Zoos, Aquariums, + Conservation
Let’s Start with Extinction
Scientists don’t actually know how many animals are here with us on Earth. They have an estimation, but that’s really forever changing, both because of new discoveries and also extinctions taking place. The most recent estimate that we have puts about 2 billion animals on the planet. Regardless of how many animals are roaming around, we’re losing them at an alarming rate. Compared to an earlier time in the Earth’s history, our current extinction rate is potentially 1,000 times faster.
Haven’t animals always gone extinct?
Yes! A great example that the majority of people are familiar with is dinosaurs. So, to some extent, extinction is a natural process. There have even been periods during the Earth’s history where animals have gone extinct in large numbers (dinosaurs make for a great example here as well). Through studying fossils, scientists have found that there have been five periods in history where an unusually high number of extinctions took place. These are referred to as mass extinctions. In fact, there was a time roughly 252- 266 million years ago when most of the Earth’s species had gone extinct. This specific extinction is called the Permian Extinction.
Christmas Island Pipistrelle image from Scimex
Bramble Cay Melomys image from National Geographic
Scientists are still working to figure out if we are currently dealing with another mass extinction. The consensus seems to be yes and a core idea is that this mass extinction is less natural, as it’s perpetrated by humans and the choices we make regarding the natural world. It should also be added that, if we are in the midst of another mass extinction, this one is really flying by! The rate of extinction could be as little as 1,000 times the baseline extinction rate but it could also be 10,000 times the baseline extinction rate! That means that animals are going extinct at a rate of one to five species per year. In an earlier time, it would have been almost impossible to witness an animal going extinct because extinctions happened so rarely. When looking at mammals, fossil records tell us that only a single species should disappear throughout a millennium (1,000 years!). Over the last decade, we’ve lost two mammal species – the Christmas Island Pipistrelle and the Bramble Cay Melomys.
So what are humans doing to impact extinction like this? Humans are overhunting, overharvesting, introducing invasive species into the wild, polluting, as well as changing these natural spaces into croplands or urban areas. According to a global assessment, these sorts of human activities have resulted in alterations for more than 75% of the Earth’s land area and 66% of the oceans have suffered at the hands of humans. Across all oceans, there are more than 400 dead zones where very little life can survive. The size of these ocean dead zones is so large they could collectively cover the state of Oregon. These human habits are so impactful that scientists believe they’ll directly lead to massive extinction rates. In fact, some scientists believe that pollution, land clearing, and overfishing could potentially drive half of the planet’s land and marine species to extinction by 2100. This is, in part, due to rising climates. As levels of greenhouse gases increase, we’ll begin to see higher and higher temperatures. These temperatures will force animals to move towards the Earth’s poles and higher up into the mountains in order to stay in habitats with climates that work for them. However, many animals will go extinct because they were unable to adapt quickly enough.
IUCN
Image from IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) works to “influence, encourage, and assist societies to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.” With regard to animals, the IUCN has created two lists, the Red List and the Green List. The Red List outlines animals that are at risk for extinction. According to Red List estimates, a quarter of mammals are at risk for extinction. The IUCN has been maintaining a list of at-risk species since 1964. The list has since become the leading global database for endangered species and many professionals tout the IUCN lists as an essential tool for conservation policy. However, the IUCN has not been able to assess every living animal – partly because we don’t even know what all exists out there! The current estimate is that the IUCN has been able to assess a quarter of what’s really out there, including both plants and animals. IUCN hopes to raise the number of assessed animals to 160,000 by the end of this year! You can check out both IUCN’s lists at these links – Red List + Green List.
How do we help?
Conservation efforts are really valuable when we talk about keeping animals alive and well. More than that, animals have specific areas in which they flourish so being mindful of these specific needs will allow us to do more for more at-risk animal populations. According to Jonathan Baillie, the executive vice president and chief scientist of National Geographic Society, “Protecting nature and saving species is all about securing the land and water plants and animals need to survive… Protecting half of the planet by 2050, with an interim target of 30% by 2030, is the only way to meet the Paris Climate Targets or achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for the world.”
