Syracuse University SURFACE School of Architecture Dissertations and Architecture Senior Theses Theses 5-2015 The Zoological Paradox Thorfun Chutchawanjumrut Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/architecture_theses Part of the Architecture Commons Recommended Citation Chutchawanjumrut, Thorfun, "The Zoological Paradox" (2015). Architecture Senior Theses. 242. https://surface.syr.edu/architecture_theses/242 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Architecture Dissertations and Theses at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Architecture Senior Theses by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PARADOX RTHEEIMAGINING Z OOZOOLOGICAL ARCHITECTURE THORFUN CHUTCHAWANJUMRUT Architecture Thesis Spring 2015 Syracuse University Bachelor of Architecture 1 2 “In many ways, choice equates to freedom. The organism with the most choices can be said to have the greatest free- dom” - Jon Coe, 1992 3 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT Situation 7 Contention 9 The Story of Gus 12 Zoochosis 14 WHAT’S BEING DONE? Enrichments 22 Jon Coe 26 Heini Hediger 28 WHAT’S AT STAKE? Evolution of Animal Display 30 Precedents and Projection of Zoos 36 Why we need Zoos? 38 DESIGN PHASE Site Selection 40 Conceptualization 48 Participating Species 50 Design Approach 54 Sketches / Thought Process 88 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 90 5 6 Bar biting ABSTRACT Pacing situation Circling Rocking Head-bobbing Tongue-playing Head-Weaving Swaying Neck twisting Head weaving Tongue playing . These unsettling symptoms of “zoochosis” are exhibited by zoo animals under conditions of stress, depression, frustration, and boredom. Despite a century’s worth of attempts to enhance the quality of zoos and to justify their existence, zoos continue to neglect the animals’ physilogical and psychological welfare. Zoos do not evolve with time. “Naturalistic” exhibits and expansive enclosures are features that exist only to please the eyes of human visi-tors. These “enhance- ments” do little to address the persistent issue of the abnormal yet repetitive behaviors displayed by the animals. While humans have the means to voluntarily escape stressful con- ditions, zoo animals are fixed in their single unchanging, static enclosure. Furthermore, zoos’ banal and monotonous ways of ed- ucating visitors continue to misrepresent and generalize animals’ natural behaviors. A visitor remains a spectator. An animal remains a spectacle. 7 8 ABSTRACT contention Through on-site field investigation, studies of animal be- haviors, and Jon Coe’s zoo enrichment principles, this thesis pro- poses that zoo architec-ture should prioritize the needs of the an- imals by incorporating behavioral and environmental enrichments into its design. Enrichments refer to the pro- cess of providing the appropriate behav-ioral and environmental stimuli that foster the animals to exhibit their own natural behaviors. Adapting Jon Coe’s strategies and Heini Hediger’s concept of territory as precedents, “A Zoological Paradox” proposes the re- imagining of the zoo typology by integrating existing enrich-ment methodologies, as well as allowing human visitors to interact and engage in the process of enriching the animals’ well-being. Through strategies of introducing choices and novelty to the “Animal Folly” enclosure, and allowing a visitor’s participation, the reimagined zoo offers the animals a sense of freedom within captivity; a temporary relief from stress within their confines. A continuous network of “corridors” replaces conventional enclosures; reflecting each ani- mal’s territorial path-ways and further providing a sense of choice and freedom. Shifting the visitor’s role from a mere spectator to an active partici- pant not only enhances his or her experience at the zoo, but also re- shapes the percep-tion that these enrichments are what really mat- ter. Rather than a “naturalistic facade,” enrichments become the most crucial component for animals born and raised in captivity. A visitor’s notion of the zoo may be defamiliarized. An animal’s well-being is addressed and enhanced. 9 “Everyone has stress... The thing is that while [us] humans can have stress, it usually doesn’t mean that [our] welfare is in jeopardy, partly because humans can remove themselves from stressful situations and have things to look forward to.” 10 For the most part, animals live in the present. If their present is a small caged enclosure, then that is a stressful existence from which they cannot escape.” (source: care2.com) 11 12 THE STORY OF GUS a brief intermission | a case study nytimes.com Born in Toledo Zoo, Ohio back in 1988, Gus was a beloved, iconic, mischie- vous polar bear of Central Park Zoo, New York City. He was visited by over 20 million people during his life time and enjoyed a much longer lifespan than his average captive friends of more than 27 years. This 700-pound furry creature did not become famous for being the largest attraction in the zoo, nor for any particular talents he might possess; but rather for a very curious behavior. The mid-1990s was when visitors first saw Gus compulsively swimming fig- ure eights in his pool for no obvious reasons. He can be seen doing this for sometimes up to 12 hours a day. He was not trained to do this as a performance. He was not expressing his natural behavior as seen in the wild. Gus’s neuroticism earned him the nickname “the bipolar bear,” a dose of Prozac, and $25,000 worth of behavioral therapy. Like many other animals, Gus copes with his unstimulating or small environ- ments through this stereotypic behavior. 