New World Order at the Zoo: How David Field is Redefining Zoos in the Modern Era.
David Field, the new president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), has a love-hate relationship with zoos. Having spent his life volunteering at Dudley zoo as a child and working as a curator at several institutions, he believes that many zoos are not living up to their potential in terms of animal welfare and conservation.
Field is clear about the type of zoos he wants to see: those that prioritize the well-being of animals over entertainment. "There are many zoos in this country and certainly abroad that I would like to see closed," he says. These zoos often breed animals for commercial purposes, neglecting their welfare and conservation goals.
The WAZA has introduced new regulations aimed at improving the standards of zoos worldwide. Elephants must be kept in larger enclosures, birds of prey are now housed in large aviaries instead of being tethered, and visitors are banned from touching fish, rays, or cephalopods like octopuses. While these measures are a step in the right direction, Field believes that more needs to be done.
One area where zoos can make a significant contribution is through rewilding. The release of wildcats back to Scotland has been a pioneering success, and Field hopes that this will pave the way for the reintroduction of big cats into the wild globally. However, he also warns about the dangers of rogue rewilders who can cause harm to both humans and animals.
Field is adamant that zoos have a vital role to play in society, but only if they prioritize animal welfare above all else. He cautions against emotional decision-making and encourages people to look beyond sensational headlines. "We need to focus on the welfare of these incredible animals," he says.
As Field looks to the future, he is committed to engaging with Chinese zoos regarding the use of pandas in diplomacy. The recent controversy surrounding the loan of Yang Guan and Tian Tian from Edinburgh zoo was a wake-up call, and Field hopes that his role as global president will allow him to drive positive change.
Ultimately, Field's vision for zoos is one where animals are treated with respect and care, rather than mere entertainment. It's an ambitious goal, but one that he believes is achievable if we prioritize the welfare of these incredible creatures above all else.
David Field, the new president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), has a love-hate relationship with zoos. Having spent his life volunteering at Dudley zoo as a child and working as a curator at several institutions, he believes that many zoos are not living up to their potential in terms of animal welfare and conservation.
Field is clear about the type of zoos he wants to see: those that prioritize the well-being of animals over entertainment. "There are many zoos in this country and certainly abroad that I would like to see closed," he says. These zoos often breed animals for commercial purposes, neglecting their welfare and conservation goals.
The WAZA has introduced new regulations aimed at improving the standards of zoos worldwide. Elephants must be kept in larger enclosures, birds of prey are now housed in large aviaries instead of being tethered, and visitors are banned from touching fish, rays, or cephalopods like octopuses. While these measures are a step in the right direction, Field believes that more needs to be done.
One area where zoos can make a significant contribution is through rewilding. The release of wildcats back to Scotland has been a pioneering success, and Field hopes that this will pave the way for the reintroduction of big cats into the wild globally. However, he also warns about the dangers of rogue rewilders who can cause harm to both humans and animals.
Field is adamant that zoos have a vital role to play in society, but only if they prioritize animal welfare above all else. He cautions against emotional decision-making and encourages people to look beyond sensational headlines. "We need to focus on the welfare of these incredible animals," he says.
As Field looks to the future, he is committed to engaging with Chinese zoos regarding the use of pandas in diplomacy. The recent controversy surrounding the loan of Yang Guan and Tian Tian from Edinburgh zoo was a wake-up call, and Field hopes that his role as global president will allow him to drive positive change.
Ultimately, Field's vision for zoos is one where animals are treated with respect and care, rather than mere entertainment. It's an ambitious goal, but one that he believes is achievable if we prioritize the welfare of these incredible creatures above all else.
. I mean, I get that David Field wants to make zoos more animal-friendly and all, but isn't that just a fancy way of saying we need to start treating animals like... well, humans? Like, they have feelings too, not just entertainment value.
I think it's high time we reevaluate our relationship with zoos 
. The new regulations introduced by WAZA are a great start 
, but we need to take it a step further 
. Rewilding is an exciting area of focus, and I hope zoos can play a significant role in reuniting endangered species with their natural habitats 
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. It's easy to get caught up in sensational headlines, but it's essential to look beyond the noise and focus on the welfare of these incredible animals 
. The pandas loan controversy was a stark reminder of the importance of responsible zoo management 
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. It's time for zoos to take their rightful place as leaders in animal conservation and welfare 
. As someone who loves animals, it breaks my heart to think about those in zoos being treated poorly just for human entertainment. Like, we're talking animal welfare 101 here! 
The new regulations are a great start, but I'm all for taking it up a notch β what about more transparency around zoo finances and operations? It's like, how much is that cute panda really costing us, anyway? 
And rewilding is such an amazing way to think about conservation... can't wait to see those wildcats thriving in Scotland! 
can be so messed up, you know? Like, I love animals too, but when they're stuck in tiny enclosures just to entertain us... no thanks 
. David Field is like a breath of fresh air, though - he wants zoos to prioritize animal welfare over profit 
. But it's not that simple, right? There are still so many zoos out there that don't care about the animals' well-being 
. Can we just focus on treating animals with respect and care for once? 
zoos still think they're cool 
like we need to watch bears sleep for hours on end or see monkeys swinging around in tiny spaces 
meanwhile, david field's trying to make them actually care about animal welfare 
gotta give it up to him for speaking out against those crappy breeding programs 
and encouraging rewilding is a step in the right direction 
it'd be awesome if they could do something similar for big cats globally 
. Those commercial zoos that only care about makin' a buck are gettin' shut down, and it's high time 
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. Field's right, we gotta keep it real and focus on their welfare first 
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. Maybe we can get some positive change goin' on there. All in all, I'm lovin' the direction Field's takin' this 
like, rewilding big cats in scotland is a huge step forward n i'm low-key rooting 4 him 2 get pandas involved in diplomacy too 
this guy is a game changer & i'm all about it!!!
his idea of prioritizing animal welfare over entertainment is long overdue 
what's up with all these rogue rewilders tho? 
david field's got a point tho, zoos should prioritize welfare over entertainment. its crazy how many zoos just breed animals for commercial purposes without caring about their health or habitats 
field's rewilding initiative is super promising too, releasing wildcats back into scotland was a huge success & i hope it inspires more global reintroduction efforts 
And I love the idea of rewilding - it's so cool to see animals being released back into the wild! But we gotta be careful not to make mistakes and cause harm to both humans and animals. What do you think about zoos in general?
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. And rewilding is such an important area where zoos can make a real impact 
. Field's trying to change that by engaging with Chinese zoos about panda loans, so we'll see how that plays out 
. It's time for us to treat animals with respect and care, not just slap 'em in a cage for our entertainment 
That's just cruel. And let's be real, rewilding is a no-brainer - we should be releasing animals into the wild, not keeping them in tiny enclosures. The pandas thing is also a good point... if China can use them for diplomacy, why can't zoos worldwide prioritize animal welfare over tourism?