In the absence of information on how does it work one zoo or, better said, a zoological park (that is, in short, an exhibition structure that contains animals inside it), it is possible that negative thoughts about them arise. Yet, investigating the true functioning of a zoological park according to the law it turns out that there is a world behind it, made of species conservation and of protection of biodiversity. In the video on this page I and the documentary maker Andrea Valentina Gussoni we tell you what a zoo is for, what the advantages are, how the animals are treated and, more generally, what goes on behind the scenes of a zoological park in order to dispel some stereotypes and clichés. In the following lines, instead, we summarize only the first of the issues that we discuss in the video: Where do the animals we see in zoos come from?
As for theEuropean Union and structures that respect the laws, the answer is reassuring: European zoos that comply with regulations they do not capture wild animals in the wild. Not only that, many zoos have joined forces to play an increasingly important role in the protection of biodiversity and animal conservation and today each specimen in these structures is protected by various bodies, in particular theEAZAthe European Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
In addition to supervising the animal welfareEAZA also coordinates important projects of protection for species at risk of extinction both within zoological parks and in their habitats of origin and belonging. Most of the specimens present in the parks it was born within them and, for some specific species, with the ultimate aim of avoiding their extinction in nature. Furthermore, in exceptional cases there are specimens saved from poaching and awaiting reintroduction into the wild.
Zoological parks, moreover, are constantly monitored by third parties (in Italy, for example, the Ministry of the Environment), which verify full compliance with stringent safety and quality standards. In case of irregularityfortunately, the consequences are very severe: from the seizure of specimens to the total closure of the structures themselves.
