Zoos need to become more involved in conservation than entertainment: zoo conference

CALGARY - Zoos and aquariums around the world need to undergo an evolution from just focusing on entertainment to conservation in order to remain relevant with the public, an international conference has been told. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is hosting more than 2,000 zoo professionals from around the world at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums annual conference. It’s the first time the event has been held outside of the United States in decades and the first time it’s been held in Calgary in 40 years.

While zoos have long been the purview of families - providing fun for a Sunday outing - they have come under criticism from animal rights activists complaining about animals being held in captivity. “Modern zoos and aquariums are conservation advocates,” association president Daniel Ashe said in an interview. “Aquariums and zoos are changing with the times.

Of course it’s important for them to be fun places to go and they are fun places to be ...

but they also visit to experience animals and that’s the most important aspect.” Ashe said nature is under attack and the world is living through what scientists call the sixth mass extinction event in the Earth’s history. “It’s the first extinction event not caused by a meteor or volcanism but caused by humans and what we’re doing to the planet,” he said.

“It’s more important than ever that we know what we can do, and we’re inspired by nature and engaged.” Jessica Steiner, a senior adviser in.