MikeDF on Nostr: Flaco, New York City’s beloved owl, dies after striking building ...
Flaco, New York City’s beloved owl, dies after striking building
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/24/flaco-new-york-citys-beloved-owl-dies-after-striking-building
This outcome lies, in the first instance, at the feet of the vandal(s) who released the bird from his cage and the ignoramuses who prevented his recapture. But, the WCS and zoos as institutions are not exempt from blame. Creatures such as Flaco should be returned to their proper ecosystems (Flaco was a rescue, but should have been rehabilitated and returned to his environment). Ditto every other animal "attraction" held in a zoo. The argument that such creatures represent insurance against extinction is self-justifying and FALSE. The total zoo population of these animals is a BOTTLENECKED population, an inviable population prone to inbreeding. Worse, this becomes a sop and a funding black-hole as far as actually protecting biodiversity goes, such as initiatives to both restore and conserve habitats, and promote sustainable stewardship of natural resources and land (while respecting indigenous people, who have been the historic and effective stewards of biodiversity). The same is true of arguments that zoos "educate" the public about responsible stewardship and biodiversity conservation. No, they educate the public to normalize caged biodiversity. All of these arguments evade and put a veneer on the fact that zoos, no matter their "non-profit" and "philanthropic" status, are money-making institutions. And living creatures are "attractions."
#birds #Flaco #zoos #biodiversity
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/24/flaco-new-york-citys-beloved-owl-dies-after-striking-building
This outcome lies, in the first instance, at the feet of the vandal(s) who released the bird from his cage and the ignoramuses who prevented his recapture. But, the WCS and zoos as institutions are not exempt from blame. Creatures such as Flaco should be returned to their proper ecosystems (Flaco was a rescue, but should have been rehabilitated and returned to his environment). Ditto every other animal "attraction" held in a zoo. The argument that such creatures represent insurance against extinction is self-justifying and FALSE. The total zoo population of these animals is a BOTTLENECKED population, an inviable population prone to inbreeding. Worse, this becomes a sop and a funding black-hole as far as actually protecting biodiversity goes, such as initiatives to both restore and conserve habitats, and promote sustainable stewardship of natural resources and land (while respecting indigenous people, who have been the historic and effective stewards of biodiversity). The same is true of arguments that zoos "educate" the public about responsible stewardship and biodiversity conservation. No, they educate the public to normalize caged biodiversity. All of these arguments evade and put a veneer on the fact that zoos, no matter their "non-profit" and "philanthropic" status, are money-making institutions. And living creatures are "attractions."
#birds #Flaco #zoos #biodiversity