Seattle Press on Line - What is a Zoo?

Seattle Press guest editorial

What is a Zoo?

By Wanda Moore

Jul 18, 2002 -- What is a Zoo?

The Woodland Park Zoo 2002 Long Range Plan focuses on adding several new and conspicuous buildings in the next five years. Troubling are the Woodland Park Zoological Society priorities for buildings that herald a return to the late 1960s when Zoo management sold the carousel that was operating on Zoo grounds, challenging the concept of the Zoo as a "...menagerie and kiddie's playground..." The early planners countered this concept in their 1976 Woodland Park Long Range Plan. Their vision for a world class zoological park centered on animal conservation and animal welfare, and they cautioned against "more than a minimal number of buildings". The plans to construct a $1 million plus edifice to house what the WPZS describes as an " an historic carousel " certainly contradict the 1976 visionary plan. However, "...it is our top [building] priority in 2002..." states Jim Maxwell, Manager of Capital Planning and Construction for the Woodland Park Zoo.

What is a Zoo?

The Woodland Park Zoological Society is into expansion. Unfortunately the Society's immediate plans do not include suitable quarters for animals now housed in "menagerie style" buildings. Instead they plan for a larger-than -life administration building that includes nine conference rooms and a fitness center; a huge Events Center; and a building to house a carousel, given to the Society (with qualifications) for its use. The 35 foot high edifice to house the carousel will include two party rooms, capacity 99 persons, bathrooms, and with space for 190 carousel users. WPZS Executive Director David Towne sought the carousel, then presented the "gift" as a fait accompli to the Zoo board. He will retire in 2002 leaving this "historic" white elephant as a dubious legacy. Some Zoo management and many employees are not so certain that a carousel benefits the Zoo or the Zoo image, and they will be left to confront budget priorities, public dissatisfaction, and a neighborhood already beleaguered with traffic and parking problems. The noise of a carousel in operation will have a detrimental environmental impact on Zoo animals, Zoo workers, Zoo visitors, and the neighborhood, despite the assurances to the contrary from Zoo management. "A state-of-the-art sound system...is designed...to direct the sounds of music inward..." To a degree this may be possible when the building is closed. However when the building is thrown open, music will be played incessantly as long as the carousel is in operation and the sound of music will carry throughout the park, as anyone visiting a circus or carnival will confirm. Each of the environmental intrusions have been glossed over when Zoo management and the Society are questioned concerning the adverse effects of operating this carousel on WPZ grounds.

What is a Zoo?

The 1976 Woodland Park Zoo Long Range Plan speaks out for a "...naturalistic approach for Zoo animals...", and this goal is included in the current 2002 WPZ long-range plan. While the 2002 plan supports the 1976 management denouncement "...traditionally Zoos have developed as menageries for entertainment...", the Society's building plans are contradictory. The building planned to house the carousel will be funded with "donor contributions, not tax dollars" according to Jim Maxwell, and he confirmed that the carousel will not be self-supporting for at least three years. Certainly tax dollars (Pro-Parks set-aside for Zoo maintenance and operations, and the City of Seattle's general fund) will underwrite all of the cost of maintenance, operation, and personnel for these proposed Woodland Park buildings. When the Pro-Parks ballot measure was set before voters in the 2000 general election, the measure identified the Woodland Park Zoo by title, differentiating it from other city parks on the ballot because it is more than a park, it is a Zoo , encompassing animals, animal exhibits, animal welfare, and animal research. Passage of the Pro-Parks Zoo maintenance and operation measure released a $20 Million budget windfall for which WPZ donor and gate receipts would have previously been budgeted. This windfall could build adequate housing for those Zoo animals who have too long been confined in cages and denied their naturalistic setting. Why is the Woodland Park Zoo Society planning to wait until 2005 - 2010 (after building three revenue-generating, "animal free" buildings) to provide adequate housing for all the animals in their care?

What is a Zoo?

Wanda Moore was born in Seattle and attended elementary and secondary schools within walking distance of her home on N. 50th, directly across the street from Woodland Park Zoo. Her love of the zoo spans many years--from the time it was a kiddies' playground to the present.

Reader Comments

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Edward Dong	Sep 05, 2002	Hacienda Heights, CA	mechanical engineer
How do you maintain each animal's natural environment year round? Do you use steam heating under the soil and walls of their cages to maintain even temperature and humidity? What are the annual costs to maintain this environment?


kassim ally	Sep 05, 2002	Dar-es-Salaam	assistant zoo manager