WLM DISCUSSION WEEKS 13-14 - Wildlife Parks and Zoos by Shannon Rocco

shannonrocco — 2025-04-14 00:03:09 UTC

Here is your discussion topic for Weeks 13-14:

What is your opinion on zoos and wildlife parks? Use the following questions to help guide your response. You DO NOT need to answer all of these, just choose one or two to address in your post.

Do you feel like zoos and wildlife parks have changed for the good?
Do you think TV shows such as The Zoo, Secrets of the Zoo, and Crikey It's the Irwins! have done a good job in educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation?
What are some of the ways in which wildlife parks and zoos have positively impacted endangered species?
Are there any major ways in which wildlife parks and zoos could change how they operate their businesses in order to benefit wildlife?
Where do marine parks fit into this discussion? (by this I mean SeaWorld and other parks that house large mammals for entertainment and education).

2025-04-14 14:05:29 UTC

I think that sanctuaries are more beneficial and safe than zoos are. There are some decent zoos that treat their animals with love and respect. There are also some terrible places that are just known for being terrible like Sea World. I think that it’s okay when most of these places have these animals in captivity since they were born. I like rescues better than Zoos because they just seem more ethical and people respect them more versus going to a zoo and kids are screaming and throwing food. Maybe it’s just the setting I don’t like or enjoy. Obviously i love animals and i know that it’s common sense that you cannot put these animals back into the wild unless there were rescues due to a car accident of some sort. That’s why i like rescues better than zoos because i feel that they are more caring with rehabilitation and I’m not just looking at animals through a fence that are treated poorly. Those are my thoughts. Of course everyone is different.

2025-04-14 14:55:02 UTC

I think zoos and wildlife parks have changed for the good in many ways. They have evolved from simply being places for entertainment to becoming centers for conservation and education. Many zoos now focus on breeding programs for endangered species and provide a safe haven for animals that can no longer live in the wild. For instance, the efforts of zoos in breeding programs have helped bring species like the California condor and the black footed ferret back from the brink of extinction. Regarding TV shows like the zoo and secrets of the zoo, I believe they have done a great job in educating the public about wildlife conservation. These programs not only entertain but also highlight the challenges animals face in the wild and the importance of protecting their habitats.

jonaande1 — 2025-04-14 15:01:49 UTC

Zoos are the worst thing for wildlife. The habitat is nothing like their true habitat. They change the way they eat by eating at certain times unlike eating whenever they have the chance. When zoos close they’ll leave some animals behind to die which is horrible. They need to change rules of zoos. In order to preserve wildlife they need to release them back into the wild.

2025-04-15 16:34:30 UTC

Zoos and wildlife park have helped endangered species through captive breeding programs and by supporting reintroduction efforts into the wild. They also raise public awareness about conservation issues. However a lot of zoos could improve by creating more natural habitats and focusing less on the entertainment aspect of things. They could invest more in field conservation which would also help the protection of animals in their natural homes.

2025-04-16 12:56:59 UTC

My feelings on zoos and wildlife parks are mixed. I feel like they can be beneficial when it comes to endangered species, and increasing the population of certain species. On the other hand I feel like they can also harm and mistreat the animals. Some zoos treat the animals as display items instead of real living creatures. Animals that are born in captivity will have a hard time adjusting to living in the wild, so they have no choice but to keep them in captivity. I don’t really think it’s fair to keep animals in captivity if it’s unnecessary.

2025-04-16 13:11:21 UTC

I think zoo’s have improved over the years as they gave them enclosures instead of cages. They gave them a more natural environment with space and places to hide. And they are not cramped together with many more.
I think there are many ways that wildlife parks and zoo have helped endangered species: they give them space to mate and survive, they are separate from predators giving more time for recovery, they don’t have to worry about invasive species taking their main food source. They put the species in the lime light so more people know about out them and can know how to help them.

2025-04-23 05:30:33 UTC

Zoos and wildlife parks have evolved over time, and many have made significant strides in improving their operations to benefit wildlife conservation. One of the ways they have positively impacted endangered species is through breeding programs that aim to increase the population of endangered animals. These programs can help reintroduce species into the wild, thereby contributing to their survival. Additionally, zoos often participate in research and conservation efforts that can lead to a better understanding of wildlife and their habitats.

2025-04-23 11:52:05 UTC

Over the years, zoos and wildlife parks have changed significantly for the better. In the past, animals were often confined to small, barren cages with little regard for their well-being. Today, many zoos focus on conservation, education, and research to protect endangered species and their habitats. Modern facilities are designed to mimic natural environments, giving animals more space and opportunities to engage in natural behaviors. Zoos also work closely with global organizations to support wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction programs. Although challenges still exist, the overall shift has been toward more ethical, humane, and meaningful care for animals.

2025-04-23 13:30:45 UTC

The zoos have definitely changed, they are not as fun as they used to be. They used to have so many more people go to them and you would see everything, I feel like now people think that the animals are trapped and that all the zoos are cruel for keeping the animals in there. Wildlife now seems to be a lot more on the animals and all the people going to see them in zoos or just in the woods. Animals don’t get treated good.

2025-04-23 13:59:58 UTC

I think TV’s are doing a decent job at educating the public of the wellbeing and importance of wildlife around the world. Their whole reason for being made is to be informational to people, could they be more specific in how we can conserve their lives better maintained. I feel like zoos could be a bit more maintained as well, just in terms of how people act towards the animals. I feel like workers forget that they are animals as well.

shannonrocco — 2025-04-23 14:21:49 UTC

Austin Schmelzer

I appreciate zoos bust i do wish that they were better then they are now, lots of these animals do not have the space they need and become way to cooped up. I know they’re trying their best but these places really need to try to give these animals the space and environment they need so that they can prosper. They have most definitely gotten better since the early 90s, back then the treatment of the animals was way worse. Now we have a lot more knowledge about these animals and how they live. It can and should most definitely be improved but we’re trying.

2025-04-23 16:12:53 UTC

I think zoos and wildlife parks have definitely changed for the better over the years. Many modern zoos have shifted away from simply displaying animals for entertainment and have instead become important centers for conservation, education, and research. They’ve helped protect endangered species by running breeding programs, offering safe habitats, and sometimes even reintroducing animals back into the wild. For example, animals like the California condor and the black-footed ferret have made comebacks thanks to zoo-based efforts.

GavinBexell — 2025-04-24 01:29:48 UTC

I think one of the ways wildlife parks and zoos have positively impacted endangered species has been raising awareness for them. A lot of people wouldn’t care if they haven’t seen like the beauty of the animal up close, which allows people to make more of a connection and care more about something that they otherwise wouldn’t care about. They also use a captive breeding programs which can keep a species alive for way longer than it would be able to survive in the wildlife by giving it a safe and controlled environment. Zoos, and wildlife parks also have very skilled veterinarian teams and facilities that can provide specialized care for animals. Wildlife parks also are great for reintroduction programs since these parks are known. It is easy for these programs to carefully release the animal and track it post release. Overall wildlife parks and zoos are very beneficial to wildlife if done correctly.

2025-04-24 02:14:09 UTC

Wildlife parks have played a major role in protecting endangered species and helping them increase their population. An example that comes to mind is the Blue Iguana, which was nearly on the verge of extinction before being taken in by the Bronx Zoo.

While im sure that marine parks have contributed a lot of good, I see so much negative press about them that it makes me question their ethics. SeaWorld, for example, is notorious for mistreating their animals. The reason these types of parks are more likely to abuse their animals is because they are not there to be nurtured or protected, they are there for profit.