By: Alyssa Jesperson
Macomb Community College, 2020
The following ethnography was written more recently by a student at Macomb, so the requirements for the paper are more similar to the assignment you will be completing this semester.
We will go over these in class, so you may want to jot down some notes to yourself after you’ve read the paper.
What does the author do well in this ethnography?
How well-developed is the observation section? Do you feel like you get a good sense of the community from this paper?
How well developed is the scholarly research section and topic?
If this author were to revise this paper further, what recommendations would you make for revision?
REMINDER: this is formatted for the web; your paper will look different.
by Alyssa Jesperson
From the very first day we received this assignment, I knew I would choose the zoo. The zoo has a lot to offer, and I wanted to observe the impact it makes an impact on the visitors. The zoo has many exhibits of animals such as, penguins, giraffes, elephants, seals, amphibians, and houses over 2,000 animals. On my first day of observations, I chose to go on a nice-weathered, sunny day. My ride out to the zoo was probably about 25 minutes, and once I arrived it took another 10 minutes to even find a parking spot. Pulling up to the structure, I was surprised to notice that there was nowhere to pay, or receive a ticket. I thought it was a good deal. The parking structure was lined up to the fullest, I wasn’t even moving from the entrance. I couldn’t help but notice from the sides of me that there were a lot of children here! I saw families pulling wagons, some pulling children in them. I noticed a lot of people who had wagons kept personal items in them, like purses, backpacks, water bottles, coolers, etc. As I went further up, I began to see children laughing and running around, then the guardian yelling at them to stop running by the cars. I also saw young adults getting out of their cars. Some of the young adults exiting their cars were couples, as they held hands walking toward the stairs.
On the top of the very structure- the part that didn’t even have a roof- I found the perfect end spot. I parked, got my sunglasses on, grab my water bottle and purse, and I headed out. As I got out of my car I noticed everybody wearing shorts. So far, summer apparel seems to be the main thing people were wearing. A lot of people are wearing sunglasses and hats. A lot of women had their hair up in a ponytail and were carrying a light jacket of some type. To get to the actual zoo from the parking structure, I had to find the staircase, get to the second floor, and walk the cement bridge to the entrance.
When I walked down to the second floor, I walked through the exit onto the bridge. This bridge wasn’t like a normal bridge, it was more like a winding bridge that let down onto the main ground. Walking along the bridge I saw people taking pictures of themselves or with other people. Children were running up and down, racing each other to the bottom. Adults were talking amongst themselves, some holding their child’s hand. At the bottom of the bridge was the main entrance into the zoo. The entrance was full of people. Children packed the floor, running around, screaming, some even crying. Adults stood around and talked to each other, seeming as if there were in no rush to enter the zoo. I noticed that a lot of people were wearing summer clothes like shorts and dresses, there were also a few people wearing jeans. Sunglasses were worn by quite a few adults, even children. Besides outerwear, many people carried purses and backpacks. I also noticed people carrying cameras and maps of the zoo trail.
I was standing in the middle of the entrance of the zoo. There were statues that children were playing on, places to sit, ticket stands that were now closed, and kiosk-like machines that printed tickets. I wasn’t sure where else to purchase a ticket, so I went up to a kiosk. The one I went to didn’t work. I went to another one, and that one didn’t work either. The third one I went to finally worked. Right away the kiosk tells me one entry ticket for an adult is $18. I was shocked that one admission ticket was that high. Even more surprising is that a child’s ticket is $15. The zoo considered anyone from 2-18 a child. Continuing on with the process, the kiosk tells me that parking is an additional $8! I knew it was too good to be true earlier. Altogether I had spent $26. I wondered what other people had to think about these prices. When my tickets are printed, I was approached by a young girl who asked if my kiosk was working. I told her it was and it was the only one that seemed to work. I then continued on to the gates of entrance.
