Confronting the Ethics of Zoos at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita
I sat down on the rock ledge as the keeper handed me a raisin. Feeling it’s wrinkly texture in my palm, I grasped it tightly and braced myself for the onslaught. Before I could get settled, I had furry paws reaching for my hand, trying to get to the sweet, dried fruit inside. Ring Tailed Lemurs were all around me, inspecting every last detail of the hairless primate holding onto one of their favorite treats. I quickly opened my palm, exposing the raisin to the lemurs and it was snatched up.
I was somewhere I’d never been before – on the inside of an animal enclosure at a zoo. And while most zoos would never let visitors into the enclosures, Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita isn’t like most zoos. Tanganyika bills itself as having one of the most interactive animal programs in the United States. In addition to Lemurs, guests can feed or interact with giraffes, red kangaroos, lorikeets, tortoises, and an Indian rhinoceros.
There is no doubt that this is entertaining for the visitors (who wouldn’t want an adorable little lemur crawling all over them?). But at what cost? My visit to Tanganyika was filled with conflicting emotions as I tried to balance my own entertainment value vs. the impact it has on the animals who live there day in and day out.
The Zoo Question
I understand that zoos are controversial, but I’ve never been opposed to them – I owe my interest and curiosity in animals to frequent zoo visits as a child, and I hope that’s made me a better steward in respecting where these animals live in the wild.
The zoo facilities at Tanganyika seemed to be world class (not like the small, cramped enclosures of the old Los Angeles Zoo). All the animals looked healthy and happy; they had plenty of space and opportunities for interaction with one another. None of the animals seemed particularly distressed.
To further protect the animals, Tanganyika Wildlife Park has a ‘no petting’ rule, which certainly saves the animals from a certain level of accostment from sticky-handed children. Any interaction the animals have with humans is on their own accord. Of course, you can almost guarantee interaction by holding onto one of their favorite foods.
But despite these measures, is visiting Tanganyika Wildlife Park responsible? Hardline anti-zoo critics would say otherwise. The animals are subjected to visitors walking throughout their enclosures every single day. There is a reason other zoos do not allow this kind of interaction – these animals are not domesticated pets to be used for our own joy and fulfillment; they are wild animals.
Is there a right answer here, a hardline ‘do’ or ‘do not support’ for Tanganyika Wildlife Park? For me, it’s a struggle. I know there are plenty of people out there who would despise me for even going into the park, let alone feeding one of the lemurs inside. Others would see it as an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m somewhere in between.
I enjoyed my visit at the zoo. I saw animals I’d never seen before (they have a honey badger!), had some truly unique experiences, and used the time to bond with a coworker.
no, the giraffe is not my coworker
But I struggled with guilt afterwards. Did I support an institution that sacrifices animal welfare for cheap tourist thrills? I don’t know. What is the right answer in this situation?
I don’t know.
What do you think? Would you have visited Tanganyika Wildlife Park if you were in Wichita?
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43 Responses to Confronting the Ethics of Zoos at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Wichita
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Nice to read about an ‘off the beaten path’ zoo. Before reading this I would have only known Wichita from the White Stripes song! Love the Giraffe pic too.
Fiona recently posted..The Photo Edit: The Beatles Tour in Liverpool
I totally forgot about that White Stripes song. I’m going to have to listen to it and see if there are any other Wichita references in it…though I doubt there are
I would definitely visit. You get some nifty pictures. I generally don’t have a problem with zoos, as long as the animals have sufficient space. Circuses, on the other hand…
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy recently posted..Take a seat at Elvis Presley’s piano at RCA Studio B in Nashville
Oh yeah, I’m definitely against circuses. They’re pretty atrocious compared to zoos.
I love that kangaroo picture! What a great expression you captured.
Thanks Amanda. He looks very wary or unsure….
My husband and I differ on this all the time. He feels zoos and other animal encounters are exploiting animals, while I feel it is a chance to study and protect them. I don’t know who’s right, but I always enjoy the opportunity to see exotic animals up close.
