SW Questions & Proposal

Who is involved? Sarah Weber Your Topic? My topic is about the descriptions of animals and peoples at the zoo. Are they informative enough? Do the descriptions coincide with the enclosures? Are the descriptions and exhibitions intended for parents or children? My project will be both critical and anthropological. I want to investigate if parents are reading the descriptions to children, and observe whether the zoo functions more as entertainment or education. The main criticism will be over the descriptions and exhibition set up. How do the surroundings affect visitors impression of other places and peoples? Integrative element? I want to record parents interacting with children at the exhibits to see what is being learned at these sites while also re-distributing information on animals and peoples described in signs neighboring enclosure spaces. Why is this topic a good one for general visitors? What are your "goals" for the project if a visitor engages with it? The topic will hopefully further inform visitors of what the purpose of a zoo proposes. My goal is to bring awareness. Media Format? The media format will be a radio podcast and pamphlet. Reason for the particular media format? Access Venue? The zoo, youtube. References/Information sources? Readings, zoo pamphlets, zoo employees and visitors. Possible title for the project? Not sure yet! Response Questions: 1- Sarah Long’s “Noah got it all wrong” argument has to do with genetic diversity among breeding animals. It takes more than the two Noah thought for animals to create enough genetic variation. This is key to the survival of all species. Zoos are making efforts to have meetings of animals from across the U.S. in hopes of creating a new genetic mating pair. I found that the argument to give animals more space so they can pick their mates naturally to be interesting. Also, the way certain animals choose mates during adolescent and adult years changes among species. For example the clouded leopards pair up with their match early in life. Scientists had to learn this the hard way when pairing up this species often ended in death. 2- Conservation is the key goal but the zoo has to pick out which animal is most ecologically influential and somewhat attractive to the public in order to organize funding. It is known that not every endangered animal can be helped at this point and zoos face the cold decision making of who gets featured to help their species. 3- I do understand that the public does need to form a connection with an animal by seeing it in person. To me it seems the zoo spends more time self-promoting their good doings than educating the public or expanding enclosure sites. It is tough because the zoo should be a positive place to bring children but also a place of education first and foremost. 4- European zoos use the euthanasia technique on animals the zoo cannot support. Usually the European zoo would let the animals raise the baby until it would naturally separate from its parents. The European zoos said this technique mimics what naturally occurs in the wild. American zoos use a birth control technique on captive animals. Both techniques seem controversial. Birth control prevents American Zoos from having to put down animals, but also creates new health concerns with side effects on the captive animals.