They do not buy, sell or trade animals and restrict access to the animals, forgoing the lucrative revenue of general admission and attractions. This is something highlighted again and again by campaigners such as Freedom For Animals and PETA. I quite agree with Emma Marris. They also spearhead educational efforts on the dangers of lead ammunition, which is hazardous to both humans and wildlife. So, we decided to put the question to the one and only Sir David Attenborough - because, after all, if anybody is a true authority on the natural world, it's him. Cape May County Park Zoo, N.J. From this list, we selected 14 of the most popular zoos in the U.S., according to the AZA, to make your next visit a little easier to plan. The zoo also has the worlds largest nocturnal exhibit, Kingdoms Of The Night, the biggest cat complex in North America, and the Lied Jungle is one of the worlds largest indoor jungles. Glenbard South Environmental teacher, Mrs. Fisher says that "the key to an ethical zoo is a focus on conservation and education. This zoo (and botanical garden) is one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1875. Landmarked as Americas first zoo, it is home to more than 2,500 animals, many who are endangered and rare. The Cincinnati Zoobegan as the Zoological Society of Cincinnati in 1873, making it the second-oldest zoo in the U.S. Studies from the Association of Zoos&Aquariums track zoos and aquariums from all around the world and find the safe ones that support their . Zoos and aquariums are at the forefront of conservation and constantly evolving to improve how they care for animals and protect each species in its natural habitat. In addition to housing nearly 500 animal species, the Saint Louis Zoo is recognized worldwide for its innovative approach to animal care and wildlife conservation. Three Bears doesnt even count as a zoo - as it is actually (as the name suggests) a store, but has a bear habitat where visitors can feed the bears and take photos of them. 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The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle struck me as very well done. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, Top 10 Zoos To Visit That Won't Make You Feel Guilty, Is Keeping Wild Animals In Zoos Unethical? Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Using drones to film some of its incredible footage, A Perfect Planet will see us marvel at just how adaptive animals really are, showing flamingos surviving on the corrosive plains of Lake Natron, lions in Kenya whose roaming patterns have been altered by the weather and Aldabra giant tortoises, who face losing their habitats as a result of flooding from the Indian Ocean. So not only can you come to visit its 350 different species, but you can also take in the spectacular view. Granted the zoo resembled a menagerie in its past, the zoo has transformed since 1980. Proponents argue the institutions are safe, controlled environments where the public can view and learn about wild animals.. The Brookfield Zoo operated by CZS participates in an initiative known as animal husbandry, which essentially attempts to match the wild ecosystem and social settings these animals would have enjoyed. The goal of this search is to have more information about ethical zoos and how local zoos could learn from them to improve their care. The Berlin Zoological Garden, which opened in 1844, is home to the largest variety of animals of any zoo in the world. Robin R. GanzertWashingtonThe writer is president and chief executive of American Humane. National Zoological Gardens Pretoria, South Africa. What are the sides to the zoo debate? It may have looked like she had no space, but it was actually much better for her. Sometimes it can be hard to know which is which, so weve pulled together some of the best (and worst) zoos across the country. "They make Earth truly unique - a perfect planet. The Jersey Zoohas been working for more than six decades to help conserve endangered species and their environments, including through the restoration of wild spaces. Cincinnati Zoo has bred multiple endangered species, including South African cheetahs, Sumatran rhinoceros, western lowland gorillas, Malayan tigers, and Masai giraffes, and was the first zoo to breed California sea lions. Another roadside attraction with a long history of violations and citations (but a positive, conservationist-sounding name) is the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida. Some readers decry keeping animals in captivity while others tout the educational benefits. In 1882, Ueno Zoo was the first zoo to open in Japan, and it still boasts the highest number of guests among all zoos in the country. Some of the projects the zoo has taken on include trying to revive the Great Lakes Piping Plover through incubating abandoned eggs, and working to rehabilitation African penguins chicks that are abandoned at birth. This snowy space is also a rescue for polar bears, focusing on injured and orphaned polar bear cubs - the only one of its kind in the country. SEA LIFE Orlando, Fla. Scovill Zoo, Ill. Toledo Zoological Gardens, Ohio Topeka Zoo, Kan. Tulsa Zoo, Okla. Zoo Boise, Idaho A Perfect Planet airs on BBC One in 2021. For a full list of currently accredited AZA-facilities, please visit https://www.aza.org/current-accreditation-list. In addition to Australia