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I feel like there are valid points on each side, which is why I struggle with this issue. For now, I’m still on the ‘pro zoo’ side, but I definitely understand and sympathize with where others are coming from.
That’s a question I struggle with every time I visit a zoo or the like. I tell you, the best, most humane zoo I’ve been to was in Singapore. They have an open zoo concept that is unreal. The only animals I felt really sorry for were the polar bears. Can you imagine polar bears in Singapore? To help stave off the heat, they had a giant swimming pool and got to eat plenty of watermelon.
Leah Travels recently posted..Texas Tuesday: Tex-Mex with a Side of Funk
I’d love to visit the Singapore Zoo to see what you’re talking about. I’m all for more humane zoos.
Great photos as always! I would have to say that I agree with Scott… If it looks like the animals are happy and have plenty of room to roam, I’m all for it. It’s always neat to see such unique animals up close!
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Thanks Claire! Your pictures with the Koala reminded me of this somewhat.
Thanks for visiting Tanganyika Wildlife Park. It sounds like you had a great visit although you may have been somewhat conflicted with our approach. I was hoping to provide a little more insight to further the discussion.
First and foremost, it is worth noting the care and well being of our animals ALWAYS comes first. You recognized this fact when you stated, “All the animals looked healthy and happy…”. I submit they looked that way because of the interaction they have with people. The interactions serve as a form of enrichment for those who respect the animals and their space. (however, there are always those who don’t respect the animals, which is why every exhibit is supervised to ensure the safety of people and animals.) And who was it that ultimatley decided that the general public wasn’t good enough to have access to these animals. Keepers have been doing it since the first zoo with little to no problems. So if there is a way to interact with the animals in a safe and respecatble way that the animals are comfortable with and can benefit from, why not do it?
Second, in addition to the benefits of enrichment for the animals, the interactive exhibits foster the human-animal connection. As time goes on this connection is diminishing dramatically. Even the connection between humans is vanishing with the rise of social media, online shopping, etc. Without a strong connection, the animals lose everytime. Every year more and more species go extinct. Even captive populations (especially in the US) have declined significantly. People are “bored” with the same old format zoo have been using for hundreds of years. Therefore, we wanted to provide as many unique and unforgettable experiences as possible to strengthen that bond between the animals and people. This is a trend that more and more zoos will be adopting if they wish to survive (especailly with the millenials and future generations). The animals at Tanganyika are ambassadors for their species in the wild. It is our hopes that by coming to Tanganyika and feeding a giraffe or having a ring-tail lemur sit on your lap, you will do just a little more to preserve their species or other species.
To sum up our philosophy, I will conclude with a Chinese proverb:
Tell me and I’ll forget; Show me and I may remember; Involve me and I’ll understand.
The only way for preservation to succeed is by educating and entertaing people in a way they can be involved, so they will ultimatley understand the importance of what we do and care enough to do something about it.
Thanks again for supporting (visiting) Tanganyika and posting about it. I also think your pictures are great!
Matt Fouts, Asst Director
Matt,
Thanks so much for dropping by and providing your perspective. I hope all readers of this article make it down here and read your comment. Having your voice adds A TON to the conversation at hand here.
As I said in my article, I enjoyed my visit to Tanganyika. It was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. You bring up some excellent points about the real connections people can make with the animals at your institution and how that can translate into real world good for these species. I have no doubt in my mind that you and your staff do everything with the animals interest in mind and aren’t only interested in visitors dollars – I witnessed this first hand.
The intent of the article was to foster discussion, and I think it’s fantastic that you found the post and were able to contribute.
gosh this is such a hard one. im VERY against zoos and feel like animals should be living in the environment where God intended. on the other hand, i understand, to a degree, the benefit of zoos for children. after the whole incident in ohio last year w/ the guy having exotic animals and most having to be put down b/c of escaping, i am stronger against zoos, but do think having one or two in the US is necessary for learning and understanding animals for those who can not afford a safari or trip somewhere where the animals live naturally. if every facility operated the way tanganyika did, perhaps id feel a little better, but unfortunately they do not!
