3.4 Discuss the benefits versus the ethical issues of keeping animals in zoos.
ASSESSMENT TASK: Should zoos exist?
Your aim is to “WOW” the Zoo Authorities with your zoo environment concept in the hopes of winning the contract to build their whole new zoo.
Get into your groups - join together on a table if you are working individually or as pairs.
Download the Design Thinking Workbook here. (The diagram is American so they spell Empathise differently). The title is the question we defined yesterday: "How can we make zoos that are like the animals' homes?" - we will focus on just one environment (see below)
Individually (but you can discuss) complete the Empathise and Define boxes of the Design Thinking Workbook - a copy is below to use for reference.
Select a table captain for this next part. Their job is to ensure people follow the rules as you Ideate and to help the group make a decision from the ideas.
Ideate Rules
Each person has a turn to speak (does not need to be in any order) but no one speaks twice before everyone has had a first turn.
There is no judgment or criticism - no one gets to comment on the ideas.
Ideate what environment you will choose - eg Australian bush, African safari, underwater world, creepy crawlies, arctic ice, etc.
Ideate what your product will look like (you will be presenting Friday Week 9).
Now identify how you will complete the jobs (all work together on each? split the tasks among the group?):
Design brief - a written explanation outlining the aims, objective, target and stakeholders within your design project -can be attached to your poster.
Electronic poster to educate public about your environment's animals - classification, habitat, distribution around the world (map), requirements, conservation status, and how the environment makes the animal(s) comfortable - you may use QR codes to link to these. Look at the posters in the labs and Science corridor for ideas on how to set this out.)
Weekly schedule of feeding, washing, entertainment; types of play/toys
3D model
Producing:
Design brief - a written explanation outlining the aims, objective, target and stakeholders within your design project -can be attached to your poster.
Electronic poster to educate public about your environment's animals - classification, habitat, distribution around the world (map), requirements, conservation status, and how the environment makes the animal(s) comfortable - you may use QR codes to link to these. Look at the posters in the labs and Science corridor for ideas on how to set this out.)
Weekly schedule of feeding, washing, entertainment; types of play/toys
3D model
ALTERNATIVE TASK FORMAT
Research current issues in wildlife conservation (relating to zoos). This Blendspace has resources to help you collect information. https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/yHYt7MlCorfNAw/2018-to-zoo-or-not-to-zoo
Activity One - Brainstorm
Brainstorm ‘What is your opinion regarding animals being kept in zoos? Why do you feel this way? What are some ethical questions you have about Zoos?
● Should zoos still exist?
● How can zoo enclosures provide a suitable living environment for animals?
● Do zoos exist for conservation or profit/entertainment?
● Are zoos the best way to learn about animals?
● Are zoos a normal part of society?
● How can we minimise the negative impacts that zoos have on captive animals?
● Are animals in zoos happy?
Do zoos exist for conservation or profit/entertainment?
While some zoos may contribute to conservation projects, the vast majority of animals in zoos are not on the endangered species list. Even the animals who are endangered are not likely to be rehabilitated back into their natural habitat.
The truth is that zoos exist primarily for profit. Baby animals are one of the largest sources of tourism and income for zoos, so babies are often bred when there isn’t enough room to keep them. This can result in a surplus of animals in zoos, which need to be managed. These surplus management strategies are hidden from the public and include the killing of healthy animals as food for other animals in the zoo (e.g. the killing of a young giraffe to be fed to the lions at Copenhagen Zoo).
Are zoos the best way to learn about animals?
Zoos can teach us about how animals behave in captivity, but do not teach us about the natural behaviour of animals in the wild. Nature documentaries and interactive online education tools provide the same information as would be provided by a zoo, but without disrupting the natural habitats and actions of animals. So do we need zoos to learn about animals if there are other educational opportunities?
Many zoos attempt to use strategies to create a natural habitat but we need your help to evaluate how successful these strategies are.
Activity Two - Research
Question: Should Zoos Exist?
What are the Pros (For) and Cons (Against) for the existence of zoos in our society?
Sunflowers:
a) Gather information about this topic from the Blendspace activities.
Fill in the Table below for at least 2 points for and 2 points against Zoos. Show evidence that supports your points and use the ABCDE test to evaluate whether the source of the evidence is a reliable and credible one. A rubric to evaluate your sources is included for practice.
Violets:
a) Gather information about this topic from the Blendspace activities or your own research.
Fill in the Table below for at least 2 points for and 2 points against zoos. Show evidence that supports your points and use the ABCDE test to evaluate whether the source of the evidence is a reliable and credible one. A rubric to evaluate your sources is included for practice.
2a) Arguments For ZOOs
2b) Arguments Against ZOOs
Activity 2c: Evaluate one of your sources using the ABCDE TEST scaffold.
When you search the Web, you find a lot of information…but should we trust it? Use this guide to help you decide. Mark your Web page on this point system. Canyou trust it?
As part of a regional breeding program, Taronga Zoo wants to expand their facility to hold at least one extra animal. This will be a stand-alone exhibit and you will design the new enclosure as an example of ethical and sustainable design and conservation. Your enclosure must:
- give the animal requirements of living: space, food, resources, companionship and overall well-being.
- meet the Taronga Conservation Society Australian Animal Welfare Charter
- meet the needs of the visitors
Australian Animals
· Burramys parvus (mountain pygmy possum)
· Gymnobelideus leadbeateri (Leadbeater's possum)
· Lasiorhinus krefftii (Queensland/northern hairy-nosed wombat)
· Miniopterus orianae bassanii + Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii (southern bent-wing bat) + Nyctophilus howensis (Lord Howe long-eared bat)
· Potorous gilbertii (Gilbert’s potoroo)
· Anthochaera phrygia (Regent Honeyeater)
· Neophema chrysogaster (Orange-bellied Parrot)
· Aipysurus apraefrontalis (short-nosed sea snake) Aipysurus foliosquama (leaf-scaled sea snake)
· Elseya albagula (Southern Snapping Turtle)
· Emoia nativitatis (Christmas Island forest skink/whiptail skink) + Lepidodactylus listeri (Christmas Island gecko/Lister’s gecko)
· Litoria spenceri (spotted treefrog)
· Pseudophryne corroboree (southern corroboree frog) and Pseudophryne pengilleyi (northern corroboree frog)
International Animals
· Panthera pardus orientalis (amur leopard)
· Diceros bicornis (black rhino)
· Gorilla beringei graueri (Eastern Lowland Gorilla)
· Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle)
· Panthera tigris jacksoni (Malayan Tiger)
· Pongo abelii, Pongo pygmaeus (orangutan)
· Pseudoryx nghetinhensis (Saola)
· Elephas maximus sumatranus (Sumatran Elephant)