These examinations can be fraught with controversy when you use a microscope to examine zoos, aquariums, or marine theme parks such as SeaWorld. Some people love a day at a zoo. Others are skeptical and wonder if these institutions are ethical or eco-friendly.
Many zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife centers offer education and rehabilitation for animals. Many will argue that captivity is inherently cruel and that animals and marine life are better off being free than in cages and exhibits. So, there’s a line drawn in the sand.
However, zoos and aquariums have a greater impact than other institutions. We consulted documentary filmmakers to understand the environmental impacts of zoos and aquariums, marine theme park parks, and other similar institutions. Erik E. Crown, whose work focuses primarily on animal rights and environmentalism.
“Zoos and aquariums worldwide are accelerating the climate crisis by removing keystone species and important animals from performing their natural function, keeping forests regenerating, Crown says. “With a record number of forest loss to the industry and disappearing reefs, we’re able to see firsthand what happens when the balance of nature is disrupted. Each animal has a unique function in helping nature to regenerate.
Keep reading to learn more about the impact of zoos on the environment and how they can become more sustainable.
What is the environmental impact of zoos?
The answer to the question “are zoos good or bad?” isn’t a simple one. While rescue and captivity may be beneficial to some species, and wildlife education can help us understand animal behavior better, zoos seem more detrimental than positive to the environment.
Although a zoo is a small environment, it still has an impact on the surrounding environment. CompleteEnvironment on a greater scale. Environment impacts do not stop at a fence or through plexiglass.
Zoos and aquariums impact the natural world around them,” Crown says. “Even though people consider them often conservation-oriented places, in reality, they are causing damage to the world that loses the animals from where they were meant to be.”
Zoos have a major impact on the environment by decreasing (and disrupting) biodiversity. Oregon State University research published in The European Journal of Wildlife Research2012 revealed that forest ecosystems have lost major predators, leading to an increase of other animals that would have been prey.
In addition, certain animal species have been lost in their natural habitats, resulting in a decrease of biodiversity. This causes an imbalance in the food web, leading to overpopulation or near-endangerment for some species.
Many zoo-goers will point out the conservation efforts that many zoos make to protect endangered species. These efforts may not be as beneficial as we think.
“Zoos are determined to breed endangered animals, but only to bolster the populations in the zoos and keep the exhibits filled,” Crown says. “Species Survival Plan (SSP) is not intended to place any animals back into the wild.”
The Species Survival Plan (SSP).In 1981, the program was created. The program is aimed at population management and conservation of select wildlife species. It only applies to captivity. It seeks to ensure certain endangered species don’t become extinct, stay genetically diverse and, overall, remain stable.
Crown is correct. The SSP seeks to achieve many important goals, but returning animals to their natural habitats in the wild doesn’t happen very often.Even if animals are released, going from a zoo environment to their natural habitat isn’t easy.
Researchers from the University of Exeter, UK found that only 33% of animals such as tigers or wolves can survive in freedom. Animal sanctuaries, on the other hand, replicate the animal’s natural environment and don’t provide as much human interaction, making it easier for animals to adapt to their natural environment.
Environmentally speaking, zoos that are better at wildlife placement would have a significant impact on the environment. Because animals don’t just affect other animals, they also affect the environment. Allaspects of the environment, such as plant life or the release of carbon.
“While European zoos are currently considering culling multiple endangered silverback gorillas, they’re listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List in the wild, Crown adds. Gorillas are a keystone species. Their work as seed dispersal agents keeps forests alive and healthy. We also see a decrease in the number of trees as we lose them in the wild. The tree is still the most powerful carbon sequestration agent out there, so to keep a gorilla in the wild today is to save a tree to help stabilize our climate in the future.”
Many zoos might also claim to reduce carbon output but not achieve it.
“While some zoos and aquariums are making efforts to get a baseline on their carbon output, even fewer are looking for ways to reduce their carbon emissions,” Crown says. “The Philadelphia Zoo is using solar-powered golf carts while other facilities are looking to reduce their water consumption, but they cant become net zero by making operational changes. They have to buy carbon credits.”
What is the Environmental Impact of Aquariums
Similar to zoos, aquariums also have a large carbon footprint. And like zoos, they’re not the most eco-friendly institution.