Megan recently posted..Kalapana, Hawaii | A Town Swallowed by Lava
If there were NO zoos, would children be as interested in animals or care when THEY’RE the ones making decisions that impact animals in their wild habitats? I think this is the ultimate benefit of zoos.
I have trouble with zoos and haven’t been to one in many, many years. All too often, animals are kept in tiny spaces and in climates they’d never know in their natural environments. As Leah mentioned above, how it can be ok to keep polar bears in 100-degree weather? That’s just not normal.
I don’t really understand why Tanganyika feels the need to allow interaction with their animals. I guess that’s their “thing” and probably the reason you went in the first place. But who are they to say that this interaction is what’s making the animals “look happy”? I may project my own ideas of what I believe my dog may be thinking, but I can’t say I know what she’s actually feeling. And these are *wild* animals and I don’t think they need to be treated like some sort of pet just because we may get enjoyment from it.
That said, I don’t know what the ultimate answer is. Humans continue to destroy the natural habitats of animals in every part of this world and in some cases, animal sanctuaries (but not zoos so much) may be the only way to preserve and keep these animals around. I just wouldn’t want it to be solely for our entertainment or at the expense of the animals’ well being.
Good points Kim. How can Tanganyika know if what they’re doing is actually helping the animals? It’s complex. I think ultimately the answer is very grey. I’m definitely for animal sanctuaries. Have you been to the one up in Keenesburg? It’s fantastic – the animals have SO much room to roam and it’s really about the animals first and the visitors second.
Great thoughts, Kim. I’ve never been a fan of zoos and am generally against taking animals out of their natural habitat so that people could enjoy seeing them up-close. But you make interesting points in the last paragraph. I too feel like there’s no ultimate answer. I don’t see a situation that would clearly be a win.
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted..Mexican Connection – Interview with writer Robin Bayley
I never visit zoos I just can’t do it. It’s not natural for them to have such little space for our enjoyment.
Ayngelina recently posted..35 Things I learned from traveling in Latin America
It’s definitely not natural, I’ll agree with you on that 100%. However, I still think there are some overall benefits to certain species when zoos are involved.
First can I say what a great post.. And what a thinker. I’m with you, and am not sure what the best thing is. Zoos do have their place, although of course I’d prefer animals were out in the wild, happy to be roaming free.
I think this one sounds okay. I have more of a problem when zoos and wildlife parks, including some in Australia, let people hold or pat Koalas. They can get really stressed when they’re handled and I’ve been told in some cases that can lead to death. Whenever I see a photo of someone petting or cuddling one I wish that fact was better known.
Thanks Amanda. This was originally just going to be a summary of my visit, but when I was there I realized there was a much bigger issue at hand that could really generate some positive discussion. All the comments so far have been fantastic, respectful, well thought out, and intelligible. Interesting fact about Koalas, I never knew they were so affected by being handled.
I struggle with the ethics of keeping animals in captivity during our recent trip to Thailand. Even though I’ve had a great experience, learned why tigers and elephants were in “santuary” and how well they are treated or the consequences otherwise – it still doesn’t change the fact that they are in fact, in captivity. “I don’t know” seems fitting here too. Nice post!
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..6 Months of Travel and Fall 2012 Plans
I was afraid I was copping out by not taking a strong stance either way, but the truth is I really don’t know. It’s such a grey, complicated issue. There are legitimate points on both sides. That being said, I’m not boycotting zoos, so I guess if I had to be in one camp it’d be the ‘for’ side, but I’m definitely conscious of and respectful towards those who disagree, and can certainly understand why.
I’m always torn on this subject too. For example, I absolutely love the Georgia Aquarium. But as I sit in that giant room and observe the whale sharks, I can’t help but think it’s not right. Especially since they’ve had may die since the aquarium opened. But I also understand the educational value to our kids, etc. It’s a tough one…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Copperhead at Innisbrook Golf Resort
I watched a video in my hotel this morning all about the Georgia Aquarium and how they moved those whale sharks. They were in a container for 30 hours! You don’t hear about that at the aquarium exhibit.
