by Sarah Murphy, Education Specialist

A couple weeks ago, I spent too many hours watching Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, a Netflix documentary series that has taken the country by storm. After the shock and bewilderment of what I just watched wore off, I reflected on how the views, opinions, and support of zoos by people across the country could change based on a roadside zoo and the crazy character who ran it. I decided that it is my responsibility, as a zoo educator, to research and comment on several topics so that our guests will not make judgments based on a Netflix series, but rather form their opinions about zoos based on what modern, good zoos do for this world.

Over the next couple weeks, I will be writing about the following topics and how they relate to Tiger King:

The Evolution of Zoos

Zoos have been around for centuries, but they have not always looked the way they do now. In fact, zoos began as private collections of animals and were a symbol of wealth and status called menageries. These menageries did not necessarily focus on the care, health and well-being of the animals, but rather they aimed to have the widest collection of species possible.

While most early menageries were private collections reserved for royal audiences, in some parts of the world, these collections were made public. The animals were displayed in small cages or walled areas. Typically these holdings had very little or no natural elements.

It was not until the 18^th century that the modern model of zoos began to take shape. During this time, society valued science, reason and logic, so the role of zoos shifted to be places where animals could be studied to better understand animal behavior and anatomy. Some zoos began to display animals in more naturalistic holdings so that their behavior would more closely mimic that of animals in the wild. While some zoos still resembled menageries, much change was needed to arrive to today’s zoo, the true modern zoo.

Take a half step forward to a period when zoos served solely as sources of entertainment. While animals were given more spacious enclosures and more naturalistic habitats, zoo facilities only aimed to be a place for families to see curious and exotic animals from around the world. While this was a huge improvement from the menageries and tiny cages of the past, there was still more change that needed to happen.

Arrive at zoos today and you will see that they no longer resemble menageries in any way, but rather are centers for conservation. Even though zoos are still a source of entertainment and serve as a great place for families to enjoy the day outdoors, there are much bigger goals driving the existence of these facilities. As conservation centers, there is obviously a main focus on conservation efforts, but education has become another huge aspect of the foundation and mission of modern zoos. Zoo keepers, educators and conservationists take pride in the fact that zoos do so much more for wildlife and the planet now than they did in the past. We provide animals with a safe and enriching environment in which they can be ambassadors for animals all over the world. We donate time, money and resources to countless conservation efforts to save endangered species. We teach zoo goers of all ages about animals, habitats, and actions we can take to make a difference.

So, where does GW Zoo and Joe Exotic fit into all of this?

Joe Exotic, at the beginning of his career with exotic animals, made statements that big cats needed to be protected. Whether that was a façade or those were his true feelings, his actions clearly speak louder than words. Over time, Joe Exotic collected hundreds of animals, including chimpanzees, bears, tigers, lions, ligers, alligators and more. People with enough money could then come to see those animals up close during shows and cub petting. This is not a zoo by modern definition, but instead fits more within the definition of a menagerie: possessing animals that are exploited to show a person’s wealth or status. GW Zoo did not focus on excellent animal care and welfare, conservation or education, but rather focused on entertaining the public through attractions like cub petting.

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Check back on Monday as I dive deeper into the connections, or better, the disconnections between zoos and Tiger King.