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Eric Gray
Professor Hull
English 2010- 1:00
25 September 2015
What Do We Know About Zoos?
In recent discussions of zoos, a controversial issue has been what is the most important
role of zoos in todays society. On the one hand, people like Neil Carr and Dr. Scott Cohen, the
head of the tourism department at the University of Otago in New Zealand, believes that the
most important part of zoos is entertainment. From this viewpoint, zoos are meant to have
animals on display to amuse visitors. Then again, Roy Ballantyne and Jan Packer, two professors
at the University of Queensland, who also have published in various journals and books like New
Directions for Adults and Continuing Education, reason that education is most significant to zoos
and that the general public goes to learn. Whereas others, like Dalia Conde, an assistant professor
at the University of Southern Denmark, biology department, argue that wildlife preservation is
the key role that zoos offer, so it ultimately takes out survival of the fittest. These outlooks show
us that the topic is controversial and also asks are these perspectives are the most important roles
zoos offer?
In The Public Face of Zoos: Images of Entertainment, Education, and Conservation, Dr.
Scott Cohen and Neil Carr argue that entertainment at zoos is what keeps them in business. They
say that in todays society zoos can be found in almost any country. They also explain when
visiting a zoos website, it is primarily a place of entertainment. The website is created in order to
draw you in so you come to the zoo for amusement, as well as zoos continuously change
attractions in order for visitors to keep coming back.

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They say that zoos have always been around for enjoyment. Packer writes, The initial
zoos of the modern era followed in the footsteps of their predecessors and were created with an
emphasis on allowing the public to see the animals rather than on the needs of the animals and
with little or no concern given to animal rights or conservation; two issues which have not
reached the public agenda till relatively recently in comparison with the age of zoos. They argue
that present concerns should not reason into the history of what is the most important role in
zoos. Whether it is to make money, show power, or wealth, having animals on display for others
pleasure is the foundation of zoos.
However, Packer and Ballantyne argue in The Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Education
for a Sustainable Future that zoos are there for educational purposes. They say zoos play a vital
role in education for the future. They discuss that zoos have so much power to get the
informative message across. Whether it is conservation education, animal habits, animal food
groups, or endangered species, Packer and Ballantyne explain that the learning possibilities are
endless. They clarify that learning at a zoo is voluntary and should not be forced, which is why
zoos create fun ways to get involved.
Whereas in Zoos through the Lens of the IUCN Red List: A Global Metapopulation
Approach to Support Conservation, wildlife preservation and conservation is the key role to
zoos. Conde says that zoos are meant to be wildlife conservations. Having species under a
controlled environment (zoos) is the smartest way to go to conserve species, Conde describes.
Breeding animals in a zoo and studying how they grow in the zoo is huge to conserve animals in
their natural habitat, Conde believes. She argues that growing an animal in a zoo is still wrong,

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but more humane than taking one from their habitat and putting them in solitary confinement.
She says conservation actions are needed in the world and zoos are just a start.
Global changes are one of the higher risks to species. Conde says As threats to
biodiversity increase, the management of at-risk species requires a spectrum of interventions that
can range from habitat protection to the establishment of CBPs with the eventual aim of
reintroduction into the wild. She claims that zoos have the intention of returning species to their
natural habitat once the species is stable. Zoos are meant to be a temporary stay for animals not
permanent.
Dr. Scott Cohen and Neil Carr argue that zoos are for entertainment and are meant for
visitors to spend during their leisure time. But Packer and Ballantyne argue that zoos are meant
for learning. But Dalia Conde thinks zoos are great wildlife conversation areas. But really, which
one of these ideas is the best for zoos?
Cohen and Carr explain that entertainment is the key element as to why society has zoos.
The amusement feature is what draws in the visitors, which draws in the money. In their
perspective, visitors need to go to the zoo in order for it to be successful. In contrast, Packer and
Ballantyne had said that you cannot pressure learning at a zoo that a zoo needs to offer fun ways
to learn. Zoos need to disguise learning as entertainment. But, Car and Cohen believe that
entertainment at a zoo does not have to be essential with learning. One other thing Carr and
Cohen discusses, is that zoos need great attractions. Not only do great attractions bring in more
visitors, but Packer explains that improving zoo displays can help the research that is being done
in a zoo.

