How Zoos Help Protect Birds
It may seem contrary to consider captive birds
helpful wild bird conservation, but in fact zoos, aviaries and other captive
facilities can be very beneficial both to exotic wild birds as well as local
wild bird populations. Birders who understand what zoos do to help local and
worldwide avifauna can
then opt to support zoos and help promote bird conservation.
About Zoos
Zoos, also called zoological parks, bioparks or
menageries, are controlled habitats where
animals are held captive and displayed. The oldest zoo was believed to be an
exotic menagerie exhibit in Egypt that
operated in approximately 3500 BC, and other ancient zoos have been documented
in China, Greece and Europe. Many older zoos were often criticized for gross
violations of animal
rights, including inappropriate and too small enclosures, poor care and
cruel treatment of the animals. Modern zoos, however, pride themselves on
providing accurate representations of animals’ habitats and caring for their
animals in humane and ethical ways.
Today, there are more than 1,000 zoos around the
world, and while their size, quality and dedication to conservation can vary,
many of them are important facilities for preserving wildlife diversity,
including birds. In addition to zoos, bird conservation is also a part of many aviaries,
marine life parks, botanical gardens and similar facilities.
How Zoos Help Wild Bird Conservation
Just keeping birds captive and displaying them
for the public does not provide a great deal of benefit to bird conservation,
but zoos do much more than that. Different ways zoos protect and preserve birds
include…
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