By Jake Schroeder | Photographer
Zoos get a pretty bad rap. For a place filled with furry friends and fantastical creatures, you’d expect the general sentiment toward them would be slightly positive, if not outright supportive.
That is not the case, however, and it’s more than just PETA that has a problem with zoos. The number of individuals I’ve met who have horror stories from their childhoods somewhat explains the general attitude towards zoos. Seeing a tiger or a large bird can be scary when you’re 5 years old and small enough for the bird to take flight with you. It is shocking, though, how many grown-ups haven’t grown out of these childlike fears.
I’ll be the first to admit that I am not impartial in this discussion, for I am a fan of zoos. I’ve found the benefits of zoos far outweigh their biggest issues. There is truly no experience more freeing in the oft-monotonous week of a college student than taking a little stroll around the zoo.
My first trip to the local zoo was no ordinary encounter. After some car issues left me stranded in the middle of Waco, I was going to be stuck for several hours until someone could pick me up. I decided the best way to spend those hours would be inside Waco’s own Cameron Park Zoo. A choice I never regretted, considering I’ve purchased a yearly membership for the last three years.
Beyond assisting in recouping and recovering your mental health, zoos are there to inform you about the creatures you share this planet with. I firmly believe you are missing out on a full zoo experience by skipping the signs scattered around the exhibits. While learning about the Sumatran tiger or Masai giraffes might not exactly save your life, who’s to say it won’t improve it?
Some people find zoos to be inhumane ways of exhibiting animals, much like they are attractions in a circus. It is a fair concern, given that mistreatment is unfortunately not uncommon. I agree that animals would be best protected in sanctuaries far from human interference, where they could run free, rather than relying on humans as zoo-bred animals do.
I am also not holistically naïve. I know very few sanctuaries would have the funding for such projects without extensive donations and grants, which could dry up at any moment. That is why I think that zoos like the Cameron Park Zoo are so important. The work they do goes far beyond making our day at the park fun, because behind-the-scenes conservation is their main priority. Conservation that, in a large part, is funded by running a zoo.
If you’ve ever driven past the zoo here in Waco or walked by it during a stroll along the river, you might not be aware that the park is home to multiple critically endangered species. The 10 to Protect conservation program focuses on 10 species at the zoo that need help worldwide. They partner with organizations that have boots on the ground, providing support to animals in need of protection. These efforts are important to me because my love for zoos goes beyond learning about animals; it stems from my deep affection for the creatures of this world, which I believe God placed on this earth for us to protect and have dominion over.
While I will continue to understand those with fundamental views against zoos and the mistreatment of animals, I recommend that those people put their money where their mouth is and donate to an animal sanctuary. I donate to the Alveus Sanctuary, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Austin that educates individuals worldwide about a wide range of animals through its 24/7 live streams.
They recently raised $1 million through donations in three days for a new research and recovery institute — a feat only possible thanks to the massive following and large donor base, something not all sanctuaries and other conservation groups have access to.
If you feel inclined, I recommend that you help with the work being done here in Waco. Join me in donating to the conservation efforts of the Cameron Park Zoo as they continue to help protect endangered species and ecosystems for generations to come. You can support their efforts here.
