Four preconditions for the zoo of the future
The RDA states that future zoos must make a significant positive impact on the conservation of species and are of substantial educational value to visitors. Zoos must keep animals in a humane manner, with their welfare fully safeguarded. Ethical dilemmas must be addressed with care and transparency. These are the preconditions for the zoo of the future, as outlined by the RDA in a new advisory report.
The reason for this report is the ambivalent attitude of Dutch society towards zoos. While zoos attract millions of visitors every year, they also face criticism. The RDA has therefore taken the initiative to conduct a future exploration.
To move with the times
This exploration applies to all zoos in the Netherlands. Given the broad variety of zoos, not every part of the exploration will apply equally to all of them. However, for the 59 institutions with a zoo permit, one thing is clear: they will have to move with the times. New scientific insights and social expectations require changes in the way zoos fulfil their roles.
The Council outlines a wide range of instruments and options for both the government and the zoo sector for the development of a more humane and future-proof zoo. For the government, this includes setting conditions for the output of activities in the field of species conservation and education, and requiring zoos to align with current insights. Changes in the licensing system are desirable to support this.
For the zoo sector, the RDA proposes, among other things, to develop a broadly supported ethical code and to proactively inform the public about considerations and choices made within zoos.
The highlights of the advisory report in two minutes? Watch the animation below with English subtitles.
An English version of the full report will be available later this year.
To many Dutch people zoos are places
of wonder and inspiration.
Research by the RDA shows
that there is a lot of support for zoos.
Yet there is also criticism.
Three out of ten Dutch people
hope that zoos...
will look different in the future...
and one in ten would rather see them
disappear altogether.
How should zoos evolve?
The RDA investigated
how they can remain future-proof...
in line with new scientific insights
and societal developments.
In doing so, they considered
the animals’ interests...
as well as the role that zoos can play
in the conservation of animal species...
education, research...
and the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals.
The RDA states that future zoos...
must make a significant positive impact
on the conservation of species...
and are of substantial
educational value to visitors.
Zoos must keep animals humanely
with their welfare safeguarded...
and only keep species that can have their
essential behavioural needs met.
Ethical decisions should be made
with care and transparency.
For example when it comes to the killing
of healthy animals.
The RDA offers the government
and the sector...
various options that can help
to facilitate these developments.
In addition, it must be possible
to enforce the continuous development...
of zoos through the licensing system.
Want to know more?
Go to www.rda.nl