A Comparison of the Utica Zoo, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and the National Zoo

Transcription

1 Adrienne Stroup Maymester Paper A Comparison of the Utica Zoo, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and the National Zoo On some levels zoos are no different from conventional museums in how they serve the public, operate within their communities, and network between other zoos. Like museums, zoos provide an educational and entertaining experience for the general public. In fact, zoos are museums, and the only difference between them and other museums is that their collections are living. Zoos often face opposition; many critics argue that the containment of animals as cruelty. However, zoos are responsible for a lot more than merely caging animals for public amusement. Modern zoos are changing their exhibition spaces and interpreting their living collections for a more environmentally savvy audience, with a focus on conservation. Three examples are the Utica Zoo in Utica, NY, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY, and finally the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, DC. These institutions have similar missions in public outreach, conservation and education, but the way in which they carry out these programs can be restricted by their size, funding and public support. Despite limitations, smaller organizations should not be underestimated in their ability to stand out as leaders in conservation and environmental stewardship within their communities. Though the Utica Zoo is the smallest of the three, it is strongly supported by its community. Located within the city, approximately two and a half miles from downtown, the zoo lies on eighty acres of land, thirty-five of which are currently developed. The institution opened in 1909, and is home to over two hundred

2 animals. 1 Today there are a variety of species, grouped along trails according to their region of origin, such as the African Alley, Asian Realm, and North Trek Trail. One of the main attractions of Africa Valley is the lion exhibit, home to two females and one male. Asian Realm is home to such species as Bactrian camels, and Tibetan Yaks. The North Trek Trail allows the visitor to travel out to the edge of the park and view North American species, such as the Northern lynx and red fox. There is also a children s zoo, with animals to represent each letter of the alphabet from Alpacas to Zebus. The alphabet layout is a whimsical idea but this exhibit could be misleading to some patrons. The children s zoo is not entirely a petting zoo, which most children s exhibits are. However, labels are prominently displayed if the animals do indeed bite. In addition to the trails, there are a few indoor exhibits too, such as the reptile house and educational building, primate house, and butterfly garden. One of the most prominent and surprising features of the zoo is a fountain in the shape of a giant watering can, as seen in Figure 1. This two thousand pound public sculpture is the largest watering can in the world, and was commissioned by Mayor Edward Hanna to inspire and encourage growing a more beautiful city. 2 This symbolic piece of public art really ties in with the spirit and the mission of the zoo, as a vital part of Utica s community. Local businesses and members of the community love their zoo and are proud supporters of it, as demonstrated by the number of plaques and banners of supporters, donors and friends of the zoo displayed throughout the park. The mission of the Utica Zoo is to foster public understanding and appreciation of wildlife species and their ecosystems through education, conservation and recreation. 3 To help fulfill their mission, the zoo offers guided tours, the Utica ZooMobile, and even an education collection of animals with an example from the following groups: mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians.

3 The Utica ZooMobile is a traveling program that brings the animals to local schools and day camps. Utica resident, Steve Sacco, worked at a day camp for children with physical and developmental disabilities one summer and remembers the experience to be a very positive one for him and the children. 4 They also have teacher resource boxes that include animal-related activities, information, and examples of teeth, claws, feathers, fur and other tangible items for children to see and touch. Themed boxes range from types of animals such as invertebrates, birds of prey, and tigers to climates like rainforests, and even dinosaurs. Extinct dinosaurs may seem like a strange educational topic for a zoo to provide, but it is interesting to note that the National Zoo also discusses dinosaurs in one of their exhibits. On Great Cats Hill, there is a sign in front of the lions that makes a comparison between these impressive predators and the most famous carnivore of all time, Tyrannosaurus rex. Along with this sign, a bronze cast of a Tyrannosaurus skull and a cast of its footprint are on display, as can be seen in Figure 2. These life-sized models attract a lot of attention, especially from the younger visitors. Putting the Tyrannosaurus into perspective, the labeling is done exactly as if it were one of the living animals, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. Each label has a scale along the side highlighting the population status of the animal as follows: abundant, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered and extinct. This scale, based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, Red List of Threatened Species, is actually a very powerful tool, as it shows a clear example of what will result if our endangered animals continue to dwindle in population. 5 Everyone knows the dinosaurs are extinct, and many species today are heading toward that same fate. Making this connection may help zoo officials communicate to their constituents how critical conservation is. Many zoos are becoming proactive in conservation programs, helping species on the brink of extinction recover through careful breeding programs, often

