The Dictionary of Human Geography

human entertainment and education,ex situ
breeding and conservation. Initially developed
from menageries of animal exotica, and
designed for human consumption, zoos
responded in the mid-to-late twentieth cen-
tury to public anxiety, animal welfare and
environmental criticisms by re-staging and
re-selling animal collections as crucial tobio-
diversity conservation (Anderson, 1995).
Zoos then formednetworkslinked by the
movements of animals, reproductive tissues

and records (Whatmore, 2002a). Animal

lives were behaviourally enhanced, and

collections shifted from the comprehensive

(displaying a wide variety of specimen spe-

cies) to the specialized (focused on sustain-

able groups of species types). Criticisms

remain, especially from those who regard

zoo improvements as little other than

conscience and market protection devices in

an increasingly competitive edu-tainment

sector. sjh

Gregory / The Dictionary of Human Geography 9781405132879_4_Z Final Proof page 817 30.3.2009 7:48pm

ZOOS