Dr. Stephen M. Coan: The future of zoos and aquariums







Editor’s note: Dr. Stephen M. Coan is president and chief executive officer of Sea Research Foundation, the nonprofit organization which operates Mystic Aquarium. These are excerpts from his May 26 address at Ferguson Library in Stamford, which was part of the “Civility in America” series sponsored by Sacred Heart University and The Dilenschneider Group, along with the Hearst Connecticut Media Group and the library.


Zoos and aquariums have been evolving rapidly over the past 25 years. There are approximately 225 zoos and aquariums that are accredited in the United States through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. About 35 percent of zoos are operated by state, county or local governments. Most, 54 percent, are non-profit organizations. About 11 percent of zoos and aquariums are for-profit corporations. In summary, there is a strong mission focus to these organizations.


Most zoos and aquariums are vital economic generators. The majority of aquariums were built between 1970 and 1990 in places such as Boston, Baltimore, Mystic, Long Beach, Monterey, Corpus Christi, Tampa, San Francisco and Chattanooga mostly with the intention of helping to revitalize downtowns, coastal areas or waterfront districts. In many communities, the success of the tourism industry including hotels, restaurants and shops with related tax revenues are dependent upon attendance at zoos and aquariums.


Mystic Aquarium is the largest tourism attraction outside of Boston in New England. We have annual attendance of 750,000 people and generate $75 million in direct economic impact each year.


Most zoos and aquariums are closely identified with scientific research. At Mystic Aquarium we have a team of biologists and veterinarians engaged in pure and applied research. These places are also are key educational resources for their region, providing science education programs that assist educators in meeting state standards in science. Mystic Aquarium serves more than 100,000 students each year and offers undergraduate courses and doctoral fellowships.


The confluence of these missions can create ethical and philosophical challenges that are played out in the look and feel of zoos and aquariums. They are part attraction, often including thrill rides, carousels, 4D movies and the like, part college campus, with laboratories, seminars, researchers and journals, and part elementary or pre-school with classrooms, summer camps and sleepovers.


This potpourri has led some to imply that zoos and aquariums are anachronistic. Critics point to the attraction concept and imply that animals can only be mistreated in such a setting. Others suggest that the educational mission and even the research mission can be conducted by other kinds of institutions, presumably without having animals under human care and on public display.


Many cite the future of technology; live cameras in the wild or in sanctuaries with interactive features might replace animals on display, and can be delivered to one’s personal device, essentially eliminating the need for a visit to a zoo or an aquarium.


Aspects of these arguments may well be true. But just as libraries were falsely predicted to be doomed by the rise of the Internet, and the experience of shopping or studying on a college campus were thought to be icons of the last century, people continue to flock to places where they can engage with other people in a civil and respectful way. By nature, people seek to learn, to be with others in that learning experience, and to enjoy themselves in the adventure of learning.


Zoos and Aquariums provide an oasis from urban life. They connect an increasingly urban population to nature. Make no mistake; these are not cathedrals or the quiet car of the train. Zoos and Aquariums are loud places, often melting pots of generations, cultures, languages and learning styles. They tend to be more Penn Station than Carnegie Hall.


In fact, more people visit zoos and aquariums annually than attend major league sporting events. Last year approximately 175 million people spent an average of four hours at a zoo or aquarium. Yet there is considerable concern that attendance at zoos and aquariums is going to decline because of the strongly held views of the millennial generation.


Millennials are the largest segment of the world’s population at approximately 90 million individuals. They were born between 1980 and 1995 with the core group representing the 1980s generation.


One recent study of millennials indicated that 83 percent will trust a company more if it is socially and environmentally responsible. 74 percent are more likely to pay attention to a message if the message represents a deep commitment to a cause. Studies suggest that that millennials are less likely to trust zoos and aquariums than other generations and that in large numbers they are opposed to keeping mammals such as elephants and whales under human care. . . .


We can surmise many things from studying millennials. Most importantly they bring a positive outlook on the future that is rooted in their quest for authenticity, their social consciousness and their desire for social change.


With this assessment of the millennial generation as backdrop, I would suggest that aquariums and zoos are uniquely qualified to engage millennials and other generations in addressing the interconnected issues of species extinction and growing economic inequality. Further, these two issues are what millennials might focus on if they truly seek authentic change for a better future.


Martin Buber, 20th century philosopher and anthropologist, wrote extensively on motivators of social change and argued that humans act based on that which we experience, particularly with regard to social and political issues. He wrote, “All actual life is an encounter.” He also noted, “An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.”


The ethical question is whether or not we believe that the eyes of animals under human care can provide the encounter for visitors that will speak to them in ways that will instill conservationism. Can a dolphin encounter change our life? Are these animals really “ambassadors of the wild” as most zoo and aquarium leaders suggest? . . .


In essence, exhibits at zoos and aquariums must no longer be about viewing individual species that are on “display.” Exhibits must instead be immersive experiences that combine real animals, advanced digital technologies, and action oriented messaging that explicitly connects animal species, plants, water, insects and microbial life to emphasize biodiversity.


These kinds of immersive experiences emphasize the health and well-being of animals under human care. They evoke emotion and connection, the kind of experience that Martin Buber suggests is essential for social action to occur. . . .


However, at the end of the day I believe that the authenticity that millennials so strive for, calls us to focus on the larger interconnected issues of extinction and poverty. These are far more complicated issues and require a degree of soul searching and ethical consideration that can only occur through true connections between humans and nature, and humans and animals, connections that zoos and aquariums make every day.



Dr. Stephen M. Coan: The future of zoos and aquariums

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