House (emus, wombats, and kangaroos) and Habitat Africa (giraffes, antelope, and crocodiles), there's an ambassador program where guests can attend zoo chats and demonstrations led by animal care specialists. The Denver Zoo is one of the most ethical zoos in the nation and one of the most popular. The biggest attraction in St Louis is, without a doubt, the Gateway arch. The Tregembo Animal Park (previously the Tote Em In Zoo) keeps their creatures in concrete and wire cages that are much too small, and was even sued last year for the treatment of the two bears they kept. Granted, the parent was somewhat culpable, but still, no modern zoo should allow it to be that easy for a person to get into a carnivore enclosure. Obviously this is a much more expensive zoo to visit than others, but its worth keeping in mind for animal lovers. Emma Marris briefly mentions sanctuaries. The idea behind the zoo's interactive programming? They have several rare and endangered animals, such as the vulnerable newborn sloth bear, endangered Amur tigers, and critically endangered black and white ruffed lemurs. Yorks Wild Animal Park is for sale in Maine if anyone wants to buy it. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Wash. One of the biggest criticisms of zoos and aquariums (or indeed of captive animals as a whole), is that creatures can suffer from "lack of stimulation", with limited space to roam outside of their new habitats and less companions with whom to enjoy "complex social relationships". They brought them all together and they created a breeding stock. The Melbourne Zoo, a nonprofit organization, is another spectacular place to see your favorite animals and even get personal with a few species with itsexclusive animal encounters program. Peoria Zoo, Ill. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Wash. Potter Park Zoological Gardens, Mich. Pueblo Zoo, Colo. Racine Zoological Gardens, Wis. Riverside Discovery Center, Neb. Its nothing serious, Im just interested in the topic and like to talk about it with my friends. San Diego Zoo | San Diego, CA. Speaking during a Zoom interview to celebrate the launch of his new documentary series A Perfect Planet, Sir David exclusively told Tyla that he thinks captive animals are needed - so long as the facilities maintained "the best possible standard" - so that humans can be "aware of their reality". Offers may be subject to change without notice. It's not a foolproof guide, but generally it's a good rule of thumb. When a child looks a gorilla or otter or shark in the eye, something wondrous takes place. Glue traps will leave rats starving, for days . and the zoo has been found in violation of USDA law every year for the past several years. Reasons for controlling the urban rat population are abundant: The animals can spread diseases to humans, destroy property and damage native ecosystems. 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This zoo's biggest draw may be its family of giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji but behind the scenes, there's a lot of conservation work going on. At least they had the good sense to transfer the dogs to a different zoo. The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy is committed to fighting the extinction of several endangered species and their conservation and initiatives are endless. San Diego Zoo was the first to introduce cage-less, open air enclosures that are designed to be as close as possible to the animals natural habitats. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Are there tragedies? Zoo #proponents argue "the institutions are With pros and cons linked to #zoos, are these conservation and research tools still relevant? Thats right. Of course, the zoo is also heavily involved in conservation projects, and supports over seventy projects around the world. Luckily, there is an organization which is the non-profit Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. A distressed animal in a zoo will get as good or better treatment than most of us at our local hospital. As a fellow environmentalist, animal-protection advocate and longtime vegetarian, I could properly be in the same camp as Emma Marris on the issue of zoos. The zoo itself focuses on re-creating the animals natural habitats as closely as possible, supports various conservation programs in the wild, has conservationist breeding on site, and is constantly working to make the zoo itself as sustainable and environmentally-friendly as possible. The zoo also features a 100,000 gallon coral reef tank, and some of the best primate habitats in the country (the Congo habitat). However, sometimes it can be hard to know which is which, so weve pulled together some of the best (and worst) zoos across the country to help you make sure that when you visit, you know that your money is going to be put to good use. The Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County, Virginia, is more of a roadside attraction than a zoo (despite the name), and has become infamous for its poor treatment of star attraction Asha, an African elephant. "(It's) the most important thing that we do and it's critical to our mission," Kubie said. If you do see her there, please say hello. [Although] that's an extreme case, of course.". San Antonio Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Is The San Antonio Zoo . Godfrey Mchunguzi Oyema, MCIWEM