The Ark and Beyond: The Evolution of Zoo and Aquarium Conservation

by Ben A. Minteer (Editor), Jane Maienschein (Editor), James P. Collins (Editor)

Scores of wild species and ecosystems around the world face a variety of human-caused threats, from habitat destruction and fragmentation to rapid climate change. But there is hope, and it, too, comes in a most human zoos and aquariums. Gathering a diverse, multi-institutional collection of leading zoo and aquarium scientists as well as historians, philosophers, biologists, and social scientists,  The Ark and Beyond  traces the history and underscores the present role of these organizations as essential conservation actors. It also offers a framework for their future course, reaffirming that if zoos and aquariums make biodiversity conservation a top priority, these institutions can play a vital role in tackling conservation challenges of global magnitude.

While early menageries were anything but the centers of conservation that many zoos are today, a concern with wildlife preservation has been an integral component of the modern, professionally run zoo since the nineteenth century. From captive breeding initiatives to rewilding programs, zoos and aquariums have long been at the cutting edge of research and conservation science, sites of impressive new genetic and reproductive techniques. Today, their efforts reach even further beyond recreation, with educational programs, community-based conservation initiatives, and international, collaborative programs designed to combat species extinction and protect habitats at a range of scales. Addressing related topics as diverse as zoo animal welfare, species reintroductions, amphibian extinctions, and whether zoos can truly be “wild,” this book explores the whole range of research and conservation practices that spring from zoos and aquariums while emphasizing the historical, scientific, and ethical traditions that shape these efforts. Also featuring an inspiring foreword by the late George Rabb, president emeritus of the Chicago Zoological Society / Brookfield Zoo, The Ark and Beyond illuminates these institutions’ growing significance to the preservation of global biodiversity in this century.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Animals

528 pages, Hardcover

Published February 20, 2018

About the author

Ben A. Minteer writes about conservation, the wild, zoos, and the evolution of American environmental thought. His current work explores the wilderness idea and its expression in landscape photography, from Carleton Watkins and Ansel Adams to the present day.

Ben is a professor of environmental ethics and conservation in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University in Tempe, where he also holds the Arizona Zoological Society Endowed Chair. At ASU, he teaches a set of undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental ethics and the history and philosophy of conservation.

Reviews

[Dallin Kohler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more written towards a scientifically literate audience than I had anticipated, but I guess I fit the target demographic. The frog chapter was easily the best, partly because the other chapters tended to have repetition (which is fair, given that each was written independently by a different person). Thorough.
I agree strongly with the main argument that zoos and aquariums should not just be conservation conscious but also be actively involved in wildlife conservation.

[Olivia Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a thought-provoking read. I enjoyed learning about the complexities of the origins of zoos and aquariums, and the directions they may be heading into the future. Really makes you think about what it really means for something to be “wild” or “captive”, and how context can make all the difference. Definitely a book I’ll come back to. Would recommend for anyone interested in conservation and/or zoos!

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A massive collection of essays on zoos, past, present and future. Required reading for learning what zoo professionals think and worry about (hint: getting people to come to zoos); not nearly as expansive or creative as it could have been. The issue of how zoos can and should be driven by conservation and how they reconcile that mission with animal welfare and entertainment are explored and unresolved (and possibly unresolvable; the "best" solutions might just depend on your values).

[Artemis · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some gems in the book but overall I feel a bit let down from the time investment. I think it just might be that the discourse has moved on since the publication date but the content felt shallow and often simply apologetic to the zoo field. I would have expected a book talking about zoos to honestly and openly tackle the issues they have but instead there were multiple chapters that dismissed the question on *if* zoos are good because ... something that has nothing to do with empirical evidence.

Note that I love me a good zoo. I didn't get this book because I hate them. I wanted to learn, and (overall) this ended up feeling more like a self-justification text than a let's get into the nitty gritty delve.

TLDR; I learned a bit but not as much as I'd like to given the page count.