The entrance to the zoo was blocked by a gate with little buildings where the employees sat and took tickets. There was a long line to get in. Some people were very impatient, complaining about the line, tapping their feet with their hands on their hips. Some did not mind at all, they smiled and talked, keeping themselves preoccupied. There were a few people who were taking pictures and videos of their children posing or playing while they were waiting. A few adults seemed uninterested, as they were sitting on benches playing on their phones. When I approached the window where the lady sat behind, I noticed she was in a uniform that was primarily blue. She said, “Would you like to purchase a ticket for entry?” I responded, “I did not know I was able to purchase a ticket up here, so I purchased one at the kiosk.”. She took my ticket and asked, “Would you like to purchase a parking ticket today?”. I handed her my parking ticket, she ripped of the serrated portion and handed me back my tickets. She proceeded to say, “Make sure you see the penguin exhibit today, it’s the lasy day it will be open.”. I asked her why. I told her, “I thought the penguin exhibit just got renovated?”. She said that they will be renovating again and the exhibit will then be opened. She handed me a coupon for buddy’s pizza and told me to enjoy my time at the zoo.
Entering the zoo, I noticed a high volume of people. I noticed that a majority of the people there were in groups. A lot of them happened to be parents with children. There were some young adults who were there who were with friends or with a significant other. The first thing I saw when I entered the zoo was the restrooms to the right. There was also a long line for the restrooms. The line for the women’s restroom was very long in comparison to the men’s restroom. In line women waited and played on their phones. Women with children tried to control them and make them stand still. Other people were talking to each other about gossip, etc. Outside of the restroom were many benches to sit. A lot of people were sitting at benches, taking a break from walking.
To the left of the entrance was the main gift shop. I could tell this was the gift shop because there were shelves of stuffed animals guarding the front door. An employee stood outside, in a primarily blue uniform. When I walked into the store, it was jammed with gifts of all sorts. Teddy bears were on shelves lining the whole back wall. There were stands of tee shirts, blankets, mugs, jewelry, and children’s toys. People in the store were having fun, laughing and picking out different items. Children were being funny and trying on silly hats. As I went to the back of the store, I decided I would purchase a teddy bear for myself. I picked out a small giraffe. After waiting in the long line full of parents and children, I got to the front and handed the cashier my bear. The cashier informed me that if I bought anything in the store that is worth at least dollar, I can get a large $40 stuffed animal for $20. I purchased a pencil for $1 and got a giant giraffe for a discount.
I decided that for my observations I would also visit an exhibit and observe how people respond to animals in live action. I walked toward the penguin exhibit, which was right next to the restroom and the front of the entrance. Here there were designated areas for strollers and wagons, which I thought was interesting as I have never seen that. As I proceed to walk into the penguin exhibit, the first thing I notice is a huge glass wall where the penguins can be viewed. There were a bunch of people in the room, some stood in the back or on the benches in the back. Adults were taking pictures and videos of the penguins, a lot were also taking pictures of their children in front of the exhibit. Children were all located at the front of the exhibit, facing the glass. Children would tap the glass, yell out the animals name, jump up and down, and laugh. There was a child who was also unhappy and cried- his mother brought him to the back of the exhibit and comforted him. Inside, the penguin exhibit was set up to look like an icy mountain. There was a large mountain-like wall that was covered in ice, while the penguins stood on an icy ground surrounded by water. The penguins would walk with their arms to their sides and would dive into the water.
Leading down to the bottom floor of the exhibit, we were in a room that mimicked a pirate ship. There were animated windows on the walls that showed various animals. All of the lights were dim and there was a cool mist that came from the ceiling. Children had fun running up and down through the mist. At the bottom was an underwater exhibit of the penguins throughout a hallway. There were seats connected to the wall where children and adults would sit, taking pictures. I observed the penguins as they swam over my head. They swam fast. The two penguins in the exhibit were racing each other, and they would go back and forth over our heads. The children would watch in awe, pointing out the penguins to their parents and following them as they swam.
As I was heading toward the exit, there was another gift shop right before the door. Children held toys in their hands and asked their parents to buy them. I saw a lady who looked to be in her 30’s waiting outside the store with her son. I figured this would be a great time to ask her for an interview. I approached her and told her I was doing a project for school, and I would like to ask her a couple questions regarding the zoo. She agreed, and I will be using the name Jessica to reference her.
“What did you think of the penguin exhibit?”.
She replied, “I thought it was really cute. I like the bottom floor the most where you can walk underneath the penguins as they swim.”.
“Did you hear that today is the last day it’s opened?” I asked curiously.