4 working with other zoos around the world to do so. The antiquated way of displaying living collections in small cages has mostly been abandoned for a more modern approach where the habitat and social nature of the animal are considered in the exhibition design. In fact, Utica is part of Species Survival Plans, or SSP, which is a global breeding program to help increase the numbers of endangered species such as tigers and the scimitar horned oryx, which is now extinct in the wild. 6 Utica s oryx is depicted in Figure 5. Another example can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute s National Museum of Natural History, seen in Figure 6. If efforts to save this species fail, natural history museum exhibits such as Mammals Hall will be the only place future generations will be able to see them. For being a relatively small institution, the lion pen at Utica s zoo is far superior to that of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, where the same number of lions have about half the space in their small indoor area to roam. Syracuse s lion enclosure is just that, an enclosure, and is not much of a habitat. It is a halfcircular wall of concrete with a glass wall for observing. This has only one advantage, being able to view these impressive cats up close, as demonstrated in Figures 7 and 8. This is a good example of an outdated zoo display. The concrete wall has a painted mural of the African savanna, but it is merely an illusion of space. At the Utica Zoo, the same number of lions, two females and a male, have access to an outside habitat large enough for them to run around and play. In addition, they have an indoor living space to endure the cold upstate New York winters. Though not as large as the Big Cats habitat at the National Zoo, Utica provides a living space for their lions more suited to the needs of these majestic cats far more effectively than Syracuse has provided. Not everything at the Utica Zoo is ideal however. The primate house, for example, is in need of renovations. It contains a few species of small monkeys but this building seems like the remnant of the old way of zoo exhibits. The room is

5 somewhat dark and made of concrete, with a few ropes for the monkeys to climb on, but it does little to evoke the look or feel of the natural habit in which these animals would be found in the wild. Here is an example of where a small zoo fails to live up to its bigger competition. Unfortunately, the primate house is located near the entrance and is one of the first exhibits visitors may see, which could cause them to have an negative reaction to the entire park. Space is not the only aspect of the habitat zoo officials must consider, but also enrichment. One prime example of this new way of exhibiting can be seen with the primate collection at the National Zoo. The O-Line, seen in Figure 9 was constructed to allow orangutans to exercise their powerful limbs by swinging along the cables high above the visitors and even the trees of the park. Allowing animals to behave as they do in the wild not only benefits the animal, but benefits the visitors too. Patrons will undoubtedly enjoy viewing the animals that are comfortable and content in their surroundings, and the experience will be more educational as well, witnessing behavior seen in the wild as opposed to animals that are confined in cages. It is encouraging to see that the Utica Zoo is under construction right now, as some new exhibits are being added near the African Valley area. All that can be seen are the new wooden paddocks with large banners displaying the Home Depot logo, the financial sponsor, along the side. Though a small institution, the Utica Zoo is a beloved fixture in the community. Its positive aspects outweigh the negative. Mr. Sacco has this to say, which sums up how many Uticans feel: The Zoo has a lot of respect and an extremely positive reputation in Utica - probably because it is heavily integrated into the community - it hosts events endlessly throughout the year, mostly for kids, including, I believe, an annual Easter egg hunt also because it draws tourism, attention, jobs and

6 adds prestige to the city - Utica gets to brag about its zoo - something even a city like Albany can't do. 7 Hopefully with this strong pride and support, the zoo will continue to enrich the community it serves and in turn will be able to protect and nurture the animals that call the Utica Zoo their home. Another upstate New York zoo is the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, located minutes away from downtown Syracuse. Similar to the Utica Zoo, its mission is to conserve, exhibit and interpret a living animal collection in order to promote public recreation, understanding of the relationship between animals and people, and action to sustain the environment we share. It opened in 1914, and is now home to around seven hundred animals on forty-three acres. 8 The animals, as well as the exhibit spaces, are more diverse than the Utica Zoo. The indoor exhibits are housed in a large C-shaped building, with the exterior Wildlife Trail extending outward from it creating a large loop around the grounds, giving the grazing animals like white-lipped deer a lot of room to roam. The self-guided tour begins with the U.S.S. Antiquities, an indoor exhibit that describes the earliest life on earth during the Cambrian period, 530 million years ago. Some fossil examples are provided, as well as posters depicting the diversity of animals from the earliest to modern life. As the zoo is not focused on natural history, this exhibit is brief, but is a nice introduction to the animal kingdom, showing the progression of life on Earth. The indoor exhibits range from fish, amphibians and birds to nocturnal animals like ocelots and social species such as meerkats and monkeys. The wildlife trail covers a lot of ground where one can see Asian elephants, Amur tigers, and a variety of animals from all regions of the world, as well some domesticated species. Their website has a page entitled Zoo Etiquette, listing simple rules visitors should abide by, out of respect for the animals, and other visitors. This is a great