13 What happened to Gus, happened to many other zoo animals living under the same condition. This condition is better known as “ZOOCHOSIS” [noun] AKA “Animal psychopathology”, “Behavioral disorder”, “Ste- reotypical behavior” A condition of obsessive, repetitive behaviors that serves only as coping mechanism to the stress zoo animals experience while living in unsuitable, artificial environments with little no to stimulation or enrichment. 14 A ZOOLOGICAL DILEMMA 100% 0.00009 % Gus was forced to live in an enclosure that is 0.00009 percent of the size his range would have been in his natural habitat of the Artic.15 ZOOCHOSIS psychosis within captivity Why should we care? In captivity, wild animals face a number of chal- lenges in which evolution has not prepared them SYMPTOMS for. The artificial environment of a zoo can some- times lead to an animal feeling bored, frustrated, and stressed. The result of this is a development Bar biting of a stereotypic behaviour of the animal that is both compulsive and unnatural. Pacing The modern theory of the root cause of these Circling stereotypic behaviours explains that zoochosis Rocking results from brain disfunction that is the result of stress. But the correlation between the stress at Head-bobbing the time when the behaviour is being performed and the actual behaviour itself is inconsequential. Tongue-playing Although stress may have caused the develop- Head-Weaving ment of this behaviour, that behaviour is not per- petuating. Swaying The question is, at what point does chronic stress Neck twisting become a welfare problem? Stress is ordinary Head weaving part of life. There is a difference between being stressed and having a poor quality of life or wel- Tongue playing fare. Vomiting What are other potential causes of Zoochosis? Coprophagia There are number of factors that can trigger Overgrooming and result in stereotypical behaviors of Zoocho- Self mutilation sis. First and foremost, most animals are forced to live in artificial environments with little stim- Regurgitation ulation, enrichment or opportunity to hide from the public gaze. Most often they are being held in Reingestation captive environment that does not cater to their Trichotillomania species-specific needs. Zookeeper all too often generalize the animals’ behavior and not put into Coprophilla account individual needs. All animals are differ- ent; they have different background, tempera- Caprophagia ments, and personality. Apathy Another cause is called ‘invasive intervention’ Prolonged Infantility which refers to the restriction of movement, train- Abnormal Aggression ing using negative reinforcement techniques, be- ing trained to preform unnatural behaviours. Ani- mals are often relocated as too many of the same species of the same zoo. This caused a disruption of family or pack units for the sake of breeding. .... Last but not least, drugs and medical fertility con- trol are also a factor that is often overlooked as The list goes on the cause of Zoochosis. Access the link below to view videos of some of the symptoms of Zoochosis: < http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-check/ captive-wildlife-issues/abnormal-behaviours/ > 16 Neck-twisting Pacing Swaying Self-mutilation Coprophilia 17 EXISTING STRATEGIES (that fell short) what’s been done that are not working Naturalistic Decorating Large and Expansive Filling up an exhibit with foliage, trees, To a certain extent, spacious enclosures rocks, and boulders to make the space ap- help alleviate the symptoms of Zoochosis, pear as naturalistic as possible only serves but most often these spaces are void of to depict an ideal vision of the wilderness activities or enrichments the animals can as perceived by visitors. It does very little engage in order to stimulate their natural to address the symptoms of Zoochosis. behaviors. Non-species-specific Generalization Physical Needs Zoos continue to generalize animal needs Fulfilling the animal’s physical needs is no not by species and provide them with the longer su©cient to enhance the animal’s few bare essentials of food, water, shelter, psychological well-being. When the strug- and some space to walk around. gle to survive is no longer a priority, nothing is left to stimulate or enrich their welfare. 18 PREDICTED STRATEGY (that fell short) A Zootopia in Disguise what’s been visualized but retain existing issues At first glance, Zootopia may have successfully dissolve all barriers between hu- mans and animals.