Steven McCormick

April 8, 2015
SCE6647
What to do about the zoo? Its up to you!
Role-play Activity
Global issue:
Role of zoos and aquariums in global conservation efforts of
preserving biodiversity and especially endangered species
Target age / grade level: 9th grade Biology
Key Question:
Should we pass a resolution to significantly shift the care of
animals around the world by releasing animals from zoos and
aquariums into the wild and then just use the money that went
into running the zoo or aquarium to take care of the animals and
their environments in the wild?
Student learning objectives:
1. The student will be able to evaluate and discern the
differences between fact and opinion with regards to the impact
of human activity on animals. (SSS: SC.912.L.17.8)
2. The student will be able to construct a resolution that provides
a scientifically sound and viable alternative addressing the pros
and cons of captivity, release of animals into the wild, and how to
handle bad zoos. (SSS: SC.912.N.1.7)
Materials Needed:
1. Student scenario, Role-play instructions, and Worksheet (1 /
Student)
2. Name tags (1 / student)
3. Role play cards (1 set per class, 1 card per group)
4. Place cards for each group (and 1 for the moderator)
5. Refreshments for participants
Teacher Background:
There is a raging debate between biology activists and animal
rights activists as to what rights an individual animal possesses.
Proponents of animal rights such as PETA argue that relocation of an
animal from the wild, even for rescue or survival reasons, is a violation
of that animals right to choose freely what resources it chooses to
consume and what social interactions it prefers. The organization
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, popularly known by the

acronym PETA, has even gone as far as to call any kind of animal
captivity animal jail. However, many scientific studies show that
animal parks play a large role in educating the public about
conservation and biodiversity issues.
In addition to the public education provided, zoos often also
provide a forum for volunteers to serve their community, an
opportunity for teachers to receive formal training, an avenue for
dissemination of proper animal care and veterinary science practices,
as well as a source of data for research and publication of scholarly
scientific papers.
In the abstract for their paper, Ecological Ethics in Captivity:
Balancing Values and Responsibilities in Zoo and Aquarium Research
under Rapid Global Change, Ben A. Minteer and James P. Collins offer
the following:
The accelerating pace and impact of global environmental change,
especially climate change, complicates our understanding of these
obligations. One example is the blurring of the distinction between ex
situ (zoo- and aquarium-based) conservation and in situ (field-based)
approaches as zoos and aquariums become more active in field
conservation work and as researchers and managers consider more
intensive interventions in wild populations and ecosystems to meet
key conservation goals. These shifts, in turn, have consequences for
our traditional understanding of the ethics of wildlife research and
management, including our relative weighting of animal welfare and
conservation commitments across rapidly evolving ex situ and in situ
contexts. Although this changing landscape in many ways supports the
increased use of captive wildlife in conservation-relevant research, it
raises significant ethical concerns about human intervention in
populations and ecosystems, including the proper role of zoos and
aquariums as centers for animal research and conservation in the
coming decades. Working through these concerns requires a
pragmatic approach to ethical analysis, one that is able to make tradeoffs among the many goods at stake (e.g., animal welfare, species
viability, and ecological integrity) as we strive to protect species from
further decline and extinction in this century.
This is an issue that is regularly debated in committee in global
organizations such as the UN and may be an issue that will truly be
voted upon by the global community, which could result in a complete
restructuring of how we do environmental studies, public education,
and scientific research.

Student Scenario:
Zoos and aquariums have served a wide variety of functions in
the world. Some zoos have focused their efforts toward exploiting
animals for providing entertainment and performing a variety of tricks,
while many zoos and aquariums today have dedicated most or all of
their mission to raising awareness of species decline, the role man
plays in environmental disruption and destruction, as well as actually
providing physical rescue, rehabilitation, captive breeding, and
reintroduction of species back into the wild.
The UN Environmental Programme has decided to convene a
summit of experts to discuss the future of zoos and aquariums and
their role in conservation and care of animals. This summit is tasked
with determining whether or not zoos, aquariums, wildlife preserves,
and other captive animal establishments serve as a moral violation to
the rights of animals or as an irreplaceable component of wildlife
conservation and public education. The resolution being voted on
today is:
Zoos and aquariums must shift their focus to meet the basic
needs of their animals by taking steps toward an ultimate goal
of ensuring their freedom. This freedom will be given by
gradually shutting down zoos and aquariums worldwide,
releasing those animals into the wild, and shifting funding to
protect the animals and their habitats in the wild instead. This
shutdown and release will begin with zoos that do not meet
AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) standards.
You will assume the role of a stakeholder in this debate and your
job is to embrace and represent the character you are assigned,
regardless of your personal beliefs or opinions on the matter. Do your
best to assert your characters stance and decide how to handle
controversy or rumors, how to best team up with other stakeholders,
and the best strategy to convince opponents to come over to your side
and support your cause.