Her eyes got wide, and she replied, “I did! My son looks forward to the penguins so we’re really disappointed!”.
“The lady at the front told us it would be opened again soon though.” I reassured.
“Do you have a favorite animal at the zoo?” I asked.
“Yes, I definitely think my favorite are the seals.
“Does your son have a favorite animal?” She thought for a second.
“He honestly loves all the animals, but I’d have to say one of his favorites are the gorillas.”.
This brought me to my main point. I said, “It’s funny you say that because it brings me to a relevant topic.
“Do you know what an endangered animal is?”
“Um, an endangered animal is an animal that is going extinct?” She asked in an uncertain manner.
“Exactly. Do you think there are any endangered animals at the Detroit Zoo?” I asked.
“Oh, I’m sure. I’m not sure which ones but I’m sure there’s got to be.”
“What animals do you think might be endangered?
“I think the tigers are endangered, but I’m not even sure about that. Which ones are endangered?”
“Some of them are animals you probably didn’t think were endangered. You were right about the tigers, but other animals like pandas, polar bears, elephants, and even gorillas are endangered!”.
She said, “Wow, I didn’t know that. My son would be sad to know they were endangered and there might not be anymore some day”.
“Do you think it’s important to teach him about endangered animals?”.
“I think that the more people who pay attention to wildlife and the environment can make a better future.” She said adamantly.
I told her I liked that answer. “Do you think zoos do anything to help animals so that they don’t become extinct?”
“I think zoos take a lot of their donation profits toward helping the animals. I don’t think all zoos do, some don’t even take care of their animals properly”
“In what ways do you think zoos take part in conserving animals?”.
“Other than donations?” She asked. “They might have programs”.
Continuing, I asked, “Do you think it’s important to protect endangered species?”
“Losing species means we lose variety in the world. These animals are beautiful and it would be so sad for our grandkids to grow up in a world where we don’t have these animals.” She responded firmly.
“I totally agree. Thank you so much for taking part in my project. I hope you two enjoy the rest of your day!”.
“You are very welcome, honey. Have a nice afternoon!”.
The zoo is a very entertaining place to be with a lot to observe, but there is also a serious matter relevant to zoos. As time goes on, more and more animals are becoming endangered, eventually becoming extinct. Animals such as: rhinos, sea turtles, whales, tigers, and pandas are considered endangered. According to Baker et al (2011), “for mammals and birds, zoos hold about one-fifth to one quarter of the species identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as threatened”(p. 40). The question I propose is do zoos take part in the conservation of animals? Research shows that over the years, zoos and aquariums are “taking a much more active role in wildlife conservation and in promoting conservation learning among their visitors” (Browne, at el., 2013). Spreading education about endangered animals is one way zoos have an impact on the conservation of animals. Having the education about this topic creates awareness. In the 1960’s, people started to think of zoos not only as a place of leisure and activity, but as a place where ensuring the survival of threatened species is important. Becoming aware of this situation is a way of contributing to the conservation of endangered species. (Ballantyne et al, 2007). Zoos also take part in creating projects and programs that help the environment and well-being of endangered animals. An example of a program regarding animal conservation is A.D.O.P.T.S, originated at the Detroit Zoo. Captive breeding is also a way zoos contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.
Educating visitors is one way that zoos promote conservation. Some zoos educate visitors by encouraging them to “care for natural resources, maintain local habitats for wildlife and participate in local community-based efforts to restore and protect the environment (Rabb, 2004). An example would be picking up garbage and plastic to help the sea turtles. Plastic that gets into the ocean looks very similar to the food sea turtles need, and can kill them if eaten. By spreading awareness through informational videos, flyers, and programs, it aims to inform us on how to make a contribution to the environment. Another way zoos educate visitors is by using animal shows or informational programs about the particular animal. By using this method, zoos can captivate the audience’s interest in the animals and their environment. (Ballantyne et al, 2007). When the audience is captivated by the animal and their environment, they are likely to take part in what is needed for their overall well being. This can lead to the conservation of animals with the help of others in the community.
