Intoduction

Chapter 1

WHY DO WE NEED ZOOS?

In order to better understand the importance of the zoo design, it is necessary to first understand what zoological gardens are aiming at. Because, design should also serve this purpose. We are not alone in this world; we share the earth, air, water and everything else on this planet with other living things. Not only we share life with them, but we also benefit from them; by eating them, from their strength, from what they produce, by learning from them... They are plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals; they make our lives easier. So how do we, humans, affect their lives? Our strength and intelligence take us one step further from other living creatures. These powers of ours enable us to destroy and build the world according to ourselves. Even though we are using their ideas while we are designing our habitat, sometimes we still forget about them and harm them. Every new order established without considering other livings harms the system provided by nature and other beings. Every order changed thoughtlessly destroys nature and consumes animal generations. When this situation is considered, the sensitivity of people should be increased in order to protect the natural environment and life. How can we encourage people to protect nature and animals? By letting people know about these poor animals and these issues. Because people tend to protect what they know and love. This is where zoos come in. To illustrate this situation with an example, one can consider that we are trying to explain the importance of recycling to a child. Families or teachers say ‘’Watch educational films.’’, ‘’Read books that might be helpful.’’. But what if we take that child and put it in front of an elephant, the kid can see, hear, and maybe even touch it, and say “The paper we use is obtained from where this elephant lives, more space is getting damaged for every piece of paper we waste. We have to recycle for this creature to live.” In what ways would it be easier to change a child’s behaviour? (Lovett, 2016)

The number of people who think that zoos are capturing animals from nature and locking them in a cage is quite high. It may be right to leave the animals free in their nature but only in a perfect world that would make sense. Unfortunately, our world has been undeniably damaged by humans; the disappearance of glaciers, global warming, climate changes, destruction of natural areas. These situations alter the natural habitat of animals, putting animals in unconventional difficulties and endangering their species. While many species disappear in nature; some species are hosted temporarily or permanently in zoos where they can be healed, reproduced, and saved. For example, in 1980, the last 30 members of one of the eagle species in nature, survived extinction by maintaining them in zoos and then leaving them back to nature. Other examples of species that got saved by zoos from endangerment are pandas, many species of frogs, birds, monkeys, insects...

Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to protect animal species is to drive them out of their nature. An example of this is the Perdido Key Beach Mouse. This mouse species that lives off the coast of Florida is endangered by the increase in hotel numbers. (Lovett, 2016) There are two ways to prevent this species from extinction. The first way is rescuing the remaining members of the species and settle them in zoos; the second is to stop building hotels by convincing the contractors who erected the hotel. Which one do you think is more possible? If we cannot assure to change the course of the world and the selfish desires of people, we must minimize the effects of those subconscious benevolent feelings and save the victims. There are many inadequate zoo designs in history and today. Animal-friendly organizations have been setting rules and conducting regular audits to prevent and make these designs ethical that turn into harshness for animals. Animal welfare organizations have developed criteria and rules for the change of insufficient zoo designs to such designs whose main purpose is animal welfare. These designs are regularly inspected by these organizations during and after the construction phase. (GEWAILY, 2000)

The most common and respected of these institutions is the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). Founded in 1935 by the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens (IUDZG); with the alliance of foundations, zoological gardens and national federations, it has grown and serves the world. The basic principles of WAZA are as follows; • The main purpose of all zoos is to ensure animal welfare. • To publish designing and maintenance rules to provide shelter for animals with the least damage • Ensuring the leftover of biological diversity • Sharing and developing zoological research • Educate the public (Kirk-Cohen, 2001)