What Do Zoos Do?
Do you enjoy visiting the zoo? It’s always fun to see all the different kinds of animals there. But you may not realize that every time you buy a ticket, a T-shirt or a treat at the zoo, you could be helping animals.
The Mini Page celebrates National Zoos and Aquariums Month by finding out how zoos are helping animals all over the world.
How zoos help
In the United States, more than 200 zoos, aquariums and other animal facilities are members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As members, zoos are required to participate in animal
conservation programs. (Conservation is the careful maintenance and protection of something valuable, especially in its natural or original state.) They do this in three different ways:
Zoos contribute about $186 million to conservation efforts going on in the wild each year. For instance, a zoo might raise money to fund researchers studying endangered animals in Asia.
Zoos and aquariums may work with local organizations to help with species survival or restoring habitats. For example, Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey is helping monitor bald eagles’ nests and record observations about their eggs and
fledglings, or baby birds. Zoos and other animal facilities also participate in educating children and adults about preserving species. They do this through visits in schools, field trips to the zoo, and camps where kids can learn more about animals.
SSP programs
The AZA helps ensure that animals are around for future generations by working with zoos on almost 500 Species Surival Plan programs, or SSP programs. Through these programs, zoos care for endangered or threatened species in their facilities and support them in the wild. They also make plans for breeding and transferring animals between zoos.
Look around
When you visit your local zoo or aquarium, keep an eye out for signs that tell you more about an animal. For instance, a sign might tell you that an animal looks great here in the zoo, but in the wild, it’s not doing so well. Think about supporting the zoo by buying products that support specific animals.