7 idea but it should be enforced. 9 Signs are posted in the dimly lit hall of nocturnal animals where flash photography is prohibited, but still many people do not comply. Also, many visitors repeatedly bang on the glass of the exhibits, which is also against the etiquette. This was witnessed at the lion habitat more than any other. Guards are posted all over art museums to protect the works, but where are the guards to protect the animals? These rules should be explained to visitors upon entering the building, and actions should be taken when visitors disobey these considerations. Such behavior not only disturbs the animals but also disrupts the experience for other patrons visiting the zoo. Much like the Utica Zoo, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo has educational programs such as the Zoo to You - a traveling program similar to the Utica ZooMobile, and teacher packets in addition to providing guided tours to school groups. One of the unique aspects of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is the educational programs geared toward adults. One complaint often directed toward zoos and museums that cater to younger audiences is that the adult population is being left out unless they happen to be parents of small children. Here Syracuse s zoo has taken the lead in offering programming to adults 21 years of age and older. Twilight at the Zoo: Tiger Behind the Scenes Exclusive! is the latest event being held later in the summer of For fifty dollars, or forty-five for zoo members, visitors can go behind the scenes and after hours to participate in a guided tour focusing on the critically endangered Amur tigers, as well as the Eurasian lynx. Visitors get to see what it takes to care for the animals, without lowering the educational interpretation to a grade-school level. Furthermore, drinks and snacks are provided in the admission fee to create an event that is both educational and entertaining. 10 Though expensive, this program has proven to be popular as it is already sold out a month in advance. Similar to opening receptions at museums,

8 programs like this provide financial support to the institution and certainly demonstrate the community s interest in the animals and the zoo itself. Stimulating interest and compassion in children and adults helps zoos carry out their missions. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo, much like the Utica Zoo is also a member of SSP. Over twenty species at zoo are considered threatened or endangered and are included in the SSP program, which keeps track of breedingage animals in databases called studbooks. This inter-zoo loan program not only helps increase species numbers but also helps prevent inbreeding within a single zoo population, and in turn strengthens the species genetic makeup. The successful breeding program of the Asian elephants has been one of the efforts for which the zoo has been nationally recognized. 11 In addition to the Asian elephants, two Amur tiger cubs born at the zoo have been living at the Alaska Zoo since 2008 as a part of the SSP program. 12 This program has proven to be quite successful throughout the zoo community. Finally, ahead of its time when it was founded in 1889, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, more commonly called the National Zoo, stood out from other zoos in existence at the time with its plan to create a wildlife refuge and breeding program. 13 The one hundred and sixty three acre park is now home to two thousand animals belonging to four hundred species. Its mission is as follows: We are the Nation s Zoo, demonstrating leadership in animal care, science, education, and sustainability. We provide the highest quality animal care. We advance research and scientific knowledge in conserving wildlife. We teach and inspire people to protect wildlife, natural resources, and habitats. We practice conservation leadership in all we do. 14 This world-famous facet of the Smithsonian Institute is surprisingly nestled in the heart of Washington DC, accessible from the metro system, and can be considered

9 an oasis in the middle of the city. Tourists and locals flock to this park to escape the urban landscape and enrich their day with the many trails and exhibits the National Zoo has to offer. By far the largest of the three zoos, an all day excursion is needed to explore everything the zoo has to offer. Signs are posted along path intersections to guide visitors along the many trails and indoor exhibit houses. Some of the exhibit highlights include the famous Giant Panda Habitat, the Great Cats Habitat, the Reptile Discovery Center and the Think Tank. Dwarfing both Utica s and Syracuse s lion habitat exhibits, the National Zoo s Great Cat Habitat is a thirty thousand square foot terraced landform, divided into three regions: two for the African lions, and one for the Sumatran tigers. Not all of the cats are on exhibit at the same time though; they are put on schedules. Certain pairs of lions and only one tiger at a time are put on display, the rest are kept inside. 15 The four-tiered hill is an innovative way to use space, and simulates the cats natural environment. Lions and tigers will seek out higher places in the wild to survey their territory. Small alcoves are built into the tiers to give the cats shelter from the weather, as well as trees for shade. At night the animals are brought inside to eat and sleep. Clearly this exhibit has been thoughtfully designed to cater to the special needs of the cats, allow them enough room to explore, and protect them from the seasonal weather they are not adapted to living in Washington DC. The Think Tank is an interesting exhibit that is unlike the rest of the zoo. This science museum-style exhibit explores how animals think and learn. It also explores the concepts of animal social structure, the use of tools and communication. This exhibit demonstrates these concepts by examples from simple mazes to complex interactions between humans and animals. It also highlights the cognition of orangutans, where visitors can watch researchers

