When it comes to a topic like zoos, you can expect that there will be a really long list of pros and cons and today we’re going to have a look at some really incredible secrets about what happens at zoos and some not so incredible too. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments below, sharing your experience of zoos.


12 - Alone Time…
And not because the animal has asked for it, but because most zoos that receive a new animal will keep the animal in quarantine for up to 60-days to ensure they are clear of any parasites and diseases.

11 - For safe-keeping…
We mentioned reintroduction earlier, and this fact is in a similar vein to that. If there is a species in the wild that people are concerned about, then zoos have been known to set up ‘insurance’ populations. Should that species become extinct, then there is a back-up plan in place. The Amur leopard is a good example of that, and despite the fact that there’s only a few dozen in the wild, there are more than 200 in captivity.


10 - Get an education…
Many believe that zoos are good because they’re educational, but others will tell you that this is a big lie. We’re not going to tell you what to believe, but those who believe the latter will tell you that the only thing zoos teach you is that it’s acceptable to keep animals in captivity. Those that visit zoos only spend a few minutes at each enclosure, which doesn’t give you nearly enough time to learn something important about each animal, and on top of that, their living habitat is not normal. So, the information being imparted is a half-truth!

9 - See it to believe it…
It’s hard to imagine people getting away with this, but there are some zoos that have been known to use fake versions of the original animal and people actually believing it! You might remember the story of a zoo in China posing a Tibetan mastiff off as an African lion! Dogs have been dressed up as leopard or wolves, and sea cucumbers have been posed off as snakes! So much for getting an education.


8 - Strict standards…
A scary statistic is that only 10% of zoos in the US have their proper accreditation. Most of the zoos are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as animal exhibitors, however, they have failed to meet the high standards of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Reports suggest that often a zoo will have forgotten and outdated exhibits that are neglected due to multimillion-dollar exhibits that garner everyone’s attention.

7 - Dish of the day…
In zoos, animals tend to get fed a lot of processed foods, and many of the animals endure dental problems because of it. Their eyes, skin, fur and entire body take strain due to the incorrect food being eaten.

6 - A real danger…
What visitors to a zoo don’t realize, is that zoos can be very dangerous for the animals. If they’re in a threatening situation, it’s impossible for them to escape. Animals have been reported poisoned, starved, not given the proper veterinary care and even been exposed to fires. Humans have thrown trash into enclosures, which animals have eaten and gotten very sick from. Animals have been mistreated and hurt and should a natural disaster occur, there is no way the animal can fend for itself.


5 - One too many…
With the breeding that happens in zoos, often zoos have too many animals, so the surplus animals are sold, given away or the animal is put down under a practise known as "zoothanasia.”

4 - A joint effort…
A good factor about some zoos is that they really try hard to raise money for conservation efforts. They hope that by bringing people through their doors and educating them about the plight of some of their animals in their natural environment, that they will raise awareness and funds for those animals in need.

3 - Differing reports…
I read two different articles regarding the following point, and the one said that animals live longer in the wild and the other reported that animals live longer in a zoo. The first article mentioned that although zoos provide a safer environment, the fact that it’s unnatural shortens the animals lives dramatically. Elephants in the wild live up to 70-years and a mere 18-years in the zoo. Orcas at Sea World live roughly 13-years, whereas in the open sea, they can live to 100! The other article said zoo animals live longer as they have access to medical help should they need and are overall healthier with a better quality of life.

2 - Family Matters…
We’ve already learnt that inbreeding has been known to happen in zoos, causing all sorts of complications for the babies, and there’s more to this story about the breeding of captive animals. Animals in captivity don’t get to choose their mates, they often give birth to test-tube babies to make breeding faster and their babies have been sold or traded. Like humans, many animals have strong connections to their babies, and when they’re taken away too early, can have disastrous emotional effects on the mom and the baby.


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