The Zoo Evaluator

There are many groups and organizations that work hard to enforce world-wide zoo reform. These groups are concerned with the ways in which zoos treat the animals under their care. The groups send experts into zoos to evaluate the living conditions of the zoo animals, the behavior of these animals, and the way that the zoo is run.

These groups also ask the public to report any bad practices or behavior on the part of the zoos. These complaints may come from a visitor or from someone who works at the zoo. When complaints are received, a zoo evaluator is sent to the zoo to inspect it. After a visit to the zoo in question, the zoo evaluator reports on his/her findings. The group then tries to convince the authorities to force the zoo to reform its behavior or they may even recommend that the zoo close. It is very important that a zoo evaluator inspect a zoo as thoroughly as possible so they can help a zoo reform group build a solid case against that zoo and thus successfully continue its work fighting for the improvement of zoo conditions and animal treatment.

In order to better understand the zoo evaluator's role, you should check out the sites below. Answer the questions listed for each site so that you can bring important information to your group and class discussions. You probably want to write down the questions before you link to the sites so that you can answer them quickly and accurately.
 

This site provides a good overview of what a group specializing in zoo evaluation does. Here, you will learn about their agenda for enforcing zoo reform, their past accomplishments, and how they encourage the public to help them.  Download and read over the Zoo Checker Feedback form.

• What types of things does Zoo Check want the public to pay attention to while visiting zoos?
• What types of things does a zoo checker look for when he/she visits a zoo or other animal attraction?
• Why do you think it is important for the public to write to Zoo Check about any inappropriate zoo behavior?

• List some of the behavior symptoms that a zoo evaluator must remember to look for when visiting a zoo.
• What conditions can lead to this behavior?
• What recommendations would you, a zoo evaluator, make to a zoo where the animals are acting this way?

• What kinds of problems did the zoo evaluators discover at the Buxton zoo?
• Look closely at the pictures displayed. As a zoo evaluator, what would you write in your report when you were shown these things?
• How does Zoo Watch contribute to zoo reform?

Now that you have explored some areas of a zoo evaluator's work, it is time to discuss what you have learned with others. You will be playing the role of zoo evaluator in your group. To prepare for your group discussion,

• Review the questions and your answers.
• Then, think about why zoo evaluators are important to zoos.
• Your assignment is to share with your group both the positive and negative aspects of zoos from a zoo evaluator's perspective.
• Your group will practice for a class discussion in which you must decide how zoos could be best suited to enforce humanity to all animals while they serve the science of zoology and the public.