The overall purpose of the assignment was to observe the various behavioral patterns of the flamingos. The observations included squawking, grooming, head dip, wing flap, and head rub. The study took place in the early afternoon at Zoo Miami, and we observed the Flamingos in their exhibit for approximately fifteen minutes. Data sequences were collected for each of the behaviors listed above and were documented in our notebooks. The data was further analyzed in class.
For as long as most people can remember, zoos have always been around. Zoos are where an adult’s childhood springs back to life as they experience the joys of seeing a lion roar, monkeys swing through trees, otters swishing up to the glass, and dolphins dancing out of the water with a splash. It would be difficult to look around a zoo and not see at least a glimmer of a smile on each of the faces in the area. Families and friends come together to support the many different types of animals in zoos, learning what they are and how their species came to be. It is an education and invigorating trip for each and every person who walks by.
First, I will share with you the physical and mental effects of animals in institutions such as zoos and Sea World.
Zoos present a certain blend of nature and culture. They have always provided a way to bring natural wildlife and urban Americans together as a means of entertainment. Yet, throughout the years the role of zoos have changed. Though once used for amusement, zoos are now being used for education on preservation and the welfare of endangered species. One may wonder where and how the idea of zoos started and just how they, and the environment around them, have changed throughout history.
Zootopia is one of Disney’s most successful films in recent years. Its main goal at the time was to use animals as metaphors for humans in order to help kids understand racial tensions in the police and with the public. Disney achieved this, as well as incorporating underlying psychological themes that could be interpreted by audience members both big and small. They were harder to uncover, but some that I noted are how the characters are unique depending on how they were born and raised, the effects of isolation, and how they build relationships. I believe it’s important to look at the behavior of these animals since this film can be used as a tool to help children, and even adults, deal with their own behavior.
As the animal rights movement has developed and grown substantially in recent years, there has been an increased focused on the welfare of captive animals. A popular institution that has received much attention for keeping animals captive is the zoo. Because of this focus, zoos have responded by publicizing their positive benefits for existence in order to justify keeping these animals on display. Since the term “zoo” can have a wide variety of meaning and characteristics, it is important to define what constitutes a zoo in this essay. Zoos are defined as a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and
Last weekend, I began researching the ethnography of Los Angeles Zoo and observed the humans and animals interacting. Los Angeles Zoo includes Botanical Garden which has many entertainment activities for visitors. It also offers many shows, such as Angela Collier World of Birds Theater and Elephant Training Demonstration. Los Angeles Zoo has decent selection of animals anyone can enjoy seeing them. The zoo lies on the north of Los Angeles. It is next to Western Heritage Way, and behind Autry National Center and Museum. There are several parks surround the Los Angeles Zoo like Griffith Park, Wilson Golf Course, and Mount Sinai Memorial Park. This area is completely covered by trees and grasses. This shape gives the visitor an imaginary picture of real rainforest. There some notes on the visitors parking that it is not enough, so the visitors tend to park their cars in another spot and walk about four minute to arrive. Always arrive early to not wait for a while to get tickets.
This research would aid zookeepers in determining the necessary and effective measures that would improve the lives of their contained animals (Welty, "300 Days"). When chimpanzees are being contained in zoos, it is necessary that they receive proper care and habitat. The Chimpanzoo Project's main objective was to reveal that wild chimpanzees do not undergo behavioral changes that would be caused by being placed in a peculiar environment, therefore setting an example of how captive chimps should be treated. By enlisting the help of many people across the world to document the behaviors of chimps, Goodall demonstrated the importance of mimicking a natural environment for captive animals so as to not interrupt the normal processes of chimp's everyday lives (Welty, "300 Days"). Goodall raised awareness that the main purpose of keeping zoos was being conflicted with the way that some chimps were being carelessly treated. Animals that are placed in zoos should capture the wonder of nature, and bring the unknown actions of wildlife to the minds of people. However, when chimps' habitats in zoos are not similar to their natural environments, their actions do not reflect those that would be executed in a normal environment, defeating the purpose of containing wild animals to show their antics to curious onlookers. Goodall's initiatives inspired members of society to learn more about the needs of their chimps, in turn enabling zookeepers to maintain more suitable habitats for their chimpanzees as they become aware of how their original exhibit was harming the
In BrickLAB Zoo, students learn about the incredible adaptations of animals all over the globe. Every day of camp, they’ll camouflage with chameleons or shake claws with lobsters as they use the BrickLAB bricks to build different animals and immerse themselves in all the ecosystems the world has to offer. From the science of how a camel’s hump helps it survive in harsh deserts to the complicated languages of monkeys, each animal’s adaptation is essential for survival in a particular environment. These traits are the key to the questions that come up as students design and build their own zoo. From the tallest Himalayan peaks to the deepest parts of the ocean, with BrickLAB Zoo, it’s the student’s time to answer the call of the wild.
The Disney film Zootopia, was an animated film based on animals which possess humanistic traits. In the past, there were distinct versions of predator and prey, however they now live together in “harmony”. Or, this was how a bunny, named Judy Hops, pictured this town known as Zootopia. When Judy decided to move to Zootopia to make her dream of becoming a cop come true she began to find out everything she had heard about animals living in peace was not exactly true. Animals were constantly fighting and showing discrimination toward one another. However, through determination, Judy proved herself as a reliable police officer by working on a missing otter case. From this case, she could finally make her dream come true, which is one of the many lessons that could be learned from this film.
Throughout this semester, I have the opportunity to get hands-on experience working with animals that live in enclosures. Having an internship as a zookeeper for the Lehigh Valley Zoo, I gained many valuable skills to use in my future career of helping animals. From this internship, I was able to take much knowledge and appreciation from the animals and the different people working alongside of me. I now know how to work with animals in captivity, care for those animals, and the different behavioral techniques for these animals.
According to AZA more than 195 million visitors explore zoos, aquariums, and circuses annually, but do the visitors really understand the conditions associated with the three attractions? Families around the globe love their pets and would do anything for them to have a excellent life. Yet families allow exotic wild animals to be put in small-scale cramped enclosures, forced to be seen by thousands of visitors each day. Zoos, aquariums, and circuses have a reputation as being excellent research and learning centers. However, the conditions of zoos, circuses, and aquariums are actually harmful to the animals they contain.
“Zoos try to make the animal’s enclosure as interesting as possible. One way of doing this is through ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT. Enrichment is the use of novel objects or ideas to increase the natural behaviour of the animals. Different objects and methods are used for different animals.” (1)
The sun was shining, the sky was spotted with clouds, and the wind was whistling as it passed through the trees. Overall, it was the perfect day to visit the zoo. Smiling, happy children bounded beside me as I walked underneath the large, blue and yellow sign announcing “The Colorado Zoo.” As I walked onto the sidewalk, I looked out over the “habitats.” The big, colorful signs advertising the exotic animals “brought from all over the world!” Animals that were taken from their home, taken from their habitats, and taken to a world where they are put on display. Animals who are forced to live out their lives in zoos in unhealthy, degrading, and devastating ways.
From childhood, most of us have fond memories of going to the zoo. We were entertained by the variety of animals that we were not able to see on a regular basis. Visitors of a zoo get to see exotic, and local animals of that area. Going to a zoo gives children and adults a chance to learn about different animals. Certain zoos also promote the conservation of endangered species. To people of all ages, zoos are just plain fun. This essay will support the operation of zoos based on their entertainment and educational value, and their ability to save some species from extinction.