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Initially, in 1866, the zoo was housed in Woodward s Gardens of the Mission District and was later moved to the Golden Gate Park exhibiting bears, emus, beavers, sheep, kangaroos, moose, goats, elk, and bison in the park meadows as well as a two-acre aviary full of birds. When Herbert Fleishhacker wanted to exhibit other animals such as lions, tigers, great apes and elephants, the zoo s current setting was proposed. A grizzly bear named Monarch was the first animal in what would become the SF Zoo. Monarch was California's last captive grizzly, and he became an important symbol of the state's evolving relationship with vanishing wildlife. Monarch's affiliation with the began in 1889 when San Francisco Examiner media magnate, William Randolph Hearst, engaged one of his reporters, Allen Kelly, in a heated debate over whether grizzlies still existed in California. Hearst ended the argument by challenging Kelly to go out and find one. After nine months in the San Gabriel Mountains, Monarch was captured and lived more than 20 years in captivity; first at Woodward Gardens, then in Golden Gate Park. He never made it to the Zoo s current location, but is credited for causing Fleishhacker to find the current location. 2
"The mission of the is to connect people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature and advance conservation action." Zoos are becoming more aware of the role they can play in preventing species extinction. Zoos also aid conservation by inspiring people to learn more about the diversity of life. The evolution of the into what we know today has been one of steady progress toward a primary mission of conservation. The s priorities include the welfare of their collection by providing quality animal care and enrichment. The zoo s Wellness and Conservation Center looks at developing techniques and implementing practices that ensure the animals are thriving. The zoo has become an ambassador for animal conservation. 3
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) was founded in 1924; it is the organization that is responsible for establishing high standards of practice and care for all facilities that fall under their jurisdiction. Every 5 years, zoos go through an accreditation process; the AZA inspects zoos to insure that each zoo is maintaining their rigorous standards for exhibits, animal care, education, conservation, and research. The is AZA accredited and represents a uniquely successful partnership between the City of San Francisco and the logical Society. The SF Zoo is one of over 220 accredited zoos and aquariums in the United States. Accredited zoos develop public confidence by knowing that an institution meets or exceeds current professional standards. 4
AZA (American Zoos and Aquariums) made conservation efforts of zoos and participation in programs such as SSP s and TAG s mandatory for accreditation, thus zoos were encouraged to make conservation a significant part of their operation. SSP - Species Survival Plans are management programs for endangered species. There are currently 300 species in SSP programs. The SSP keeps a studbook of all, determines which animals should be mated, and develops long-term research and management strategies for the species. SSP managed species at the zoo include the lion-tailed macaque, the mandrill, North American river otter, polar bear, 5 lemur species, siamang, snow leopard, giraffe, lion, black and white colobus, Siberian and Sumatran tigers, black rhino, Asian rhino, chimpanzee, Western lowland gorilla, Francois langur, Great hornbill, Patas monkey, and West African crowned crane. TAGs - Taxon Advisory Groups are management programs for larger groups of animals such as marine mammals. Studbooks strictly monitor and recommend breeding strategies for animals in zoos collections. Carefully monitoring genetic representation of the animals in zoos will allow for future genetic diversity. With shrinking and fragmented habitats in the wild, the genetic diversity of wild, particularly endangered species is declining. The well managed Zoo populations have become a genetic ark for these species. 5
The Red Data Book is published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN). This book is an important tool in wildlife management and consists of a constantly updated list of animals in jeopardy and give their status, distribution, population, habitat, as well as conservation measures taken and those proposed. It is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. Endangered: Taxa in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating. Threatened: Taxa believed likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the causal factors continue operating. IUCN supports work at international and national level on wildlife. You can go to their website: www.iucn.org 6
International trade contributes to endangerment of many animals. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Cites provides framework for participation by governments in regulating trade in wildlife specimens and conservation efforts; governments adopt own laws at national level enforcing conservation. Cites also provides control of trade for selected species considered endangered. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. You can go to their website: www.cites.org 7
Nowadays zoos serve three main purposes: conservation, environmental education and entertainment. The public s perception of a zoo is entertainment, education and lastly conservation in that order. Zoos have changed dramatically over the past few decades since the enactment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973; the law prohibited any action that causes a "taking" of any listed species of endangered fish or wildlife. In 1981, the Species Survival Plan (SSP), overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), was created as a cooperative population management and conservation program for selected species in zoos and aquariums in North America. Each SSP manages the breeding of a species in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population, that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. As zoo docents, it is our job to educate the general public, and especially the next generation, as to the importance of species survival. We are the conduit between the animal and the public. Docents raise public awareness when we communicate the need for conservation of the species, preservation of habitat, captive breeding, ongoing research, and the reintroduction of endangered animals to the wild when possible. Zoos are a necessity not just because they bring people face to face with animals or provide and afternoon s entertainment, but because they unite the community around a core set of principals. These principals are based on understanding that all living things on the planet are interconnected and interdependent. When we lose or endanger these connections, we not only threaten the lives of other species, but we endanger all life on the planet. 8
