Zoos

Question 1

When did zoos first start?

Answer 1

2,500 B.C. when nobility started to accumulate exotic animals. But first modern zoo as we know it opened in Vienna in 1765

Question 2

What did explorers of the New World do with animals they found?

Answer 2

Brought home the exotic creatures, including sloths and anteaters. In Montezuma, Cortez admired the bronze cages that held jaguars and pumas

Question 3

What were some initial problems with zoos?

Answer 3

• Nobody really cared that pack or social animals were held usually in captivity by themselves
• the animals would lose the skills that helped them survive in the wild.
• idleness in animals made animals self mutilate and were apathetic.

Question 4

What came of the improvements to the treatment of the captive animals in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s?

Answer 4

Animals welfare started to be taken seriously and animals started to actually breed in captivity

Question 5

What are some pros of zoos?

Answer 5

• educational tool
• captive breeding, can maintain small endangered populations, conserving them
• research
• raise funds for conservation

Question 6

What are some cons of zoos?

Answer 6

• less genetic diversity in captive populations
• animals can imprint on humans
• time, effort and money to build and maintain habitat for animal

Question 7

According to the “Ark Concept” how can plants and animals be returned to their native range? (if two things are met)

Answer 7

1. if the human overpopulation problem stops and stabilizes so that we aren’t ruining natural habitats
2. habitat restoration and rgteintroduction has been perfected

Question 8

What’s wrong with the Ark Concept?

Answer 8

• around 60 species have been saved by being bred in captivity

Question 9

What was the Dusky Seaside Sparrow?

Answer 9

35 pairs of the bird were recorded in the 1970’s and habitat restoration efforts were started

• captive breeding program initiated
• only 5 males were recovered and the last male died in Disney World in 1987

Question 10

What did Rall and Ballou find in their research?

Answer 10

• studied inbreeding in animals
• animals started breeding with close relatives since there were relatively few of the species in captivity
• intense selection occurs (diseases develop)
• They came up with Species Survival Plan to computer generate mates for them based on pedigrees

Question 11

?Whats wrong with Species Survival Plans? (SSP)

Answer 11

• For large animals, that would require a large amount of animals from the species and a large amount of land. Plus a lot of animals need SSP’s.
• Also not enough room for all the animals that need to be saved on the “ark” (zoos)
• A lot of “surplus” animals in zoos when there is already a male and female animal of a certain species, and it is expensive

Question 12

What are alternatives to the “ark” concept?

Answer 12

• Field conservation - zoos help raise money for foreign parks. san diegos’ rubber snakes saves snakes in peru
• Education-outreach to people going to zoos
• Research-