Role-play instructions:
The activity will take place in five different forums:
1. Pre-Assembly briefing:
Assemble with the other members of your group to discuss
a strategy as well as to familiarize yourself with your
groups stance, character, and endgame goal. You will have
5 minutes to evaluate your character, discuss strategies,
and plan the main talking points to your opening
statement. You will also want to make plans for the
cocktail hour recess, specifically in who you want to
target to attempt to recruit to your cause or discuss
compromises.
2. Opening statements:
1. The moderator (the teacher) will convene the meeting
and give a welcome / introduction statement which will
state for everyone what the goal of the day will be as
well as reading the proposed amendment and outlining
the basic protocol for this part of the meeting.
2. Your delegation will give an opening statement in an
open forum, during which any delegate may speak any
time they have the floor. You may request time to speak
by raising your hand calmly and waiting for the
moderator to grant you the floor. Any disruptive or
distracting petitions for the floor, speaking out of turn
will result in the delegate being escorted out of the
meeting by UN security and that delegates vote will be
disqualified.

3. You will choose a representative to give your

delegations opening statement. This statement should
be professional, well thought out, and concise.
Remember, only 15 minutes is allotted for EVERYONE to
speak, so keep it brief, but powerful. No statement
should exceed 90 seconds. Each group member should
contribute a talking point, rebuttal, or argument for the
representative to communicate to the council.
4. Every delegation will need to speak at least once. You
may want to try to get your idea out there early and let
it be tossed around and argued about, or you can be
brief up front and let everyone else play their cards and
then swoop in at the end with a last-minute, stir-the-pot
introduction of new info that demands to be discussed
during the cocktail hour. Once all opening statements
have been made, the moderator will call the open forum
to a close and the cocktail hour will begin.
3. 10 minute Cocktail hour:
1. Each delegation can bring their place card to a different
part of the room. One delegate (not the representative
who spoke in opening statements) should remain at the
place card to answer questions posed by other
delegations.
2. During all of this, you should help yourself to a snack
and beverage. The remaining group members who are
not at the place card should circulate the room, meeting
with whomever they run into or strategically visiting
other booths to ask questions or negotiate deals.
3. Some delegates or organizations may try to offer
incentives to sway your vote in their favor. You may wish
to offer these incentives yourself on behalf of your
delegation.
4. 12 minute Closing Statements:
1. The moderator will call the meeting back to order and
will explain the protocol for this portion of the day. The
closing statements will follow a roundtable meeting
protocol. Each delegation should choose a new
representative (not the one who did opening statement)
to do the closing statement. Each representative will
have 2 minutes to speak. The first to speak will be the
person to the moderators left. The next representative
will speak in turn after the person to their right. The
moderator must recognize each speaker before they can
speak.

2. Before statements begin, you will meet with your group

for two minutes to decide your strategy. Remember,
that while your closing statement should put all youve
got out on the table, but you should not disclose your
vote just yet. That will take place during the voting
portion of the meeting.
3. Once all closing statements have been made, the
moderator will call to a close the closing statements
forum, and each delegation will have 1 minute to
discuss their official vote.
5. The vote:
1. The moderator will ask for the final votes for each
delegation.
2. When called upon by the moderator, the closing
statement representative will declare a vote of aye or
nay. An aye vote declares that you and your
delegation support the banning of all captive animal
establishments. A nay vote means that you support
the current arrangement as is. This does not mean you
think there cant be changes made to improve the state
of affairs.
3. Each group is assigned a number of votes. For example,
if the US votes Nay, then 5 votes are recorded under
Nay. You will find the number of votes allotted to your
group at the top of your groups role card.
4. There must be a total number of 7 votes of Yea for the
resolution to pass. If the resolution does not pass, it will
be sent back to committee to discuss alternatives and
an amended resolution will be brought to vote at a later
time.
RoleCards:

