Zoos have come along way from their menagerie past. But society is increasingly demanding they become agents of conservation rather than entertainment.
The cheetah population almost halved since 1975 with only an estimated 7,100 left in the wild today.
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Captivity isn’t kind to cheetahs where most develop diseases that are unusual in big cats. It’s never been clear why this is the case, but understanding their metabolism might provide the answer.
A meerkat at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra. The Zoo has recently announced an expansion that will double its size.
AAP Image/Stefan Postles
The shooting death of Harambe the gorilla has once again raised concern for the well-being of zoo animals. But animals in zoos may be fated by the very institution we have created to protect them.
A makeshift shrine at the Cincinnati Zoo, where Harambe, a male gorilla, was killed by zoo officials.
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The death of Harambe the gorilla has sparked outrage and raised questions over the adequacy of zoos, but protecting some animals through legal personhood is flawed and dangerous, says legal scholar.
The history of displaying exotic animals seems to be one of evolving public expectations about what constitutes acceptable conditions. Is it a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same?