Thirty years ago I was of the opinion that zoo's were antiquated institutions and like animal circuses, their time had passed. But then I began to visit and reconsider. I joined the AZA Association of Zoos and Aquariums. I studied their databases and considered their mission. I watched our world really start to fall apart ecologically. In the end, I came away with a completely different opinion. Not that all zoos are good, or even all good zoos are perfect. But good zoos are necessary, and zoos are getting better all the time with the guidance and expectations of organizations like the AZA.
Without zoos (and aquariums) even more species would be extinct today. Without zoos there wouldn't be any Panamanian Golden Poison Dart Frogs, or Guam Kingfishers, or Scimitar Oryx. All of these species have been driven to extinction by the actions of Human beings, and preserving their habitats without any force of local law, or removal invasive species, or immunity to foreign agents like fungi introduced by humans--tossing money at places without stable governments or stable ecologies is a waste of money.
Full-disclosure: I am a sustaining member of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and a volunteer who weekly shares information about over 3 dozen species with guests in the hopes of providing them with a better experience. One that leads them to consider what more they can do to effect real Species Survival in our world, even if it is just advocating for the Panamanian Golden Poison Dart Frog, or the African Black-footed Penguin or the Appalachian Hellbender Salamander or the graceful Addra Gazelle. All species I have the pleasure of sharing about at the Maryland Zoo.
As part of my transformation in thinking, I have also made it a project to visit other zoos and aquariums. Hence my holiday vacation that included visits to the zoos in Memphis, Little Rock and St. Louis. In fact, to date, I have visited 36 AZA institutions at least once, and some around the DMV many times.
Each brings with it something special.
Oldest Zoo in United States: Philadelphia Zoo - PA
Amazing Herpetarium: Virginia Zoo (Norfolk, VA) & St. Louis Zoo - MO
Most helpful Volunteers: (after the Maryland Zoo, of course!) Turtle Back Zoo (West Orange, NJ)
So which ones have I seen so far? There are well over 200 all together. So, I'm at 36...and counting!
ARKANSAS
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