C.WEM, NEBOSH on LinkedIn: Are zoos ethical? Toledo Zoological Gardens, Ohio Emma Marris selectively describes and misrepresents the findings of our research. "That's not science fiction. Many go above and beyond to ensure animal welfare, protect endangered species, revive dwindling populations through captive breeding programs, and educate people on the plight of some of the world's rarest creatures. The certification process is equivalent to the accreditation process but is designed for wildlife-holding facilities that are non- commercial entities and that are not open to the public on a regular basis. Although this zoo has Conservation Center baked right into the name, it certainly has a poor track record when it comes to the treatment of elephants. As part of the Zoos Master Plan, exhibits were recreated throughout the last 40 years to ensure the most suitable environment for the animals. In the process, cameras visit some of the world's harshest and most extreme habitats, while also heading to many facilities where animals are kept, from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia to London and Edinburgh Zoos, to see how humans have worked to research and conserve them. The zoo has released 44 species back into the wild, 180 rhinos are born at the safari park, 22 years of research of the giant panda. Preservation Station, Skip: The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park. All AZA zoos along with the Pittsburgh zoo . This is only a few cases of unethical treatment, we can only imagine how unobserved zoos treat their animals. These are zoos where visitors can feel good about where their money is going, while still enjoying the chance to see wild animals up close, and share that experience with kids. They afford an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to encounter a range of animals, from drone bees to springbok or salmon, to better understand the natural world we live in. This may help, however not every zoo location will be on there as just looked up for the zoos in my area which are all the same group and it only showed the main zoo in the city, not the two others outside of the city. Baby bears, seals, beavers and other animals were taken in and used by the zoos for financial profit until they were no longer useful, and then either "culled" or released into the wild without. The area features acacia-like trees, kopjes, and breathtaking views. The Alaska Zoois one of the smaller ones to make this global list, but for a good reason. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and eight other countries. Click the X to close. London Zoo London is without a doubt one of the best ethical zoos in the UK and despite being so close to the City centre it offers one of the best conservation experiences you could ask for. But in addition to offering glimpses of tigers, lions, and gorillas, the zoological theme park has done wonders on growing its elephant and giraffe herds. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. And guests can walk away knowing their visit contributes, in part, toward its robust conservation programming, including its research intoconservation genetics. But as amazing as it can be to witness these wild animals up close, many activists view zoos as prisons. Another Myrtle Beach attraction, Waccatee Zoo doesnt even attempt to claim that they are involved in any kind of preservation or conservation efforts (although they do donate to local charities that support human causes). Overall, you'll feel good about your choice to visit this zoo, plus admission is free. Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. The Denver Zoo's annual "Squish the Squash" event in October 2018. Read More If you need a little help starting your research, check out theAssociation of Zoos and Aquariums(AZA) and itslist of AZA-accredited locations. https://www.waza.org/members/find-a-waza-zoo-or-aquarium/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_zoo_associations. Come check out everything from reptiles to sea lions, a gorilla family to colorful Caribbean fish, and more, all in one place. Yet, they have also been known to be unethical or dangerous for both the animals and people. Its also the only one with national status. Any zoo, aquarium, or amusement park that houses animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). LinkedIn If you continue using our website, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website and you agree to our Privacy Policy. Its past time for transparency with these institutions, and its past time to eliminate zoos from our culture. I am a veterinarian who was a zoo and wildlife park employee for years before obtaining my veterinary degree. Some aspects of the most ethical and the best zoos in the world include: Progressive conservation projects . In 2017, a baby elephant was born here (the first in a decade), but was premature and rejected by the mother. As you'd expect from the largest theme park in the world, Disney's Animal Kingdom has plenty of animals living on its 580 acres. One of the most ethical zoos in the country is in Seattle. ) is one of the most popular, controlled environments where the public can view and learn wild. Conservancy is committed to fighting the extinction of several endangered species and their conservation initiatives... 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