Beyond Reproach

Many members of the zoo community have followed the recent events at the Toronto Zoo with great concern.  The antics of the animal rights activists have been documented and described in great detail by the group known as Zoos Matter, and do not need to be rehashed here.  Every zoo professional will have their own reaction to the elephant issue as it played out in Toronto, from anger and disgust (the reaction I’ve seen the most of) to denial (“It could never happen here!”) to indifference (“doesn’t apply to me…”).

After thinking about it in some depth, I’ve settled upon my own course of action.  It takes the form of a new philosophy, summed up in two words: Beyond Reproach.

Now, I am in no way suggesting that the keepers of the Toronto Zoo were in any way responsible for the misfortune that has befallen them, that they themselves were not “beyond reproach.”  Instead, I am saying that this is a reminder that there are those forces outside of our institutions who do not wish us well.  There are people – some with a feeling of guilt, some without such moral qualms – who like reading bad news about zoos and aquariums.  When an animal dies (as all animals, zoo or wild, must), when an escape occurs, or when a keeper is injured or even killed, they take some satisfaction in it, seeing their feelings about zoos validated.  When positive news happens – the birth of an animal, the opening of a new exhibit that improves the quality of life for animals – they are quick to put a negative spin on it.  They are a small but vocal group, and nothing we do will make them happy. 

Knowing that there are people waiting to lay traps for us is the first step towards avoiding them.  We need to be proactive and give anti-zoo activists as little ammunition as possible.  The way to do this is to carry out our duties in a manner that is beyond reproach.  This extends up and down the chain of command, from the director to the curators to the keepers, aquarists, educators, horticulturalists, and everyone else who is a part of the zoo’s mission.  Upper-level management, not surprisingly, has the potential to make the most dramatic, high-profile impact.  Build exhibits that aren’t going to be considered “good” for a few years; build habitats that will stand the test of time and be considered ideal for the foreseeable future.  Plan your collection wisely – if you can’t commit to a species and its needs, it would be better not to have it.  Involve your institution in as much conservation, education, and research as possible.  Don’t just give your zoo or aquarium a mission statement, give it a mission.

            That also means getting involved at the local level.  Practice what you preach and follow green practices: recycle, compast, reduce waste! If you have a Halloween event, strive to be palm oil free; if you serve seafood, try to do so sustainably (better yet, make sure to include vegetarian options on your menus!).  Become an asset to your community, reaching out and integrating yourself with as many like-minded organizations as possible, such as museums and parks.  Don’t just make your institution available for field trips; integrate yourself into school curriculum (including higher education!).  Be the local wildlife experts, the ones that folks can come to with questions.  Build bridges with your Department of Natural Resources.  Get to know your community and civic leaders, and make sure they know you.  The Toronto Zoo incident was brought about in large part by local politicians throwing the zoo and its staff under the bus.  Make sure your mayor, county commissioner, city council, governor, et al know your institution and understand its importance to your community.

While it is easy for the folks on the front-lines to quip about how leadership is or isn’t doing its job, there is plenty that the keepers themselves can do to protect their institutions from attacks from the anti-zoo crowd.  The first part doesn’t involve too much in the way of change, since many keepers are already committed to it: provide the best possible care for the animals.  Don’t just feed and clean.  You may not be able to help it if your zoo has a lousy exhibit or two – most do – but you can provide awesome furniture and enrichment to make up for it.   Use training, where appropriate and possible (and you may be surprised at where it proves possible).  Keep your eyes and wits focused on the animals at all times – you may spot little problems and prevent them from turning into big ones.  If you see things that are wrong or could be improved, work to change them (within the system, in a constructive manner).  Always, always, ALWAYS look for ways to do better.

Once you've done your daily duties to the best of your ability, go beyond them!  Get involved in the greater zoo and conservation communities.  Attend some professional development courses, if you can, and share what you learn.  Join some list-serves or committees.  Become a studbook keeper or program manager (seriously, we should set a goal of zero vacancies).  If you've been in the profession for a while, mentor a new employee.  If you are a studbook keeper, committee chair, or other leader in the field, find ways to encourage involvement with other zoo professionals.  The more people working together, the more we can accomplish.

The harder part, for many zookeepers, will be the second part: engaging the public.  Too many keepers make the trite crack (I’ve made it before too!) that they work in a zoo so they don’t have to deal with people.  The support of the public, the money that comes in through the turnstile, is assumed, a given.  That is a dangerous assumption that we can no longer make.  The anti-zoo crowd, while vocal, is a relatively small one, and they know it.  Their goal is to change the minds of people who would otherwise support the zoo.  While many people love and support zoos and aquariums, many more are indifferent – maybe folks who haven’t been to the zoo for years, or who do go, but see it as an interchangeable entertainment option – deciding between either the zoo or the theme park or the movies for an outing. 

 We need to strengthen our ties to our current audience, reminding them why they fell in love with their zoo in the first place and encouraging them to deepen their commitment.  We need to connect with people who have had only casual bond with their zoos, introducing them to the zoo as we know it – magical places where people and animals come together.  And yes, we need to reach out to the anti-zoo folks as well.  As infuriating as they can be (“And right back at you!”, they would reply), it is important to remember that they are motivated by love of animals.  That gives us something in common at a core level, and can be used to find some common ground.  Do they understand that zoos have been responsible for saving some species from complete extinction?  Toronto Zoo itself has been involved in several breeding and reintroduction programs, including the black-footed ferret and the Vancouver Island marmot. 

Some folks will never be happy with what we do, and we never may win them over.  To the rest of the world, however, zoos and aquariums can be teachers, leaders, and partners in the global conservation movement.   To accomplish this, however, we need to make sure that we are doing our own jobs to the best of our abilities.  We need to be beyond reproach.