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San Diego Zoo: California, Wild Animal Park, Baby Panda, Zoo Animals And Conservation
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Published: September 5, 2007
Many people believe zoos are merely places to see exotic animals, and nothing more. While San Diego Zoo in California has one of the largest collections of exotic zoo animals available, its focus is very different than most other zoos. In addition to being about entertainment and education, San Diego Zoo is about conservation and research for endangered species.
Research and wildlife conservation is the primary reason San Diego Zoo has many of the exotic animals it does.
The most famous example of San Diego Zoo's conservation efforts is its collaboration with the Chinese government concerning the giant panda. The California zoo was first exposed to giant pandas with a 200 day loan from China. The loan was two of the bamboo eating bears, and the reaction of the zoo-goers was phenomenal. Since then, San Diego Zoo has become the home for many pandas; and even the first baby panda successfully born and raised in the United States. What is more, the pandas found in San Diego Zoo are still bearing baby pandas; the fourth cub being born on August 3rd. No other zoo in the United States has nearly this much success in breeding or raising cubs, and some of the credit must be given to the unusual way the California zoo works.
While ostensibly about the animals, San Diego Zoo is heavily invested in rare and exotic plants as well. For instance, to feed the exceptional number of koalas in the park, there are 18 different species of eucalyptus trees grown in San Diego Zoo. Likewise, the giant pandas all have an assortment of different Chinese bamboo species to eat that are grown nearby. Even the luxurious African rainforest exhibits and beyond have their own authentic, exotic plantlife. This not only makes the experience more pleasurable and real for the viewers, but makes the San Diego zoo animals feel much more at home.
For a similar set of reasons, San Diego Zoo exhibits are rather different from those of many other zoos. Instead of having just one species per exhibit showcased, there are entire habitats, such as the Arctic tundra or the aforementioned African rainforest. Within these extensive climate-controlled habitats, there are multitudes of animals that can be found in such a venue in the wild. Of course, precautions are taken too. For instance, an unobtrusive barrier is kept between the seals and the polar bears for their safety. However the focus remains on showing animals in their natural habitats as much as possible.
This all comes into focus when one remembers San Diego Zoo is not only about entertainment and education. The Center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species also has a vested interest in the zoo animals acting naturally, and as if they were in their natural habitats. In fact, the original purpose of the San Diego Wild Animal Park was to provide room for breeding populations of various endangered large mammals. Eventually the Wild Animal Park was opened up for public viewing, but the original purpose of conservation still holds. San Diego Zoo is so focused on conservation and research, there is a cryogenic storage unit that preserves the eggs and sperm of various endangered and rare animals for study, and possible later use.
While there are still the various comforts and attractions of the zoo, including restaurants, guided bus tours, and gondola rides for an aerial view of the park; San Diego Zoo is still a center for research, innovation and the preservation of endangered animals. Fortunately for the people who visit the park, this focus on preservation allows the common person to see something extraordinary, such as panda cubs or California condors.
Sources:
"San Diego Zoo." Wikipedia. 19 Aug. 2007. 20 Aug. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Zoo.
"San Diego Wild Animal Park." Wikipedia. 19 Aug. 2007. 20 Aug. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Wild_Animal _Park.
"San Diego Zoo Exhibit: Panda Cam at the Giant Panda Research Station." Zoological Society of San Diego. 2007. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_panda_stati on.html
The most famous example of San Diego Zoo's conservation efforts is its collaboration with the Chinese government concerning the giant panda. The California zoo was first exposed to giant pandas with a 200 day loan from China. The loan was two of the bamboo eating bears, and the reaction of the zoo-goers was phenomenal. Since then, San Diego Zoo has become the home for many pandas; and even the first baby panda successfully born and raised in the United States. What is more, the pandas found in San Diego Zoo are still bearing baby pandas; the fourth cub being born on August 3rd. No other zoo in the United States has nearly this much success in breeding or raising cubs, and some of the credit must be given to the unusual way the California zoo works.
While ostensibly about the animals, San Diego Zoo is heavily invested in rare and exotic plants as well. For instance, to feed the exceptional number of koalas in the park, there are 18 different species of eucalyptus trees grown in San Diego Zoo. Likewise, the giant pandas all have an assortment of different Chinese bamboo species to eat that are grown nearby. Even the luxurious African rainforest exhibits and beyond have their own authentic, exotic plantlife. This not only makes the experience more pleasurable and real for the viewers, but makes the San Diego zoo animals feel much more at home.
For a similar set of reasons, San Diego Zoo exhibits are rather different from those of many other zoos. Instead of having just one species per exhibit showcased, there are entire habitats, such as the Arctic tundra or the aforementioned African rainforest. Within these extensive climate-controlled habitats, there are multitudes of animals that can be found in such a venue in the wild. Of course, precautions are taken too. For instance, an unobtrusive barrier is kept between the seals and the polar bears for their safety. However the focus remains on showing animals in their natural habitats as much as possible.
This all comes into focus when one remembers San Diego Zoo is not only about entertainment and education. The Center for Conservation and Research for Endangered Species also has a vested interest in the zoo animals acting naturally, and as if they were in their natural habitats. In fact, the original purpose of the San Diego Wild Animal Park was to provide room for breeding populations of various endangered large mammals. Eventually the Wild Animal Park was opened up for public viewing, but the original purpose of conservation still holds. San Diego Zoo is so focused on conservation and research, there is a cryogenic storage unit that preserves the eggs and sperm of various endangered and rare animals for study, and possible later use.
While there are still the various comforts and attractions of the zoo, including restaurants, guided bus tours, and gondola rides for an aerial view of the park; San Diego Zoo is still a center for research, innovation and the preservation of endangered animals. Fortunately for the people who visit the park, this focus on preservation allows the common person to see something extraordinary, such as panda cubs or California condors.
Sources:
"San Diego Zoo." Wikipedia. 19 Aug. 2007. 20 Aug. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Zoo.
"San Diego Wild Animal Park." Wikipedia. 19 Aug. 2007. 20 Aug. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Wild_Animal _Park.
"San Diego Zoo Exhibit: Panda Cam at the Giant Panda Research Station." Zoological Society of San Diego. 2007. 20 Aug. 2007. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_panda_stati on.html
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