How interesting first, to read your post, and second, to see the comments. I wonder if the to zoo or not to zoo has real cultural differences? I can’t remember the last time I went to a zoo, but anytime I go to the USA I see lots of zoo ads – do you guys have more than us? Im sure. Glad that at this one, animal welfare is so important!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..24 hours in Sao Paulo, Brazil
The comments are the most important part. The dialogue created here is far more valuable than the post itself. I’m not sure if we have more or less zoos per capita than you – there seems to be one in every major city, and even a few in some of the smaller cities.
we’re also torn on the subject, but like others have said, we definitely appreciate zoos where the animals have lots of space and are well kept and happy. we really love the national zoo in dc, actually! and that picture of you with the lemurs is too much.
the lazy travelers recently posted..thirty days to paradise
The modern zoos with plenty of space are certainly the ideal if animals are to be kept in captivity.
i guess i’m indifferent. i agree with the comments from the zoo itself – i think there is much to learn from animals behaviors and many people would not come in contact with most of the animals in a zoo if it weren’t for them “being in a zoo”. while i appreciate all wildlife in the world (except mosquitos) i am definitely not looking to get too close to it all. i like to admire it a little from afar.
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Agreed on mosquitos!
I’m generally anti-zoo but I have been struggling with my decision since becoming a mother. My daughter is 3 now and LOVES animals; she has asked to go to the zoo but I just distract her with something else. I think I might have to give in soon but I don’t want to be a hypocrite. Ugh, I don’t know, either!
Francesca recently posted..Hometown travel: Chicago area adventures
I would love to know what you end up doing. If you havent’t been to a zoo in awhile, they might surprise you – who knows?
How great to see Matt from the zoo reading and responding, adding to our understanding of the issues at hand. I visited the Bronx Zoo a few yrs ago in a behind-the-scenes way and it taught me a lot about what good zoos do that is SO important to protect the animals that are out in the wild. While not all zoos may follow best practices, that is no reason to condemn all zoos blindly. Good writeup!
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted..Photo of the Week – A Marathon in Vienna
I never visit zoos. I have nothing against them as I realize they study and preserve animals, but they just do not interest me at all. I would rather go to a mall and shop than visit a zoo. If you knew me and my shopping proclivities, you would realize how low zoos are on my list.
Traveling Ted recently posted..A lunch in Poland in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan
I recently visited the zoo in Denver, it was my first since my African Safari. It was strange to see the animals so, so close without any rawness of the wild… it didn’t feel right. But it was good to see all the kids learning about each of the animals. I don’t think we need to “hunt” animals for zoos per se, but having animals available for people to learn from and learn to appreciate in a way can save their natural habitat by building awareness. It’s definitely not black and white.
stay adventurous, Craig
Craig Zabransky recently posted..Sunset Sunday – Sunset on the Streets of Quebec City
With the Denver Zoo being my ‘home’ zoo, it’s where my interest in animals was initiated.
Seems that you had a great time with Lemurs mate. They are really a wonderful creature of god.
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I’ve been there and had no problem with the zoo until I saw white tiger cubs in their nursery. I don’t know why they would be breeding white tigers when they are gonna live in a cage forever. It makes me wonder what they do with them when they get big and don’t have enough space. If they stop breeding these big cats (if they haven’t already), then its a pretty cool and unique zoo.
First, I’m an avid fan of this zoo. The white tigers, if you would have read the information about them, You would have known that they are EXTINCT in the wild. Knowing this, a responsible breeding program is the only way to keep this species in existence. They take the cub from the litter, it goes to another zoo who has a different bloodline. That zoo does the same and hopefully the species survives. Through the careful and continuing care of places like this.
The lemurs are also endangered. They have a group of them that were tamed already and allow visitors to buy a “craisin” which u pay dearly for, to feed the little guys. The price of this treat for the lemur and treat you receive interacting with these little goofs assists thus wonderful facility to provide year round care on a seasonal budget.
I am an animal advocate and encourage people to look at “the big picture” before deciding if the tigers, lemurs or whatever critters are getting the best care. Often we, as onlookers don’t know what is going on with the big picture.