Educational Programs | Cat Facts | Species Information | Cat Controversies | Just for Kids

What is the purpose of a zoo?

This is a loaded question that can be answered many ways! I will render my option of what our zoos purpose is; you are welcome to disagree or agree! I have always felt that discussion and honesty in this area is needed and hope nothing I say is misconstrued as an attack on the zoo community at large. It has been very difficult for zoos over the years to have the same purpose year after year. Like any other organizations, zoos get pushed and pulled in all directions depending on public opinion.   Ask the question; what is the purpose of your local zoo? Once a clear purpose is explained, you can make a determination if the purpose of the zoo is being met and if it meets with your approval. I think you might be surprised what you find out in relationship of what you thought! Our purpose at the Cat Haven is to save cats in the wild. Everything we do is predicated on that basic premise. With that as the backdrop, we don't take cats others don't want any more (rescue), we don't rehabilitate cats to be returned back to the wild (rehab.), we don't collect cats for our private indulgence (others). Every zoo has a purpose and they might have a different purpose than others. For example, rescue facilities are in the business of helping animals that need homes. It is a very different purpose from what we do at the Cat Haven. That doesn't mean what we do here at the Cat Haven is more important; it is just different. At the Cat Haven, we don't represent ourselves as a rescue facility and I would hope a rescue facility would not represent themselves as a conservation facility unless they did that type of work also. Find the purpose and see if the zoo is doing what you think a zoo should be doing!

In the first days of the zoo, animals were put on display for the purpose of people to see. Period! No considerations were given to the animals, the attention was given to the public viewing of the animals without risk of harm.The theme seemed to be one of entertainment! This way of thinking was the norm for many years until people started to belief that animals in captive situations were due a better life. This believe began to take hold and zoos had to start thinking about change. If the purpose of the zoo is to have people see animals (and be entertained) they needed to make the animals cages look pleasing for the public. If the public thinks the animals are not happy at the zoo, they would be less likely to visit that zoo again. Image is everything and the wrong image was being portrayed. Zoos started to build big elaborate cages, costing millions of dollars. In my opinion zoos have gone too far in that direction. Don't misunderstand the issue! I believe that animals in zoos should have a nice home, but the economics of enclosures needs to be put into perspective. We are in a time where zoos have to take a lead roll in saving animals. Spending millions of dollars on caging is not going to save animals in the wild. What is the purpose of the zoo?

Speaking from the perspective of cat conservation, currently there is no viable way of reintroducing captive cats back into the wild. Second, there is very little habitat for these cats to be put back into. With that being the case, the zoos should be far more diligent in conservation and protection of animals in the wild. Are you thinking to yourselves, "that's what I thought zoos did."? I was at a meeting with many zoo officials in 1999. A director from a very large zoo said, " It is very difficult to hit people over the head with a conservation message when they come to my zoo to be entertained". Is the main purpose of the zoo; to entertain people? If that is the case, should the zoos change their name? Maybe the name "amusement park" would be more descriptive of the operation. I would have no problem with an organization saying that they were an amusement park for animals. People could make a decision if they wanted to support the facility or not. Honesty is the key and I see far too little of it in the animal world.  If zoos want to be known as the leaders in conservation, most will have to change the way they conduct business. It is hard to justify spending millions of dollars for the caging of a few animals while allowing other animals to be vanquished in the wild because of lack of funding. What is the purpose of the zoo?

Don't be afraid to ask questions of your local zoo! If education is the only effort being made for conservation, the zoo better be doing a tremendous job. Anyone with animals can educate, but do they inspire people to take an active roll in conservation? Do they put real money in the field? Some zoos try and say they do conservation because they have a captive breeding program! There is a need for a limited captive breeding program but the key word is limited. Again, no one can save wild animals in a zoo. Be real and practical and I hope your zoo will be honest with you. Our zoos are a great resource, but sometimes they need to be brought back to reality. What is the purpose of a zoo?