![]() Currently, the public image of zoos is changing through methods ranging from mission statements to welfare inspections in order to justify their existence to their critics and the public. It was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that the appearance of zoos began to change to reflect the public opinion this transition took place as people were educated about the true conditions endured by zoo animals. Until the 20 th century, there was little or no concern for the welfare of zoo animals. Today, there is a push by animal rights activists to that same effect. He allowed the animals outdoor access, believing their enclosure should more closely resemble nature. German collector, Carl Hagenbeck, built the first wild animal park in 1848. In the 1950s, there was a ‘zoo boom’ during which time entrepreneurs recognized the potential money to be made from exhibiting wild animals to satisfy public curiosity. These consisted of animals from around the world, captured by the Victorian explores or presented as gifts from parts of Africa and Asia in return for diplomatic favors. The Zoological Society of London justified London ’s zoological collection as “the advancement of zoology and animal physiology and the introduction of new and curios subjects of the Animal Kingdom.” Throughout the 19 th and early 20 th century, there were only a small number of animal collections. Public accessibility in Western Europe began at zoological collections in Paris, Vienna, Dublin, and later, in London. ![]() Animal menageries remained private collections until the early part of the 19 th century, at which time they became open to the general public. King Henry I created the first wild animal menagerie in Britain. The Greeks established the first public zoos, which were used by students to study animal and plant life. The Romans used animals commonly found in zoos for entertainment they watched hundreds of thousands of them fight to the death in arenas. To display power and wealth, rulers from Northern Africa, India, and China established many small zoos between 1,000 and 400 B.C. This enormous zoo covered about 1,500 acres. and approximately 500 years later, around the year 1000 B.C., the Chinese emperor, Wen Wang, founded the Garden of Intelligence. Queen Hatshepsut opened the first zoo in 1500 B.C. The first animal exhibitions were recorded as far back as Ancient Egypt where wild animals, regarded as objects of wealth, were presented as gifts to the pharaohs. Wild animals have intrigued humans throughout history. In denotative terms, a zoo is “ a collection of living animals usually for public display.” This relatively simple definition gives no indication of the implications a zoo has for animals confined to their cages. Zoos and related animal exhibitions, varies by species. ![]() Under current laws, the amount of protection each animal is afforded within U.S. The majority of Americans will visit a zoo or similar facility that exhibits animals at some point in their lives. It also exposes the underground trade of surplus zoo animals, which continues because of the lacking enforcement of current laws. Using the elephant as a case study, this paper exposes the inadequacies of our existing laws, which have resulted in unfortunate incidents nationwide. Voluntary associations such as the American Zoo Association set higher standards of care for their members, in some instances, than the minimum standards set forth in the Animal Welfare Act. State laws consist of anti-cruelty statutes that come into force only after a violation has occurred. ![]() The ESA applies to those animals listed as threatened or endangered, but even then exhibition alone will never constitute a violation. The AWA sets minimum standards for the care, handling, housing, and transport of animals exhibited in zoos. On the federal level, those laws most important to zoo animals are the Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act. On the international level there are only regulations which apply to the trade of the species between international countries, limiting how many can be imported and exported and how they are transported. This paper examines the laws pertaining to zoo animals on the international, federal, and state level, along with voluntary standards, not mandated by law.
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