Two experts in animal welfare say captivity and enclosures fall short of natural, wild environments. Here's how they envision a brighter future for vulnerable species.
, former zookeeper and founder of three nonprofit wildlife conservation organizations. Others, he says, should be encouraged to evolve into something he calls “conservation parks.” Cocks once attempted to start a zoo under this conversation-park premise, beginning with orangutans.
“The idea from a welfare perspective is that every orangutan should be in the best place that will allow them to live the best life possible,” says Cocks.Tyson says some people argue that animals that don’t wander far in the wild might not even realize if they are living a life in captivity. However, that seldom applies to the fan-favorite creatures such as giraffes, orca whales and bears. “The ones we want to see most are the ones who suffer the most,” Tyson says.
“They have anxieties about the past and worries about the future. And they need to have control over their physical environment, but most importantly their social environment,” says Cocks. More specifically, these animals need control over what other animals they see or encounter, and when that takes place.Cocks acknowledges that elements like veterinary science, enclosure design, diet and behavioral enrichment have come a long way in some captivity programs.
Cocks says zoos will often justify their existence by claiming they serve as proverbial arks for animals that will assist with the extinction crisis. While this can be true for small species and some larger species, he argues it only works when there is a targeted breeding program attached to reintroducing animals into the wild. Megafauna — such as tigers, elephants, great apes and other animals that are the largest in a habitat — cannot be saved in this way, he adds.
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