zoo animals question??

Question

where do the animals at most modern zoos in the world come from? where do they get them? i'm very saddened while visiting zoos and just wonder where they come from. i truly hope they don't snatch them from the wild

Answer 1

In this day and age most zoos get their animals from one of four places.

1: They breed them.
2: They get them from other facilities all over the world (zoo, rescue, research, wild animal parks, etc).
3: They get them from the wild but do to an injury, illness or problem.
4: They come from a private breeder.

Most Zoos in the US are bound to very strict breeding laws that are placed by the AZA and various SSP programs. They govern not only what species can breed but which animals within that species are allowed to breed. For example, they are concerned with not only the number of the species but the diversity of the bloodlines as well. You will find that many zoo animals are on birth control or are removed from mates during breeding season to prevent an excess of animals.

As far as coming from the wild our zoo has a handful that were born in the wild. Our manatees came from the wild but that is becaues they were sick and we are working on fixing that. We also have a handful of others that were injured, several that were orphaned as babies... we once had a "problem" polar bear that was going to be shot and killed, instead we took him.

Just know that there is far more to it than taking animals as they so please and breeding willy-nilly. That is not to say that there are not some "bad" zoos out there, lord knows there are... the majority however do not fall into that group.

Answer 2

I can think of 5 sources:
1) zoo exchange programs
2) born in zoo
3) sick or disabled animals which won't have a fighting chance in the wild after rehabilitation. For example-eagle with a broken wing which will never heal properly.
4) gift from another government to enhance relationship between 2 countries. For example Giant Panda given by the Chinese Government to the people of the United States
5) from the wild. Some zoos purchase animals from licensed wildlife traders who usually capture animals that otherwise would be culled due to explosion in numbers. No doubt there are shoddy wildlife traders around. For example a zoo in Malaysia (Taiping) had to return Gorillas to South Africa after irregularities were found in custom documents

Answer 3

I think most animals you see in zoos were born there. They don't go out anymore and trap animals in their native habitat. I know it's often sad to see the animals all caged up, but for some species, zoos are the only thing that keep them from becoming extinct, like the Siberian Tiger, or Snow Leopard, for instance.

Answer 4

Sometimes zoo employees have to take some baby animals home because they need round the clock care after their mothers have abandoned them after birth. The public is now allowed to take zoo animals home, even those who have "adopted" the animals by donating money to help the zoo.

Answer 5

im not sure myself....its possible though.
i think they start with 1 animal then breed it...im just guessing:)