1. Are zoos really as bad as some people think?
Behind Bars: The Morality of Zoos
Sarah Bittle

2. The Good

Positive effects of zoos
✔
Community income from tourism
to zoos
✔
Research and education
✔
Conservation of threatened/
endangered species
✔
Saving lives of individual
animals who couldn't otherwise
survive in wild
Omaha Zoo – Turkey Vulture

3. The Bad

Negative effects of zoos
✗
Animals are put under stress if not
properly treated
✗
Stereotypies – behavioral patterns
(pacing, tearing out feathers, habitual
movement) developed by captive
animals that can lead to mental
disorders
Omaha Zoo – Ringtail Lemurs

4. The Negative CAN be Reversed!

Zoo Animals are Stressed by 3 Main Factors:

Harassment or overstimulation by zoo guests

Uncomfortable enclosure

Just plain bored (lack of enrichment)
The Omaha Zoo Desert Dome

5. Factor 1: Human Influence

The Problem:
•
Zoo visitors have been known to
harass and upset zoo animals,
causing aggression or anxiety
•
Throwing food, trash, etc
•
Trying to touch or get too close to
animals
•
Disrupting animals trying to rest
The Solution
•
Use methods to ensure distance
between the animals and humans
•
Glass instead of wire mesh
fences
•
Trenches/Moats to keep animals
distanced from fences
•
Give humans a boundary that's
further away than the animal's
boundaries
Kansas City Zoo – Children watching a polar
bear do backflips

6. Factor 2: Enclosure Comfort

The Problem:

The animal's habitat
does not meet its
needs, resulting in
discomfort, health
problems, and stress
•
Habitat is too
cold/hot
•
Lack of vegetation
•
Habitat is too small
•
Lack of interactive
spaces

The Solution

Design a habitat with the
animal's natural habitat in
mind
•
Refrigerated/heated
enclosures
•
Emulate native terrain
(rocks, climbing
structures, pools,
vegetation etc.)
•
Give animals
somewhere to hide if
they want to rest
•
Offer various vegetation
for grazing, shade,
nesting, etc.
Kansas City Zoo – Scarlet Macaws

7. Factor 3: Entertainment

The Problem:

Animals have nothing to
entertain themselves with,
causing them to become bored
and restless

The Solution

Many zoos provide enrichment
activities and toys to entertain their
animals
●
Hiding treats throughout enclosure
●
Toys such as blankets, balls,
swings, etc
●
Scheduled time to work with
zookeepers for projects such as
painting
Kansas City Zoo – Meerkats

8. So are zoos really so bad?

Many benefits for both humans and animals
•
Humans are entertained and educated by
zoos
•
Animals are protected both as individuals
and as a species

Raises awareness about conservation
programs in the wild

Negative effects can be easily prevented if
proper precautions are taken
Kansas City Zoo – Lionesses