Representative,AssociationofZoosandAquariums:Observer(NoVotes)
ThemissionoftheAZAistopromotethehighestqualityofcareofcaptiveanimalsandahighlevelof
emphasisonconservation,educationandevenveterinarysciencewithinmemberorganizations.,including
zoosandaquariums.TheAZAhasahighlyselectiveaccreditationprocessofevaluationformembership
includingrigorousstandardsforwelfareofcaptiveanimals,wildlifeconservation,scientificresearch,
publiceducation,expertstaffing,andsafetyforbothanimalsandvisitorstotheparks.Therearecurrently
213zoosandaquariumsworldwidethatareaccreditedbytheAZA.Theseparksservedover180million
visitorsin2013,approximately50millionofwhichwerechildren.In2012approximately$160million
USDwasgeneratedandthesefundswereusedtosupportover2,700conservationprojectsinover115

countries.Additionally,theAZAestablishedtheSpeciesSurvivalPlanProgram,andtherearenowover
319SSPsworkingtoprotectthelongtermwellbeingandconservationof590differentspeciesaroundthe
globe.ThenumberofindividualanimalscurrentlycaredforbyAZAaccreditedzoosandaquariums,
exceeds750,000.Overthelast10years,over400,000educatorsreceivedformaltraining,supporting
curriculum,andhandsonopportunitiesfromtheAZA.TheAZAhasalsoprovidedtheopportunityfor
morethan60,000volunteerstospendover3,000,000hoursperyearvolunteeringattheirlocalzooor
aquarium.Inadditiontothesevolunteers,theAZAcurrentlygeneratesmorethan142,000jobsandover
$16billionUSDinannualeconomicactivityworldwide.
Whileyoudontsupporttheresolutiononthetabletobanishzoosaltogether,youthinkamandateshould
bepassedtocompelallzoostoeitherconformtoAZAstandardsortoshutdownandallowtheanimalsto
besafelytransferredtoAZAapprovedzoosoraquariums.

US5votes
Withover2000zoosorothercaptiveanimalestablishmentsoperatinginall50states,aswellasD.C.,you
areastrongsupporterofzoosandaquariums.Whileyouadmitthatlessthan10%ofyouranimalparksare
AZAapproved,youcontendthattheydoalotforconservationandpubliceducation.Youfeelsome
pressurefromPETAandothersimilarorganizationsthatstronglyopposeanimalcaptivityofanykind,but
withtheopportunitiesprovidedforscholarlyzoologicalresearch,educationofchildren,bothdirectly
throughfieldtripsandhandsonexperiencesandindirectlythroughtrainingofteachersisanunarguable
benefittohavingthezoos.ThereisnowayPETAcanswayyoutochangeyourvote,butyoumustbe
cordial,polite,andengagedinanydiscussionswiththemtoensuretheyfeeltheirvoiceisbeingheard.
Yourepresentazoo/aquariumpowerhouseandareallocated5votesrepresentingyour2000+zoos,
aquariums,andotheranimalparks.

Representative,PeoplefortheEthicalTreatmentofAnimals(PETA):Observer(Novote)

PETAsofficialstanceisinoppositiontotheexistenceofzoosatlarge,mainlybecausezoosdeprive
animalsoftheopportunitytheirownselfinterestandsatisfyeventhemostbasicofneeds.Basicneedsthat
areeitherlimitedorprohibitedentirelyincludeflying,swimming,running,hunting,climbing,foraging,
digging,andevenbeingabletoselecttheirownchoiceofmate/partner.Captivitydriveswildanimalsto
experiencephysicalandmentalfrustrationsthatresultinneurotic,abnormal,andevendestructivebehavior.
Zoosengageinunscrupulouspracticesthatincludetakinganimalsfromthewild,includinganimals
capturedillegallybypoachers.

