some zoos use contraception to control breeding, though this can have health effects. Selling extra animals used to be common but is less so now. Zoos sometimes have to make tough decisions about animal care, balancing what’s best for the animals with what’s possible in a zoo setting.

Many animals breed easily in captivity, but zoos often need to limit breeding because there isn’t enough wild habitat to release them into. This shows why protecting natural spaces is important, along with zoo breeding programs. Some zoos are also involved in cloning endangered species to help save them.

Justification

Most modern zoos in Australasia, Asia, Europe, and North America focus on protecting endangered animals, doing research, and teaching the public. They also aim to entertain visitors. For example, the Zoological Society of London wants to advance the study of animals and has research institutes for this purpose.

Zoos help protect animals that are in danger of disappearing. They provide safe places for these animals to live and breed. This is important because protecting animals in their natural homes can be very hard. Zoos work with programs around the world to help endangered species, such as the African Preservation Program and Species Survival Plans in the U.S. and Canada. These programs make sure that animals are well cared for and that their populations grow.

Animal welfare in zoos

Further information: Captivity (animal) and Behavioral enrichment

The care of animals in zoos can vary a lot. Some zoos work hard to make sure their animal homes are comfortable and safe, but this can be difficult because of space and money. Good homes help animals live longer and healthier lives. When zoos focus on animal care, they can become safe places for animals. Many zoos now add things to animal habitats that help the animals act more naturally, which makes the animals happier and healthier.

Sometimes, zoos need to move bigger animals to places with more space. Even with good care, keeping animals in zoos can be tricky because animals deserve to be free. To help improve care, groups like EAZA and AZA are creating guides for taking care of different animals.

Problems

Modern zoos work hard to keep animals healthy and happy, but some zoos still face challenges. In places with fewer rules, many animals, especially apes, do not live long in captivity. Some zoos also keep animals in small, simple spaces where they cannot move around much or do many of their natural activities.

Animals in zoos can sometimes show unusual behaviors, like pacing back and forth or swaying, which might mean they are feeling stressed. However, newer, more natural exhibits often help reduce these behaviors. Some studies show that animals in zoos can live longer than those in the wild, though this depends on the species and care. Climate can also affect zoo animals; for example, cold weather made it hard for an elephant at the Alaska Zoo to stay outside.

Effect of visitors on animals

Visiting a zoo can affect animals in different ways. Many studies show that when there are too many visitors or when they are noisy, animals can feel stressed. For example, animals like rhinoceroses and primates often show signs of stress when many people are around. Some animals may act more aggressively or become fearful when visitors are too close or loud.

However, there are also times when animals seem to enjoy having visitors around. Some animals, like a long-billed corella named Claude, liked to dance and walk when people were nearby. Animals such as prairie dogs and chimpanzees sometimes find interactions with visitors positive, especially when they can choose to hide if they feel uncomfortable. Overall, keeping visitor numbers manageable and creating calm environments helps ensure animals stay happy and healthy.

Moral criticism

Some people and animal rights activists believe that zoo animals are treated like objects for people to look at, rather than as living creatures. They worry that animals suffer when they are taken from the wild and put in captivity. Since the 1970s, zoos have changed how they care for animals by breeding them instead of bringing in wild-caught ones. This helps protect both common and endangered species.

In 2017, a survey of people in the UK who had visited zoos found that many thought zoos spent more on conservation than they actually do. Because of concerns about animal welfare, a travel company decided to stop promoting trips that include visits to zoos.

Live feeding

In some countries, it is against the law to feed live animals to zoo predators, except when it is needed for the predator's health. For example, the UK Animal Welfare Act of 2006 says that prey must be killed before being fed. London Zoo stopped this practice long before the law was passed. However, some zoos in China still feed live animals to predators, which has drawn criticism. Some parks, like Shenzhen Safari Park, have stopped this practice after facing criticism.

Regulation

In the United States, public animal exhibits like zoos must be licensed and inspected by the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Zoos follow laws such as the Endangered Species Act, the Animal Welfare Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 to protect animals.

In Europe, the European Union requires zoos to help conserve wildlife and educate the public. The UK has the Zoo Licensing Act of 1981, which ensures zoos are inspected and provide a good environment for animals.