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Now in Condes perspective zoos are meant to be wildlife conservations. This goes away
from the visitor aspect of zoos and focuses on the animals and the habitats. Her argument
supports animal rights whereas Carr and Cohen along with Packer and Ballantyne do not. In
comparison, Conde had also brought up that zoos need to be improved. Going back to improving
attractions, Carr believes it will benefit the visitors, Ballantyne believes it will improve the
research, and Conde believes it will make animal living conditions bearable. Also, Packer
suggests that visitors should understand about conservative learning. Right along with Conde
who suggests that zoos are conversation centers, Packer believes there is much to offer in
education. He says the conservative learning done at a zoo can go as little as picking up some
trash around your neighborhood or as far as joining a conservative group in the community. He
calls this the after the visit effect.
Is entertainment the most important role zoos have today? Cohen and Carr make a very
strong argument right out of the gate that zoos act like a wildlife conservation to rationalize with
the people today. When in reality, zoos are meant to make money. A problem that they have when
making their argument is they give broad time frames like, These offerings are set against
declining visitor numbers to zoos between the early 1960s and mid 1990s which arguably
spurred zoos to reinvent themselves and reinvigorate their entertainment attractions. A lot
changed from the 60s to the 90s. Using a 30 year time frame isnt very strong because everything
changes in 30 years. Also, Carr and Cohen said if you look on zoos websites that it is all for
entertainment. Using images, prices, and a variety of shows and times, zoos want you to come
and experience. Carr and Cohen logically defend their position as to why entertainment is the
most important role in todays zoos.

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Then again, is education the most important role zoos have today? Packer and Ballantyne
make a solid argument that zoos center role is education. They say this because zoos have such a
unique asset of live animals and specialists that there is no other place to learn like this. Another
strong argument was using studies they had tested, using statistics and showing the results. The
downfall to this was that who can prove that these numbers are real. How trustworthy are Packer
and Ballantyne? Following that, a weaker claim they made was that education at the zoo is not
on someones to do list. Well learning is not always on someones to do list, but a lot of people
learn at zoos. Zoos emphasize education. Packer and Ballantyne used ethics and logic to argue
their point.
But yet, is preserving the wildlife the most important role zoos offer today? Dalia Conde
has a passionate argument that zoos (and aquariums) number one goal is to help preserve
wildlife. She gives evidence with charts and statistics of metapopulation in zoos. One of the
weaker elements to her argument is that Conde suggests her thoughts as ways to resolve and help
with wildlife preservation. No facts or credentials were given just solely ideas. A lot of factual
emotion was used in the fight for wildlife. She lists amounts of animals deaths due to littering
and global changes hurting species. Conde emphasized the emotion and passion for animals to
strengthen her argument.
So, Cohen and Carr believe that everyone loves entertainment and that zoos are great
places for this. Modern problems should not change the outlook of the overall look on zoos.
Packer and Ballantyne are certain that education is the greatest thing that zoos have. They think
that learning at a zoo is a given, and it is not about what they learn that day but what they retain

later on. But Dalia Conde thinks that zoos are great places for wildlife preserves. They can
protect species by keeping them in an organized environment. Similar, upgrading living
conditions benefits each issue. Should animal rights be accounted for in zoos? Should zoos being
pushing education? Or should zoos be a family place that is fun?
Works Cited
Carr, Neil, and Scott Cohen. The Public Face of Zoos: Images of Entertainment, Education, and
Conservation. Web.b.ebscohost.com. N.p., 12 June 2011. Web. 26 Sept. 2015
Packer, Jan, and Roy Ballantyne. The Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Education for a
Sustainable Future. Web.b.ebscohost.com. Wiley, Fall 2010. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.
Conde, Dalia. Zoos through the Lens of the IUCN Red List: A Global Metapopulation Approach
to Support Conservation Breeding Programs. Web.b.ebscohost.com Ed. Fernando Colchero.
N.p., 15 Dec. 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.