Another alternative approach is to allow indigenous peoples and local communities the chance to care for the land. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services had found evidence that nature managed through these groups is in generally better health. Traditionally speaking, at least a quarter of the land area owned, managed, used, or occupied is done so through indigenous people.
Zoos + Aquariums
Not all zoos and aquariums were created equal but we can’t talk about animal conservation without highlighting them!
What role do zoos + aquariums play in conservation?
When trying to figure out which zoos/aquariums are focused on conservation, a really good place to start is seeing whether or not they’ve gone through an accreditation process. Accreditation is a process that a program, an organization, or an institution can go through that involves being evaluated by experts in the profession. The experts establish standards and help to set up best practices that the newly accredited programs, organizations, or institutions follow. When it comes to zoos and aquariums, there are a couple different choices for accreditation. One of the most well-known and most intensive accreditation processes comes from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
AZA responded to the growing national concern surrounding animal welfare by appointing a committee to establish a set of best practices. These practices were meant to improve professional operations among the zoological parks and aquarium communities. The first institution was accredited in 1974!
AZA Specifics
Accreditation through AZA is handled primarily by the Accreditation Committee, comprised of 16 different individuals whose expertise covers operations, animal welfare and husbandry, and veterinary medicine. The Accreditation Committee evaluates every zoo or aquarium to make sure that the animals are being provided for. They standards for AZA cover things like animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition. The accreditation process for AZA also makes sure that the animals in zoos and aquariums are given opportunities for enrichment and stimulation. After all, animals need variety in their daily routines! The Accreditation Committee evaluates the veterinary program, the institution’s involvement with conservation and research, their education programs, the safety policies in place, the security of the institution, the physical facilities, guest services, and the quality of the institution’s staff. AZA even takes a look at the institution’s finances, governing authority, and its support organization!
Institutions have work to do as well! To be considered for accreditation, the zoo or aquarium will need to fill out a detailed questionnaire. With the questionnaire, they must include copies of their policies, procedures, records, lists, and reports. Acquiring all of this information can take months. Once AZA receives all of this information from the zoo or aquarium, their review process can also take months, making the whole process a real lengthy one.
What happens after the application is complete?
AZA takes a trip to the zoo or aquarium! A team of inspectors, including at least one vet with animal and operations experts, will spend several days checking out the visiting areas, interviewing staff, looking over records, and examining the physical facilities and the animal collections. These inspectors write out detailed reports that are submitted to the Accreditation Committee.
The Accreditation Committee only meets twice a year to consider applicants for membership. When the Accreditation Committee meets to oversee all of the material for a specific zoo or aquarium, the higher-ups of that institution must attend the meeting to answer any lingering questions.
What’s more, is that AZA is constantly evolving and changing their standards. Each accredited zoo and aquarium must keep up with these standards in order to remain accredited through AZA. They even have to prove it! Every 5 years, these institutions must go through the entire accreditation process once more!
Do zoos + aquariums help or hurt conservation efforts?
They can really help! A report by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums argues that every zoo should commit at least 5% of its budget to conservation, especially when considering the mass extinctions taking place. Sometimes zoo and aquarium conservation effort looks like breeding programs focused on reentry into the wild. These institutions are able to develop and implement sophisticated breeding programs to propagate a species and preserve genetic biodiversity, all with the end goal of reintroducing the endangered or extinct species back into the wild. But even if the zoos and aquariums don’t release the animals back into the wild, they’re still doing something positive. Zoos and aquariums serve as a great medium to observe and research animals, which can help protect those that are still out in the wild.
Accredited Zoos + Aquariums in Tennessee
If you’re interested in checking out an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium, you don’t have to look too far! We actually have six throughout the state of Tennessee. To check out ways to support the zoos and aquariums, be sure to check out their various support pages!