the zoo by olivia b. alex g. corin b. caroline c. angela i
TRANSCRIPT
The ZooBy Olivia B.Alex G. Corin B.Caroline C.Angela I.
Problems
Loss of biodiversity
Humans take advantage of animals
Changing the environment of animals
Animals in captivity
Loss of biodiversity
Biodiversity is the interaction between organisms in a certain area
Biodiversity has decreased by a third in the past 35 years
Problem needs to be solved for multiple reasons
If this does not stop or gets solved, it will disturb natural habitat and it will upset the balance of nature
Humans taking advantage of animals
-People abuse the animals’ rights in zoos.
-Zoo keepers physically abuse the animals.
- Animal rights advocates agree that they should not be used as entertainment or subjects.
Examples of Abuse
http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/5-disgusting-and-depressing-stories-of-captive-animal-abuse.html
http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/articles/zoo-story?src=keyword_s=ggl_K=animals%20in%20zoos_C=Responsibility_G=SiebertZoos_Zoos_M=p&K_CLICKID=1f1156e0-32dc-8a29-0a16-0000615e504f#fbid=jhXVN0UvKBU&src=keyword_s
Changing the environment of animals
Enrichment- a dynamic process which structures and changes an animals environment in a way that provides behavioral choices to animals and draws out their species appropriate behaviors and ability's which enhances their welfare
It is said to be that some animals, in certain situations, live longer in wild life than they do in zoos
In the past two decades, zoos have developed better enrichment for animals because of the alarming loss of biodiversity. For example, zoos will use captive breeding (raising animals in human controlled environments) to protect a species from extinction.
Some zoos don’t take care of their animals as well as they could resulting in even more biodiversity because they eventually die
Animals in captivity
Animals are taken out of the wild and put in unnatural enclosures.
Animals perform stereotypes which is bizarre, repetitive rituals.
Animals can become aggressive and attack the zoo keepers. EX: 350 pound Siberian tiger attacked and killed Carlos Sousa a zoo keeper.
Zoos are poorly funded by the government, so zoos have poorly designed facilities, are understaffed, and have poorly trained staff.
Example: 30 animals in the Taronga zoo died from unnatural feeding patterns, and lack of veterinary treatment.
Example: Elephants are social animals and in zoos they are isolated. Zoo- 16-18 years life span Wild- 50-70
Gorillas
Solutions
Safety and vet checkups at least once a month
A minimum of how many square feet a cage can be
Background checks and extensive training for workers
Better natural food
More habitats
Only animals that need rehabilitation get taken to the zoo
Have a large financial backing before opening the zoo
One way glass habitats
Biotic Relationships:
Animals interact with the humans because the workers have to feed the animals and the people who go to the zoo take pictures of animals and also feed them
Animals interact with trees and grass in the zoo by eating them for nutrition
Animals and bacteria have a relationship with each other in the zoo because they live in the same place. This is an indirect interaction.
Humans interact with bacteria in the zoo because they must clean up the zoo.
Abiotic relationships
Abiotic Factors – nonliving factors that affect living organisms.
Animals placed in zoos limits abiotic factors they have in the wild.
Abiotic Examples: Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Sunlight/Temperature, Wind, and, Water.
Specific Examples: Some wild animals are kept in indoor exhibits. In the wild they are exposed to natural sunlight while now they have artificial light.
Energy Flow
The cycling of energy is now being disrupted due to the food web being also being disrupted. Energy flow starts with the producer and works its way through different organisms through the environment If some of these organisms are extracted out of the ecosystem the amount of energy will increase its flow will be disrupted.
Zoos…
In some case not all zoos follow the path of abuse and destruction of the lifestyle of the animals
These zoos should be used as an example for the the other centers destroying the lives of many animals
Interview Questions
Q: do you send animals back into the wild
A: It was a possibility that they were going to release our deer into the wild
2. Q: have any animals become hostile towards the zoo keepers
A: yes, our cow Sara she is aggressive and volunteers aren't allowed in the exhibit. One worker got bruises from the cow.
3. Q: are the habitats cleaned often?
A: yes, very often. The exhibits are always cleaned out in the morning and periodically through the day.
4. Q: does your zoo have enough funding?
A: no they need more funding
5. Q: what is your job at the zoo?
A: I work at the children's center of the staten island zoo. I feed, clean and brush the animals and I clean out the habitats and talk to the public about the animals
6. Q: how does your zoo find animals?
A: some animals that are unwanted get dropped off at the zoo from farms and through other places
Interview questions continued…
7. Q: how any times a day are animals fed?
A: in the winter 3 times a day and in the summer 2 times. Ducks are fed dog nuggets and other animals get hay
8. Q: Have there been any reports of animal abuse?
A: one worker kicked a rooster because it pecked him ( he eventually got fired for stealing)
9. Q: What would the zoo do if two animals did not get along?
A: separate them- we had two birds attacking another bird so we had to put them in separate cages at night
10. Q: does your zoo breed animals?
A: sometimes for example shark babies and we had a pregnant sheep
11. Q: is there a rehabilitation center at the zoo?
A: there is an animal hospital where injured animals go
Staten Island Zoo
Citations
"Biodiversity Conservation: Zoos Urged to Breed Animals from Threatened Populations." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 07 June 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110317141416.htm>.
Björn Andersson (director), Frank Bach, Birgitta Frändberg, Ingrid Jansson, Christina Kärrqvist, Eva Nyberg, Anita Wallin, Ann Zetterqvist. "THE FLOW OF ENERGY THROUGH NATURE AND SOCIETY – A WORKSHOP." Na-serv. Göteborg University, 09 Mar. 2009. Web. 6 June 2012. <http://na-serv.did.gu.se/publist/pubfiler/eflowshop.pdf>.
Dybas, Cheryl. "Nsf.gov - National Science Foundation (NSF) News - Ecosystem Effects of Biodiversity Loss Rival Climate Change and Pollu
Embar, Wanda. "Zoos." Vegan Peace. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://vegan peace.com/>
"Enrichment." Enrichment. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2012. http://www.virginiazoo.org/about-the-zoo/enrichment.asp.
Jaan Suurkula, World-wide cooperation required to prevent global crisis; Part one— the problem, Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology, February 6, 2004 [Emphasis is original]
"Should Animals Be Held in Captivity?" ABC Good Morning America. ABC, 28 Dec 2007. Web. 30 May 2012<http://abcnews.go.com/>
Citations continued…
Zimme, Jordan. "What Are Examples of Biotic and Abiotic Factors?" WikiAnswers. Answers, 18 June 2012. Web. 07 June 2012. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_examples_of_biotic_and_abiotic_factors>.
"Zoos." Animal Liberation Quuensland. Evoke Studios, 2004. Web. 31 May 2012<http://www.animalliberationqld.org.au/zoos.htm>
"Zoo Story." The Responsibility Project by Liberty Mutual. Web. 06 June 2012. <http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/articles/zoo-story?src=keyword_s=ggl_K=animals%20in%20zoos_C=Responsibility_G=SiebertZoos_Zoos_M=p>.
"5 Disgusting and Depressing Stories of Captive Animal Abuse." TreeHugger. Web. 06 June 2012. <http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/5-disgusting-and-depressing-stories-of-captive-animal-abuse.html>.