Whilezoospubliclyrepresentthemselvesasrescuers,protectors,andconservationists,thetruthisthatthey
onlychoosethemostcharismaticandlargeanimalstodrawacrowdandincreaserevenue,neglecting
smaller,lesspopularspeciesthatdeservethesameprotections.Mostanimalsfeaturedinzoosand
aquariumsarenotendangered,andreturningcaptiveanimalstothewildismoreharmfulthanbeneficialas
theanimalswereunabletopracticenaturalsurvivaltechniquesthatwouldkeepthemcompetitiveinthe
wildpopulations.Zoosalsoengageinbreedingprogramsthatarepresumedtoresultinsuccessful
repopulationofspeciesinthewild,howeverthetruereasontobreedanimalsincaptivityisbecausethey
arecute.Zooswithbabyanimalsreceivemorevisitorsandaresultantincreaseinrevenue.Oncethebaby
hasgrown,however,itiseithersoldofforreturnedtothewild,whichresultsinaseveredisadvantageto
theanimal.Captivebredanimalsareimpossibletoassimilateintothewildbecausetherearingthey
receivedinthezooisartificialanddoesnotteachsurvivalskills,allowsthereleasedanimalstoserveasa
vectorforillnessestoinfectthewildpopulations,andareoftenreleasedintoalreadydestroyedor,ata
minimum,resourceexhaustedhabitats.
In2004,theWorldConservationUnionpublishedareportthatshowstheworldsbiodiversityisdeclining
atanunprecedentedandalarmingrate.Thisisduetohumanproducedpollution,climatechange,habitat
loss,andexploitationofanimalsforhumanuses.Captivebreedingdoesnothingtoaddresstheseroot
issues,puttingmorethan7,000animalspeciesinjeopardyofextinction.Moneywastedtoupkeepzoosand
makethemaestheticallypleasingtoattractvisitorsshouldbebetterputtousedirectlyonprojectsthat
preservewildhabitats.Thesalvationofouranimalneighborswithwhomwesharethisplanetliesinthe
protectionandrestorationoftheirhabitats,notinshiningthebarsofanimalprisons.

Bermuda1vote
ThenationalgovernmentofBermudaownsandoperatestheBAMZ,moreformallyknownastheBermuda
Aquarium,MuseumandZoo.ItsoperationisgovernedbyBermudasDepartmentofConservation
services.Thezooistheonlyoneinthetinyislandnationandwasfoundedin1926,makingitoneofthe
worldsoldestaquariums.BAMZisaccreditedbytheAssociationofZoosandaquariumsandhasheldthis
prestigiousaccreditationsince1994.TheAquariumhousesmorethan200speciesoffish,marine
invertebrates,livecorals,severalspeciesofpredatoryfishincludingsharks,marineturtles,andevenharbor
seals.Thezoodisplaysover300reptiles,birds,andmammalsfromtropicalandmarineislands.BAMZ
alsoincludesanaturalhistorymuseumthatexplorestheformationoftheislandofBermuda,itshabitats
andtheimpactofhumanlifeonasmallislandenvironment,whichisaveryfragileanduniquehabitat.

YourzooisfundedbyanationalcharityaswellasapartnershipwiththeUSA,whichprovidesadditional
necessaryfundingforyourzoo.

EuropeanAssociationofZoosandAquariums5votes
30countriesarepermanentmembers,butyourepresentmorethan350zooslocatedin45countries.The
associationwasformedin1992andthemissionoftheEAZAistofacilitatecooperationwithinthe
Europeanzooandaquariumcommunitytowardsthegoalsofconservation,research,andpubliceducation.
ThegoalofeachmemberzooistoempowerEuropeancitizenstoexploreandlearnaboutglobal
biodiversitygoals,andthenempowerthemtoeffectchangeintheworldofconservation.Morethan140
millionvisitorsperusethefacilitiesoftheEAZAmembers,whichequatestoapproximately20%ofthe
Europeanpopulationeachyear.
Thereareafewreciprocalandassociatememberswithinotherregionsoftheworld,especiallyinNorth
America.
Additionally,youareallocated5votesonbehalfofyourpermanentmembers.

