Latest news with #CaliforniaCondor
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Are zoos necessary?
Merriam Webster defines zoo as 'a facility with usually indoor and outdoor settings where living, typically wild animals are kept especially for public exhibition'. Cambridge dictionary defines it as 'an area in which animals, especially wild animals, are kept so that people can go and look at them or study them'. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries define it as 'a place where many kinds of wild animals are kept for the public to see and where they are studied, bred (kept in order to produce young) and protected'. All the modern day definitions about zoos centre around them being used as facilities for studying animals and their public exhibition. Proponents of zoos often cite the crucial role zoos play in conservation. While this may be true, it is hardly unlikely that the countless zoos around the world are involved in the conservation efforts of an endangered species. Most exist as centres of amusement and fascination, a recreational facility you walk in and leave. So what exactly are zoos? In the modern day world, as human consciousness and empathy evolve, how should we approach zoos? Are they ethical? We dive into the big debate—do zoos do more harm than good? A brief history Also called zoological garden or zoological park, a zoo, in modern day definition, has been used to house captive animals for study, research, recreation and conservation purposes. But how did it all start? Humans have always been fascinated by animals and their charisma. Long ago, we are talking about centuries here, zoos were created as private collections by the wealthy. These were called menageries, representations of which can be seen in the wall carvings in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Other civilisations such as China, Greece, and Rome also had zoos. Then during the 18th Century, during the Age of Enlightenment, modern zoos became centres of interest for the scientific community, where people could research and study animal behaviour. The first modern zoo thus opened in France, in 1793. Earlier, animals were kept in cramped cages. Over time, with people advocating for the rights of animals, zoos started incorporating wild-like environments, natural habitats and allocating more space for the animals that are in captivity. But are these measures enough? In defence of the zoo According to the advocates of zoos and some conservationists, zoos play a huge role in saving endangered species, educating the public and helping them develop an appreciation of other species. Let's look at the animals that could be saved by zoos after they became extinct in the wild. For instance, take the case of the Arabian Oryx which was hunted to extinction in the wild. It was following the conservation efforts by the Phoenix Zoo and other organisations that this animal could be reintroduced back into the wild. The Przewalski's Horse is another, which could be saved after it went completely extinct in the wild. The same applies in the case of the majestic bird California Condor, or the antelope Bongo or the golden Lion Tamarin. It is the captive breeding programmes in zoos and other organisations that helped save these species. A study published in the journal Conservation Letters in 2021 cites that '...the extinction of at least 28–48 bird and mammal species was prevented between 1993–2020, and of 11–25 bird and mammal species between 2010–2020'. It is argued that zoos not only educate people but also serve as a person's first introduction to wild animals. Maybe it is by locking eyes with a tiger that a kid might take an interest in studying zoology or want to grow up and become a wildlife conservationist. Seeing animals at close quarters can make it an extremely personal experience, which could impact one in more ways than one. But do these human-animal experiences and other positive outcomes justify keeping wild animals against their will—away from their natural habitats, instincts, and kin? Not to mention commodifying wildlife? The dark side of zoos If you were to ask any animal on its willingness to be kept in a cage, we all know what the answer is going to be. Incidents of animals escaping their enclosures tell us what we really want to know. No one wants to be restricted; freedom is important to all beings, human or nonhuman. And zoos cannot simulate the conditions of the wild. Several researches have proven how animals kept in captivity exhibit signs of distress and stress. These include repeated motions, pacing, swaying, bobbing of head etc. This is called zoochosis. These psychological stressors and symptoms get exacerbated due to what is referred to as the 'visitor effect' –the stress a visitor contributes, due to their presence and loudness. The economics of zoos cannot be ignored. Come any holiday season, zoos always witness an influx of people. For most people, zoos are centres of recreation, where you go to gawk at animals. The breeding of charismatic animals is also one of the ways zoos try to increase footfalls, as cute animal babies always draw a crowd. But captive breeding programmes can also lead to inbreeding, following which the babies could end up with deformities and health problems. This human-nonhuman relationship hasn't always been in the best interests of the animals. Take the case of Marius. Some 11 years ago, Marius was all over the news. The 18-month-old healthy giraffe was considered useless for breeding by the Copenhagen zoo which decided to kill it. Despite protests and petitions and even zoos and agencies offering to take in Marius, he was shot dead and dissected in front of a large crowd, which even included children. Can a mindset shift help? Next time you visit a zoo and stare at any of the charismatic animals, take a moment to reflect as to how (and if) watching the animal in the confines has enriched your perspective and understanding about animals. Or did it just remind you of the stark reality these animals face on a daily basis, of waking up and pacing about in the restricted, human-made area, where people like you and me regard them as cute artifacts, and fated to live a life devoid of even the quiet freedoms we enjoy?
CBS News
18-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
LA Zoo welcomes 10 condor chicks, increasing California condor wild population
Moving towards an "ultimate goal of recovery" in California's condor population, the LA Zoo announced that 10 healthy chicks hatched during the zoo's 2025 California condor breeding season. All of the chicks will be candidates for release into the wild as part of the California Condor Recovery Program, under the leadership of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. One of the California condor chicks that hatched at the LA Zoo. Jamie Pham "The L.A. Zoo is dedicated to helping our partners increase the California condor's wild population to not only save them from extinction, but to also continue the hard work towards the ultimate goal of recovery," said Misha Body, Deputy Director of Animal Programs, Los Angeles Zoo. With a wingspan of nearly 10 feet, the California condor is one of the largest flying birds in North America. According to Fish and Wildlife, the bird has been protected as an endangered species by federal law since 1967 and by California state law since 1971. In the 1970s, only a few dozen condors remained in the wild. In the mid-1980s, all of the remaining condors were captured and taken to zoos to stop their population decline in the wild. Four of the chicks at the LA Zoo are being raised under a double brooding method, with two chicks being reared at one time by a pair of surrogate California condors. The zoo pioneered this breeding technique in 2017. "The care and well-being that our animal care team provides continues to be innovative and advances the success of the condor program every year," Body said. California condor eggs at the Los Angeles Zoo. JAMIE PHAM California condors are not on exhibit at the zoo, but guests can participate in California Condor Talk, held daily.
