Captive Tiger Management Activity in San Diego Zoo and Malacca Zoo. Tiger (Panthera tigris) is one of the best-known large mammals and the largest living cat. However, their numbers in the wild are decreasing significantly. According to Seidensticker et al. (2010), there are three subspecies becoming extinct since the 1940s. Particularly, Panthera tigris sumatrae or also known as Sumatran tiger is now listed as critically endangered, with around 300 individuals proposed to be living in the wild (Seidensticker et al., 2010). Nowadays, tigers are facing serious conflict with humans over resources in their natural habitat as human activity largely causing their decline. In addition to in situ efforts, wildlife parks and zoos play an important role in the conservation of this species. Nowadays, it is believed that there are more tigers in captivity, including wildlife parks, zoos, and circuses compared to in the wild (Szokalski, 2012). Thus, it appears opportune to explore what is the best practices for captive management in San Diego Zoo and Malacca Zoo, in order to obtain a greater understanding of how to improve their lives in captivity. San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre park located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park. The zoo is a home to over 3700 endangered and rare animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2014). The zoo was established by Harry M. Wegeforth, M. D. on October 2, 1916. Malacca Zoo is a 54-acre zoological park located in the town of Ayer Keroh in the state of Malacca, Malaysia. More than 1200 animals of 215 species can be found at the Malacca Zoo. The zoo was established in 1963, but its management was later taken over by the Department of Wildlife and Nat... ... middle of paper ... ...er/tiger.htm San Diego Zoo. (2013). Computer models help manage deadly disease. Retrieved from http://www.sandiegozooglobal.org/what_we_do_preventing_disease/at_the_zoo/computer_models_help_manage_deadly_disease/ Schaul, J. C. (2012, November 2). Interview with San Diego Zoo’s Animal Enrichment Expert-Dr. Lance Miller. News Watch. Retrieved from http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/11/02/interview-with-san-diegos-zoos-animal-enrichment-expert-dr-lance-miller/ Szokalski, M. S., Litchfield, C. A., & Foster, W. K. (2012). Enrichment for captive tigers (Panthera tigris): Current knowledge and future directions. Retrieved from http://www.zoossa.com.au/__files/f/301261/Enrichment%20for%20captive%20tigers%20(Panthera%20tigris).pdf Zoological Society of San Diego. (2014). About San Diego Zoo Global. Retrieved from http://www.sandiegozoo.org/disclaimers/aboutus.html
Have you ever decided to go to one specific zoo just because you totally loved one formidable animal in that zoo? Well, that’s what happened to me when I went to a zoo. I saw this lion and totally loved it. When they’re born they mark their territory by urinating on it. When they get a bit bigger they learn from their parent how to hunt by watching them do it. They also learn how to communicate with their parents when they misbehave they receive a slap from their parents. Some lions are lucky by being left in the wild and some are obliged to go in zoos and being in confinement. When they’re born they eat small things but when they grow up they can even kill and
Similar to the human illness Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), zoochosis is related to animals that have been captured from their native habitat and placed into a restricted exhibit in zoos and aquariums (“Animal Facts”). Significantly, zoochosis can reduce the overall management of stress and could decrease the overall life expectancy of an animal. The assistance of animal caretakers does not benefit the animal in certain situations as well. Illnesses that are not prevailing in the animal’s initial environment are developed inside the captive walls. Unfortunately, the animals are incapable of developing any form of resistance to these viruses (“Zoos”). Likewise, the treatments animals are faced with hurt them both emotionally and physically. Nevertheless, animal nutritionists have been improving the diets of animals, including the extension of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. “Besides ample quantities of fresh food, substantial effort is made in preparing a diet that is adequate and healthy for the animals.” (Haque 334). Considering the transition from an abundant amount of diverse foods, animals need a replacement in their diet, which increases their health.. Regardless of this positive enhancement in the zoo, animals still suffer due to the overcrowded and limited environment, and lack of treatment or care for the
Kagan R, Veasey J. Challenges of Zoo Animal Welfare. In: Kleiman DG, Thompson KV, Baer CK, editors. Wild Mammals in Captivity: Principles and Techniques for Zoo Management, 2nd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. p. 11-21.