10 communicating with the primates as they test their memory through games and exercises. In addition to being a participant of the SSP program, like the Utica and Rosamond Gifford Zoos, the National Zoo has also established a world herd genome resource bank. This program is allowing the organization to reintroduce animals extinct in the wild such as the scimitar-horned oryx, which is a type of antelope once native to northern Africa, back into the wild. 16 Furthermore, the National Zoo has excellent signage, not only for each animal exhibit but also for explaining the many projects and programs zoo officials are working on behind the scenes. They are also making it much easier for patrons to help support their cause. For example, signs are posted around the elephant habitat that encourage people to give five dollars to help the Asian elephants conservation programs by texting a number, see Figure 10. This is a very positive and unobtrusive way to increase giving while utilizing modern technology. As touched on above with the construction of the O-Line, enrichment programs are another way modern institutions like the National Zoo are engaging in to give the animals the best, most natural life they can within the confines of the park environment. Knowledge of these programs is communicated to patrons through signage located throughout the zoo; see Figure 11. Another example is the Elephant Trek. Elephants often travel long distances in the wild in search of food and water, and have strong bonds within their herds. This quarter mile long trail allows the elephants to exercise together for a longer period of time, simulating their long distance walks in the wild, and not suppressing their instinctual behavior by penning them up in small area or separating them from the rest of their herd. As its mission statement declares, the National Zoo is a leader in conservation programs as well as educational programs. They provide many of the same types of educational programs as the smaller upstate New York zoos, but on

11 a grander scale. They offer teachers kits, tours to school groups, and overnight stays for children and adults. They also offer many classes to all age groups, as well as undergraduate and graduate internships to students studying zoology, biology, conservation and more. Federal funding through the Smithsonian Institute allows for a great deal of outreach programming, allowing the zoo to keep up with current trends and research in conservation and animal care, as well as education, making them an excellent model for other zoos to follow. Zoos often have a polarizing affect on people, but the negative attitude toward these institutions is changing with better understanding of animal behavior and concern for animal welfare. Director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, part of the National Zoo, Dr. Steven L. Monfort has this to say about the future of zoo exhibits, We as a society have to decide if it is going to be ethically and morally appropriate to simply display animals for entertainment purposes. In my opinion, that model is broken. There needs to be an explicit role for zoos to champion species. 17 Doctor Monfort goes on to make the point that animals in captivity should be ones that are critically endangered, not ones that are abundant in the wild. The decision to display an animal should be based on its population status, thus allowing critically endangered species a chance to recover with the help of zoo technicians and biologists, and allowing species that are thriving in the wild to continue to do so. Displaying endangered animals will help visitors connect to these animals, and will hopefully generate more interest in saving them. Along with providing educational programming to their communities, whether it is a small upstate New York city or the nation s capital, and developing innovative approaches to conservation, zoos have come a long way from the days where animals were put on display simply for our amusement. Some may argue that animals belong in the wild and not captivity, but even that argument is invalid

12 in today s society, where many animals in zoos are extinct in the wild, often as a result of poaching, habitat loss or other man-made causes. The modernization of zoos will not only help protect animals they house but will help visitors as well. Zoos, like the examples discussed above, hold a lot of power in their communities and will hopefully continue to be stewards of conservation and education, and eventually destroy the negative stigma that has been associated with zoos for many years.

13 Endnotes 1 History of the Utica Zoo and the Zoological Society. Utica Zoo. Web. 26 May Plaque. The Watering Can. Utica Zoo. Utica, NY. 10, May Hall, Mary. Re: Mission Statement. Message to Adrienne Stroup. 26 May Sacco, Steven. Re: Utica Zoo. Message to Adrienne Stroup. 28 May IUCN. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Web. 2 June Will the Utica Zoo Replace Minona the Tiger? World Zoo Today. 16 Jan Web. 27 May Sacco, Steven. 8 About the Zoo. Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Web. 2 June Zoo Etiquette. Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Web. 31 May Twilight at the Zoo: Tiger Behind the Scenes Exclusive. Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Web. 1 June Conservation On Site Programs. Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Web. 1 June Ramirez, Pedro. 2 Rosamond Gifford Zoo Tigers Going to Alaska. Syracuse.com. 21 May Web. 1 June Ewing, Heather and Amy Ballard. A Guide to Smithsonian Architecture. Washington: Smithsonian Books, Print 14 About Us. Smithsonian National Zoological Park.Web. 27 May Great Cats Exhibit. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Web. 3 June Scimitar Horned Oryx Facts. Smithsonian National Zoological Park.Web. 27 May Kaufman, Leslie. Zoos Bitter Choice To Save Some Species, Letting Others Die. New York Times 27 May Web. 28 May 2012.

14 Addendum Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

15 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

16 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11