Indonesia1vote
Yourcountryoperatesanumberofzoos,ofwhichmorethanonehasapoorreputationfortreatmentof
animals,safetyofvisitors,andrumorsoftiestotheillegalanimaltrade,includingbothliveanimalsand
alsoanimalparts.TheSurabayaZoo,whileboastingthemostdiversecollectionofanimalsinanyzooin
SoutheastAsia,hasanespeciallyawfulreputation,earningitselfthenicknameZooofDeath,givenby
theJakartaGlobe.Independentinvestigativejournalistshavediscoveredanestimateddeathrateof1525
animalspermonth.Anespeciallydisturbingreportin2012foundthatthelastremaininggiraffeatthezoo

diedwitha40poundwadofplasticinitsstomach.Thisindicatestheanimalwaslikelylivingoffadietof
mostlytrashthrownintoitsenclosurebyzoovisitors.Inspiteofeffortstotakeoverandshutdownthezoo,
transferringthepooranimalstootherzoosthatwouldbethrilledtocareforthem,thezooremainsopento
thisday,mostlydueinparttolocaldemand.Thezoocharges$2forentryandofferstheopportunitytosee
nearly4,000animals.
Whileyoubelievesevererenovationsneedtobeundertaken,thegovernmentrefusestoactandanimals
sufferneedlessly.Shuttingdownthezooswouldbearealhittothelocalpopulation,asdemandremains
high.Itstoughtofindabalancebetweenlocaldemandandactuallycaringfortheanimalsproperly,even
ifthatcostexceeds$5millionUSD.
Alsoworthnoting,thereisapetitiononchange.orgwithmorethan600,00signaturessupportingshutting
downtheZooofDeath

Whattodoaboutthezoo?Itsuptoyou!

Directions:Whilelisteningtothedebatesthroughouttheroleplay,makeanoteaboutwhetherthe
presentersweremostlyfactbasedwithlotsofstatisticsandharddataorweremoresensationalist
withlotsofopinionsthattuggedatyourheartstrings.Also,makeanoteofthestanceofeach
organizationregardingzoos.
Country/NGO
USA
PETA
AZA
Bermuda
Indonesia
EAZA

Mostlyfactoropinion?

ProZooorAntiZoo?

Afterthefinalvote,answereachquestionbelowindividuallywithyourbestanswer.Also,be
preparedtodiscusstheseinclass.
1.Haveyoueverbeentothezoo,anaquarium,oranotherplaceyoucouldexperiencecontactwith
animals?
2.Ifso,whichoneoroneswereyourfavorite?
3.Haveyoueverfeltconcernthattheanimalsbeingkeptinthezoooraquariumyouvisitedwerebeing
abusedornotkeptwell?
4.Whatwasyourpersonalstanceonzoosandaquariumspriortoparticipatinginthisroleplayexercise?
5.Hasyouropinionchanged,evenslightly?Whyorwhynot?
6.DoyoufeelzoosandaquariumswilleverNOTbeapartofourdailylistofrecreationaloptions,
worldwide?
7.Doyoufeelcaptivebreedingisreallyjustazoosponsoredploytoincreaseadvertisement,numberof
visitors,andrevenue?Explainyouranswer.
7.Inplaceofthisresolution,ifitdidnotpass,whatfutureresolutionshouldbeproposedtoaddressthe
concernsatsubparzoosandothercaptiveanimalparks?

Resources/References:
http://www.bamz.org/
http://www.peta.org/aboutpeta/whypeta/zoos/
http://www.waza.org/en/site/conservation/undecadeonbiodiversity/visitorsurvey
http://www.waza.org/en/site/pressnewsevents/pressreleases/arezoosandaquariumstheplacetolearn
aboutbiodiversity
https://www.change.org/p/drsusilobambangyudhoyonoclosesurabayazoo

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/15/thedisturbingstateofindonesiaszooofdeath/
http://ilarjournal.oxfordjournals.org/content/54/1/41.full#ref60