  | A Little History on Zoos Zoos (commonly referred as menageries before the eighteenth century) have existed for hundreds of years, the earliest ones dating back to 2500 CE in Egypt and Mesopotamia. In later years these institutions were also present in Greece, Rome, and China. Even Montezuma II, an Aztec emperor, had a privately owned menagerie. These menageries in modern terms were like private zoos, which still exist today, were exclusive to the rich class; and individuals were hired to take care of the animals. The same still remained true for the zoo built in 1793 at Paris, France. Not one person that attended the zoo was that below the rank of nobility. However, these zoos were more like museums, which put the captive animals on display as if they were a fine piece of art. Other zoos besides this one were popping up all over the place in the eighteenth century, the enlightenment era, for scientific study. These studies usually involved the anatomy of animals and their behaviors. Efforts were also made to make sure that the new environment that the animals in study were placed in resembled their natural ones as closely as possible. However, these zoos were more like museums, and the “man made” environment hardly represented their own. Modern zoos have changed since then however. Not only does the animal’s enclosed living space resemble its natural habitat, the animals are also being kept research and species conservation. And on top of that is being overseen by the government. Another aspect of zoos that has been changed over the years is the different types of zoos. As to date there are four different types of zoos and they are; Urban and Suburban, Safari, Game Reserves, and Petting Zoos. Urban and Suburban Zoos are located in cities and have a limited amount of area for expansion. Animals in these kinds of zoos usually find themselves in cramped spaces. Safaris are plots of land designated to certain species. There is so much land in Safaris that tourists are able to drive their cars around to visit the animals contained in them. Game Reserves which offer more land than Safaris are able to protect larger variety of threatened species, and prevents the hunting of these animals. Petting zoos show case domesticated animals such as goats, sheep, cows, and other docile animals that children are able to pet with very little risk of being harmed. These zoos serve as a conservation center for animals in low population. All in all the main purpose of zoos are to preserve endangered species in the hopes of getting them off of the endangered list and to educate the people. |