The San Francisco zoo staff promote positive environments for their animals so that they can thrive. An enriched captive environment is one that is interesting, allows animals to perform natural behaviors, permits animals to be more active, and provides animals with additional choices, which increases the animals' control over their environment leading to an improvement in the animal s mental state. Enrichment is offered to our animals every day with varied food choices, often hidden to encourage foraging and problem-solving; large boomer balls" that are not only toys, they can also be filled with feed pellets that fall out when rolled a certain way; items sprayed with scents from other animals; or even the design of the exhibits to resemble a natural habitat. Although most of the animals in zoos were bred in captivity and have never lived in the wild, captive breeding has not removed their natural, wild instincts. Since everything is provided for them food, water, shelter, and safety enrichment provides psychological and physical challenges to keep them active and interested in their surroundings. The zoo s animals are trained to preform certain tasks such as a cat presenting its tail for a blood draw or to lie down on a platform so that the vets can perform an ultrasound and a bear presenting its rear for an injection or raise its paw for inspection. These simple things allow veterinary care of some of the larger animals without having to put the animal under anesthesia and reduces the stress on the animal. 9
Conservation practices exist throughout the zoo. An example is Greenie s Corner, which is a demonstration garden that highlights energy conservation, sustainable practices, and water conservation. The zoo is also eco-friendly as evidenced by its recycling, composting, waterbottle refilling station and its electric vehicle charging station. The Zoo is also a member of the San Francisco Seafood Watch Alliance, a partnership aimed at raising local consumer, restaurateur, and seafood industry awareness as to importance of acquiring seafood from sustainable sources. The zoo supports local conservation efforts and has been successful in bald eagle and condor breeding programs as part of the Avian Conservation Center. They now have head start release programs for native California species such as the Western Pond Turtle, Sierra Nevada Yellowlegged frog, and the Pacific Chorus Frog. The Zoo Crew, a group of middle school youth volunteers, restores native habitats in San Francisco as a way of preserving native species. The zoo also participates in global conservation field work that includes but is not limited to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Jane Goodall Institute, International Rhino Foundation and Species Survival Plans (SSPs). You can go to the zoo s website (sfzoo.org), for a complete up to date list of conservation efforts at the zoo. 10
Research the conservation message and identify the easy action item. From their you can craft your message. First you want them to care about the animal that is endangered. Next you want to give them and easy action item that is doable for them and finally explain how this will help the situation. The mission is to get zoo guests to care about the situation, even though they don t fully understand it. 11
Provide the visitor with a variety of realistic solutions they can apply to the problem. For example. Reduce consumption: conserve water and energy, turn off lights when not in use, turn off water when brushing teeth, take shorter showers, plant native drought tolerant plants, repurpose materials or reuse by bringing to thrift shops, walk or ride your bike, recycle newspapers, glass, cans etc., don t buy things you don t need Education yourself and others on conservation issues Volunteer and/or contribute to conservation organizations Look for and purchase eco-friendly products Choose you pets wisely: make sure you can take care of them and don t release unwanted pets to the wild; avoid purchasing exotic pets Purchase sustainable items: use Monterey Bay Aquarium s Sustainable Seafood Watch Guide in choosing fish, avoid consuming slow growing hardwoods, non recyclable plastics and petroleum made products 12
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Definitions: AZA: Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredits zoos and aquariums that have met rigorous standards. SSPs: Species Survival Plans are management programs designed to ensure the survival of threatened or endangered species that live in zoos or aquariums. TAGs: Taxon Advisory Groups examine the conservation needs of an entire taxa, and develop recommendations for population management and conservation based upon the needs of the species. IUCN: The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources maintains a red list of threatened species which is used for guiding conservation action and policy decisions. CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Studbooks: a record of the lineage of a wild animal bred in captivity; it is an animal s family tree. Threatened: Although threatened and vulnerable may be used interchangeably when discussing IUCN categories, the term threatened is generally used to refer to three categories: critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable. Vulnerable refers to the least at risk category. Critically endangered: taxa facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Endangered: Taxa in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating. Vulnerable: Taxa likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve. Enrichment: a process for improving or enhancing zoo animal environments and care within the context of their inhabitants' behavioral biology and natural history. 14