First, aquariums need a habitat. LotAll water, freshwater or saltwater. For comparison, the largest freshwater aquarium on the planet is the Amazon Flooded Forest AquariumSingapore boasts 440,000 gallons total of water.
Water is a valuable resource. However, with so much water going to one aquarium, the environmental impact isn’t very great.
“For aquariums, they still take from the oceans to fill their tanks,” Crown says. Crown explains that this can lead to the killing of dolphins as well as the captivity orcas, white Belugas and other colorful fish. Aquarium divers acquire the majority of this marine life.
“The [diving] process disturbs the balance of nature when collecting and removing these species from their native environment,” Crown says.
Aquariums can actually cause natural reefs to be at risk, despite the emphasis they place on education and conservation. How? How? Hawaii is one of these places. These areas are more vulnerable to non-sustainable fishing methods and overfishing if they don’t have strict regulations.
It is not uncommon for marine life to be caught sustainably. According to National Geographic Up to 90%Many of the tropical, saltwater fish that are caught each year for U.S. Aquariums are illegally caught with cyanide, a toxic chemical substance. This causes coral reefs to be severely damaged and even traumatized. The chances of species extinction also increase dramatically.
Take the Banggai CardinalfishThe, a native reef fish to the Banggai Archipelago of Indonesia. The Banggai Cardinalfish was listed as a threatened species in 2016 as a direct result of overfishing, showing what can happen when aquarium fish aren’t regulated.
“On land or in the water, once these animals become ornaments, they no longer can do their work in nature as intended. And as we see today, our climate is paying the price,” Crown explains.
What is the environmental impact of SeaWorld?
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how SeaWorlds image was undeniably damaged by BlackfishThe 2013 documentary, “The Waterpark”, that examines the many human deaths and injuries at the aquatic theme parks over the years. But the majority of BlackfishSeaWorld’s denials had to do with how the orcas were treated while in captivity. The documentary does not assess the environmental impact of amusement parks.
However, institutions can take animals out of their natural habitats. AlwaysAn environmental impact. This includes, but not limited to, the loss of biodiversity and natural systems, an increase by climate change contributors, as well as an increase in pollution. All of these have a negative impact on the planet’s health and the lives that depend upon it.
“Most zoo and aquarium mission statements focus on conservation, but their actions dont seem to reflect that,” Crown says.
SeaWorld San Diego is no exception. SeaWorld San Diego is a repeat winner. For multiple violations, citedBelow the Clean Water Act of 1972. It has been fined thousands of dollars for violating SeaWorld San Diego’s sewage spilling into Mission Bay, San Diego.
Talk about irony. SeaWorld pollutes the very waters that it claims to rescue animals from. This company is destroying everything it stands for.
“As we remove animals from nature and place them into [the] sterile concrete environment, we’re not only affecting the animals with zoochosiswhere they lose their minds from boredom, causing them stress (as you can see when elephants rock from side to side),” Crown says. “But by removing their very important work in nature, the cycle is broken and we lose biodiversity in ways we are still scientifically understanding.”
How can Zoos and Aquariums be more sustainable?
SeaWorld and aquariums are hot. This awareness will hopefully lead to more eco-friendly changes in the industry. Zoos, aquariums, or other similar institutions could be more sustainable by prioritizing carbon-neutral certifications, renewable energy, sustainable waste collection, as well as reducing pollution.
These institutions are also plagued by single-use plastics. Despite how harmful these plastics are to the environmentand how many institutions actively preach against themsingle-use plastics are still sold at many zoos and aquariums.
“Aside from the clearing of the land and the removal of species from their natural areas and duties in biodiversity, the amount of plastics sold at these facilities are adding a new element of environmental destruction,” Crown says. “These plastics fill our waterways and land with toxic microplastics that enter the food chain, and recently were found in every sample taken of humans.”
All in all, there’s a lot of work to be done in order to improve the sustainability of these institutions. However, conscious consumers need to be aware of the impact these places have until active steps are taken.
The next time you’re planning a trip to a zoo, aquarium, or similar attraction, be sure to do some research to fully understand the impact the institution has on the environment. You might also consider supporting alternative organizations such as animal rescues and sanctuaries, which protect animals and the environment.
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