Thousands of zoos worldwide are visited by citizens yearly to admire and satisfy their curiosity of the beautiful wild animals that mother nature has to offer. Zoos have been around for hundreds of years and have become a known tradition for numerous school field trips and family outings. The ongoing debate between animal rights activists and zoo officials remains, should wild animals be taken from their natural habitats to live in city zoos for education and entertainment purposes?
Even though zoos try to imitate the natural habitat of each animal, the area for the zoo might not be able to support the animals needed environment. When visiting a zoo many people fail to notice that the animals have living areas measuring an acre or smaller. “Their enclosures are often small, barren, and without shade or privacy” (Laws). “Animals also need to endure dirty living conditions, stagnant water, and hard floors to sleep on at night” (Laws). It’s obvious that in the wild any animal has almost unlimited space to live in. They catch and forage for food naturally and mate naturally.
Many dedicated and talented individuals have blazed the trail and numerous zoos, wildlife centers, and researchers worldwide have and continue to successfully implement training protocols and programs. Two individuals who are carrying the torch today are Karen Pryor and Barbara Heidenreich. They work independently and have slightly different training methods, but their commonalities show through with their success stories.
"How Zoos Are Saving Our Animals." – Features – ABC Environment (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
The history of change regarding the varying displays of animals has been gradual yet profound. A clear shift has been evident surrounding the role and nature of a zoo’s position within society. When assessing zoological history it seems that there are three distinct phases. From the early collections where animals were kept and used for religion, hunting and entertainment to the private menageries in which wild animals were contained as a sign of wealth, dominance and privilege and more recently the development of zoos as modern ins...
Redford, Kent H., Deborah B. Jensen, and James J. Breheny. "Integrating The Captive And The Wild." Science 338.6111 (2012): 1157-1158. Environment Index. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
Zoos today say that one of their main goals is to conserve endangered species and eventually reintroduce them back into the wild. However, Benjamin Beck, former associate director of biological programs at the National Zoo in Washington, found that over the past century only 16 of 145 reintroduction programs worldwide ever actually restored any of the animals back to the wild (qtd. in Fravel). He also found that a majority was carried out by the government and not the actual programs themselves. Beck noted that the billions of dollars the zoos were receiving were going towards hi-tech exhibits and marketing strategies to get people to go to the zoos. So which zoos are actually attempting to save the lives they claim to be? According to David Hancocks, a former zoo director with 30 years’ experience, many zoos that are not affiliated with the AZA do not spend hardly any of their fu...
Because of breeding, such endangered species, two examples of which being the golden lion tamarin and the Przewalski’s wild horse, have improved in numbers significantly (Smithsonian). Although they are bred in captivity, it protects and preserves the animals from s...
Shows comprise of predatory animals like tigers and lions performing tricks through the command of a trainer. This gives the wrong impression to children that these animals are used for amusement and as objects (127). Rather than highlighting the ecological significance and the need for conservation towards these animals, children will most likely remember them as animals that perform (128). Further implications can increase exotic pet trade, under market values, the price for a lion or tiger cub is $2,500 (127). The survival rate for these cubs are slim because 98% of all exotic pets in the United States die within the first two years (127). These are the results of treating wild animals as mere objects for human
Mason, Georgia J. "Species Differences in Responses to Captivity: Stress, Welfare and the Comparative Method." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 25.12 (2010): 713-21. Print.
In the last fifty years alone, approximately 50 percent of Africa’s lions have disappeared. Recently, lions have also faced the threat of canned hunting — hunts in which animals are confined in an area from which they cannot escape. Thousands of people visit facilities where they interact with lion cubs. To pet, cuddle and have their photographs taken with a cute lion. The workers who work at the sanctuary , bottle feed and hand raise the lions. Breeders who charge the public to pet and take photos with young cubs, tell the customers many things, including that the cubs will have good homes after they get too big to be used for petting. No captive bred lion has ever been released back into the wild and
Syne, A., 2006. Meta-analytic review of the effects of enrichment on stereotypic behavior in zoo mammals. Zoo Biology , 25(4), pp. 317-337.