Zoos also make an impact by creating organizations and taking part in programs involving the conservation of animals. One example is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This organization is a “non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation (Leaders in Animal Care, Conservation, and Family Fun, 2019). This organization is also responsible for donating money toward research, conservation, and education. It has been stated that “in the U.S., all institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) include species conservation as a key part of their missions, in accordance with accreditation standards (Che-Castaldo, 2018). The AZA’s efforts in the conservation of animals has also expanded into captive breeding and population management.
With habitats that are threatened, captive breeding may be important to the conservation of the endangered species. Captive breeding is defined as the process of maintaining plants and animals by keeping them in controlled environments, such as the zoo. An evaluation showed that “captive breeding played a major role in the recovery of 17 of the 68 species whose threat level was reduced (Colchero et al, 2011). Many zoos and aquariums take part in the captive breeding of animals, which is to create a stable, healthy environment to avoid extinction, “zoos have extensive knowledge of the husbandry, behavior and veterinary procedures required to develop CBPs” (Browne et al, 2013). With the assistance from educational programing, zoos are able to spread knowledge about captive breeding this way. Studies show that field research and training programs are also used by zoos to support conservation programs. Field research is described as research that is done outside of the classroom by observing lived experiences.
In relation to my research, the Detroit Zoo also has programs dedicated to helping endangered species. With the A.D.O.P.T.S program they have proposed, they are spreading awareness about the endangerment of animals. With this program, people are encouraged to symbolically adopt an endangered species listed on their website. The money donated goes toward helping the cause of conservation, as well as veterinary care for more than 2,00 animals (A.D.O.P.T.S, 2019). Animals such as lions, bald eagles, otters, and more are up for ‘adoption’.
Overall my time at the zoo was interesting. During the time I spent, I was able to observe others and see what they do in their ‘natural habitat’. Many people seemed to be positively impacted by the zoo and the animals they were observing. From laughing to taking pictures, there was a lot of smiling and a lot of engaging. I also had a good time engaging with the animals and took a few pictures myself. In a perfect world everybody would be positively impacted by the zoo, and all the animals would be alive and well. The endangerment of species has been a relevant and concerning topic explored throughout this research. Roughly 200 to 2000 extinctions of species occur each year. With the contribution from the zoo, they assist in providing care to endangered species. By spreading knowledge and creating donations toward animal endangerment, zoos are able to reach out to a wide variety of visitors. The zoo impacts others in variousvways. Whether good or bad, the zoo creates an impact on its visitors.
Baker, Z., Lacy, R., Leus, K., Taylor-Holzer, K. (2011). Intensive Management of Populations for Conservation. Towards Sustainable Population Management, 12. Retrieved from http://www.vortex10.org/Lacy/Reprints/BakerWAZA2011.pdf
Ballantyne, R., Dierking, L., Hughes, K., and Packer, J. (2007). Conservation learning in wildlife tourism settings: lessons from research in zoos and aquariums. Environmental Education Research, 13(3), pp.367-383. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lynn_Dierking/publication/43479046_Conservation_learning_in_wildlife_tourism_settings_Lessons_from_research_in_zoos_and_aquariums/links/563dbd1408ae34e98c4b9129.pdf
Balmford, A., Green, M., Leader-Williams, N., (1995) Parks or arks: where to conserve threatened mammals? Biodiversity and Conservation, 4(6). Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00222516
Browne, R., Byers, O., Colchero, F., Conde, D., Flesness, N., Gusset, M., Jones, O., Pearce-Kelly, P. (2013). Zoos through the Lens of the IUCN Red List: A Global Metapopulation Approach to Support Conservation Breeding Programs. Retrieved from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0080311
Che-Castaldo, J., Grow, S., Faust, L. (2018). Evaluating the Contribution of North American Zoos and Aquariums to Endangered Species Recovery. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6023936/
Detroit Zoological Center. (2019). A.D.O.P.T.S. - Detroit Zoo. Retrieved September 25, 2019, retrieved from https://detroitzoo.org/support/give/adopts/
Detroit Zoological Society. (2019). Detroit Zoological Society Keeps Endangered Animals ‘SAFE’ - Detroit Zoo. Retrieved September 25, 2019, retrieved from https://detroitzoo.org/press-release/detroit-zoological-society-keeps-endangered-animals-safe/