Should zoos go VIRAL?

Why viral media will change zoos. And why zoos should aim to use it to their benefit.
1News Interview with Ron Magill, Zoo Miami Communications Director.
• 'We were wrong' - Zoo ...

[@neilchace1858]

Unfortunately, and I'm not saying this is the case here, sometimes what people say is abuse or poor welfare is far from the case. For example, I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed a visitor comment on a snake, tiger, octopus, or other solitary species being "lonely". Especially around elephants and cetaceans a lot of the public perception is based on false ideas of what good welfare is, so that is certainly something zoos need to work on from an educational perspective to change.

[@theimmigrant7953]

This reminds me of the backlash around Memphis Zoo’s pandas. Despite the fact that their care is easily accessible to anyone want wants to see it, videos and pictures taken out of context were still being circulated all over social media as supposed proof of abuse and neglect, despite the that being as far away from the truth as possible. People would get second or third hand information and just roll with it, leading to misrepresentation about the zoo, the pandas themselves, and their care. Stuff such as their weight and appearance were attributed to abuse while ignoring the fact that the pandas were both elderly and one even had a skin condition. No amount of reasoning or proof was enough for these people who convinced themselves that a zoo that was paying millions to exhibit these animals to a strict and foreign government who can take them back at any moment would be so stupid and careless as to neglect them. People even thought that them going back to China was proof of the supposed neglect, when in reality their lease was just over. Panda diplomacy and explaining how it works would be an excellent topic for you to cover in my opinion, I would love to see your point of view on it.

[@zooblether]

Hey thanks for your comment! Pandas is certainly a unique case. As interesting as I’m sure it is, not sure how much information is actually available on the ins and outs of the various zoo contracts, the levels of influence/impact between governments etc. and to be honest, I’d be speaking way out of my real life experience/exposure to add anything of note. I have seen a few other channels (non zoo based) discussing the political side of things though, which are interesting for at least surface level information. 🐼

[@albinoorca]

Miami has a reputation with animals, perhaps near irreparable, because of Miami SeaQuarium. The local government and community allowed that place to operate without hardly a single check or balance for over 50 years, and that kind of thing is hard to simply forget about. Way too little too late by way of punitive measures. Having any kind of negative news come out about Zoo Miami probably just strengthens people's bias against the area and how its residents handle animals. Now, is Zoo Miami much better than the SeaQuarium? Certainly. It's hard NOT to be. But there's an undercurrent of distrust by anyone who deeply loves animals and knows what a facility in Miami COULD get away with for so many decades and that any proper operation has only been out of goodwill in the past. I hope only positive lessons and changes come for Miami. As I write this, Miami SeaQuarium is finally being given notice of violation of their lease for inadequate care, including a severe understaffing of vets. If they get evicted, the remaining animals can finally go to accredited facilities.

[@walkingcopyright425]

Very proud of my country with this, we are divided on many things, but we dont fuck around with native wildlife. We hate invasives, and love natives, and dont fuck with our kiwis

[@eliletts8149]

Wait, what happened with the kiwi though?

[@zacharyjasper6367]

Thank you for this amazing video! Excited to see more soon!

[@zooblether]

I appreciate it, thanks. 🙏

[@animalplushworld100]

Yes zoos should go viral even duo they already are