The Problem With Zoos

Gorillas at Disney World's Animal Kingdom

Tragic news out of Cincinnati, Ohio last week. A four year old boy climbed into the gorilla enclosure and fell into the moat. A 17 year old sliver-back gorilla pulled the boy out of the water and began to drag the boy around. People freaked out. Zoo officials came in and the tough call was made to kill the gorilla to save the boy. The internet freaked out. Fingers were pointed at the boy's parents (particularly the mother), at the zoo staff, and zoos in general. Everyone has an opinion. Many look at this situation and say that this story highlights the problem with zoos. You know what? I agree. It does highlight the problem with zoos. It is part of a larger problem in our society that technology has seemed to exacerbate. The problem with zoos is simple to identify and very difficult to overcome. It will take people to have an honest look at themselves and challenge what may be deeply ingrained prejudices. The real problem with zoos is a severe lack of understanding.

I will state my bias honestly and openly. I love zoos. I love visiting them, seeing different species of animals for the first time, taking pictures of them, learning about them. I love volunteering at the Calgary Zoo and have been doing so for almost 8 years. When I moved to Calgary in 2008 one of the first things I did was buy a zoo membership and apply to be a volunteer. I spent one of my first summers assisting a zoo keeper in her duties. I got to know many of the staff and was never afraid to ask them questions. I even had breakfast with Dr. Clement Lanthier (CEO of the Calgary Zoo) and other volunteers. I know the passion that those who work in zoos have for animals, conservation, biodiversity, and protecting endangered species. I know that many species would not be here today if not for the excellent work that zoos do (case in point, the whooping crane going from 23 individuals to over 700 in 70 years). I see the value in zoos and aquariums. It is one thing to watch Planet Earth, it is another to see an animal in the wild. The days of going to the rain forests and grasslands of the world, catching animals, and putting them in small cages of iron bars and concrete are largely behind us. I know the hoops that zoos and aquariums have to jump through to become accredited. I also know that there are some zoos that give the rest a bad reputation, that do not treat their animals with respect and care, and deserve to be shut down. There are bad examples in all areas and fields, but as with all things they should not be the poster child for the entire community. Zoos educate, enlighten, and allow us to connect with mother nature in ways that we cannot otherwise do. 

So when something like this happens, there will always be those who will stand up and voice an uniformed opinion. I have lost track of those who have concluded that this one incident in the Cincinnati Zoo's history serves as proof that zoos should be shut down. Immediately. All animals returned to the wild. There are a fair share of well-intentioned but woefully ignorant individuals who suddenly present themselves as animal experts, knowing what the gorilla meant to do and what the perfect solution. On a similar vein, there are also the multitudes of perfect parents out there (some of whom have ironically never been a parent) that will point fingers at the mother of this four-year old fence climber and say she deserves to be brought up on criminal charges. From my own personal experience I know how quickly a toddler or young child can get away from their parents. Those who are quick to criticize the parents are foolish in their snap judgement and should consider a healthy dose of empathy before casting future scorn. I have seen bad parenting, and this does not seem to qualify. 

When I look at this story, I see much misinformation, hurt, and anger with people searching for an outlet to vent at. Whenever something like this happens, I turn to the experts to help me inform my opinion. This particular case, I came across Amanda O'Donoughue, a former gorilla zoo keeper. You can read her Facebook post here. Suffice it to say, her insight and expertise was instrumental in my understanding how something this tragic could have happened. I am grateful for her contribution, and hope more people will read and consider what she has to say. When I study this event, I find that there are many unknowns that make it impossible for us in the general public to fully evaluate what went down. What I can say is the following:

1. The only thing that I think could have been done differently at the time is that the onlookers had remained quiet and calm. Their noise seems to be the most likely source of the stress to the gorilla.

2. Those who chose to shoot the gorilla used it as a last and possibly only resort given that all other attempts to get the silverback away from the boy had failed. I also doubt that they did so gleefully or callously.

3. The mother is likely feeling a whole lot of hate right now. Let me remind us of the words of Christ: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

4. Zoos are good. Not perfect, but they do a whole lot of good. For those who are demanding that the zoo pay for this, please note that this is the first such incident since its opening almost 40 years ago for the Cincinnati Zoo. That has to count for something.

5. We all make mistakes. There is not a single one of us that can accurately predict every possible outcome. Compassion is a greater virtue than disdain.

6. Finally, not one thing I have mentioned is intended to minimize the loss of a magnificent animal that was an innocent victim of a tragedy that was neither predicted nor premeditated. Could it have been prevented? Likely, but that is with the wonders of hindsight. I will trust in the experts who will say that it would have been difficult to have averted this. 

As one final thought, I would like to share something that a friend posted on one of the articles I shared that is, in my opinion, the wisest of all statements made on this matter. He said: This is an unfortunate incident that society would be better off just accepting that it happened, instead of trying to lay blame.

As I said, wise council indeed. I mourn for the loss of Harambe. I sympathize with the boy and his family for finding themselves in the centre of a whirlwind frenzy of media attention and undeserved scorn and ridicule. I hope we will take time to learn the full story and be respectful. 

The problem with zoos is that people think they understand them without having done the research to truly understand the situation. The problem with zoos is that we think we know better than the experts. The problem with zoos and anything else is that we pridefully claim to know enough to strongly argue our opinion. 

The problem is that we are often lacking in humility to admit that our opinion is wrong.