In an opinion column in The Washington Post, Whale Sanctuary Project president Dr. Lori Marino describes “three indisputable facts” with which zoos and aquariums will have to come to terms in the coming years. She writes:
“First, most of the animals that people pay money to see — like elephants, big cats, and dolphins and whales — cannot thrive in these facilities.
“Second, most zoos and aquariums have failed when it comes to conserving endangered species and populations.
“And third, despite claims that they are educating visitors about conservation issues, there remains no compelling evidence that seeing animals on display promotes conservation values and behaviors.”
Zoos and aquariums are under growing pressure to make a choice between adopting a new model and becoming an endangered species themselves. That new model is to be found in sanctuaries. And what distinguishes a sanctuary from a zoo is that its priority is the well-being of the animals, not human amusement or diversion.
Some progressive zoos have already started making the change from entertainment and spectacle to restoration, education and conservation. In 2005, the Detroit Zoo closed its elephant exhibit and sent its two elephants to the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary. The National Aquarium has relieved its eight bottlenose dolphins from performing in shows and is planning to retire them to a sanctuary. And the Whale Sanctuary Project has recently been formed to create seaside sanctuaries for formerly captive dolphins and whales, as well as injured or sick wild ones.
As they continue to face mounting pressure to shift their way of relating to the other animals, zoos and aquariums will eventually transform into sanctuaries — that is, centers of authentic advocacy and conservation, public education and engagement. Two examples of sanctuaries that put the animals first and are also highly successful at drawing visitors, volunteers and vacationers are the Marine Mammal Center in California and Best Friends Animal Society in Utah (now one of the state’s top tourist attractions). Unlike zoos and aquariums that cling to a relationship to our fellow animals that’s essentially one of exploitation, it is sanctuaries like these that are showing themselves to be the true model for the future.