BBC Focus

2 experience, the priority of a sanctuary is the health

and well-being of its animals. Sanctuaries offer

more natural environments, and are places where the

goal is to give back to the animals as much as possible

of what was taken from them. Sanctuaries can

providerealeducationsincetheyhavenoneedto

hide uncomfortable truths from their visitors. And

while those who run for-profit zoos and aquariums

depend on staying in business, sanctuary owners

would like nothing more than to be put out of

businessasaresultofadeclineinthekindof

abuse and exploitation of animals that makes refuges

such as these necessary.

ABRIGHTFUTURE?

Some more progressive zoos have already started the

processofevolvingfromplacesofspectacleto

authentic centres of restoration, education and

conservation. In 2005, Detroit Zoo closed its elephant

exhibitandmoveditstwoelephantstothePerforming

Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in

California. In 2013, Toronto Zoo did the same thing

andmoveditsthreeelephantstoPAWS.Thisyear,the

NationalAquariuminBaltimoreannouncedplansto

createasanctuaryinFloridaortheCaribbeanforits

eightbottlenosedolphins.

Meanwhile,TheWhaleSanctuaryProject,anew

not-for-profit organisation, is planning the first North

American seaside sanctuary for cold-water dolphins

andwhales,whichwillprovideanoptionfororcas

and belugas currently on show at marine parks.

Another example of a successful non-profit wildlife

sanctuary is the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito,

California, where seals and sea lions are rescued and

rehabilitated in a state-of-the-art facility. When the

time is right, the animals are released. At the same

time, the Marine Mammal Center offers volunteer and

educationprogrammestoengagethegeneralpublic.

Even as they adopt a model that’s no longer rooted

inexploitation,zoosandaquariumscanstilloperate

as businesses. While the animals thrive in a more

natural,sanctuary-basedsetting,visitorscanenjoy

engaging and interactive displays that are made

possible by increasingly sophisticated computer-

generated graphics, immersive technology and virtual

reality. Ironically, then, as they give up live animal

displays in favour of more technology, zoos and

aquariumshavetheopportunitytoactuallybecome

more natural and authentic.

The model for the future will likely involve a

melding of for-profit corporate expertise and

experience with non-profit motives, goals and models

of animal care, education and conservation. Far from

having a bleak future, zoos and aquariums that shift

to this more progressive model will not only thrive,

but will become cultural leaders in our relationship

with the other animals with whom we share this

planet. The choice is up to them.

OPINION| ZOOS

Elephants at the Performing Animal

Welfare Society (PAWS) can enjoy

lots of room to roam, along with a

more naturalistic environment

PHOTO: GETTY