University of Texas at Arlington Dissertation Template
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TOWARDS A GLOBALIZATION OF CONSERVATION MODELS IN ZOOS: THE AZA AND THE CASE OF A MEXICAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN LEÓN by DUSTIN KENNETH MILLER Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Arlington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN ANTHROPOLOGY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON MAY 2011 Copyright © by Dustin Kenneth Miller 2011 All Rights Reserved ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I owe the deepest gratitude to my thesis advisor, Dr. Christian Zlolniski, whose support and encouragement led me from the germ of an idea to the realization of a project with ample future potential. I would also like to thank the other members of my thesis committee, Dr. Kat Brown and Dr. Ritu Khanduri, for providing their subject expertise. I am also indebted to the staff of Parque Zoológico de León, particularly the members of the education staff, which opened their lives to me, providing a professional opportunity that I had never imagined and complete access to the entirety of their craft. It is my hope that in this work I have done their determination justice and have adequately expressed my appreciation of what they do. Lastly, I offer my regards to my zoo colleagues for their unwavering support, undergraduate advisor Dr. Lawrence Kuznar for his tireless guidance, and my devoted family for never doubting that a cultural anthropologist belongs in the zoo. April 8, 2011 iii ABSTRACT TOWARDS A GLOBALIZATION OF CONSERVATION MODELS IN ZOOS: THE AZA AND THE CASE OF A MEXICAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN LEÓN Dustin Kenneth Miller, M.A. The University of Texas at Arlington, 2011 Supervising Professor: Christian Zlolniski The recent expansion of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to include culturally-foreign institutions, underscores the ever-increasing globalization of conservation ideas. This paper investigates the structural and cultural barriers faced by recent member, Zooleón, in Guanajuato, Mexico. Distinct structural differences – that underscore the level of corporatization present in U.S. institutions – and a lack of understanding these differences by the AZA has resulted in Zooleón finding itself unable to meet the demands of a polished AZA institution. A significant cultural difference that emerges from the structural differences encountered is paramount importance of family bonding by means of a zoo visit. The zoo also faces cultural barriers encountered amongst its own staff. Class and education distinctions clearly shape interactions with the visiting public and the effectiveness of conservation messaging. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................iii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................. x Chapter Page 1. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………..………..….. .................................... 1 2. BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Anthropological Studies in Zoos and Conservation ......................................... 9 2.2 History of Zoos ............................................................................................... 13 2.2.1 Animal Collections before the Nineteenth Century ........................ 13 2.2.2 The Nineteenth Century ................................................................. 15 2.2.3 Zoos in the United States in the Nineteenth Century ..................... 17 2.2.4 Transition: The American Zoo from 1900-1960 ............................. 19 2.2.5 The Modern Zoo: Captive Breeding and the Birth of the AZA ....... 19 2.2.6 A Stronger Zoo Community: The Close of the 20th Century .......... 22 2.2.7 The Modern Zoo Meets the Modern AZA: A Global Approach to Conservation ......................................................................... 27 2.3 Zoos in the Mexican Context .......................................................................... 30 2.3.1 Moctezuma’s Menagerie ................................................................ 30 2.3.2 Rebirth of the Mexican Zoo ............................................................ 31 2.3.3 Situating this Study ........................................................................ 33 3. RESEARCH METHODS AND THE FIELD SITE ......................................................... 35 3.1 Methods .......................................................................................................... 35 v 3.1.1 Participant Observation .................................................................. 35 3.1.2 Structured Interviews ..................................................................... 37 3.1.3 Staff and Public Reaction ............................................................... 39 3.2 Parque Zoológico de León: The Field Site ..................................................... 40 3.2.1 Parque Zoológico de León ............................................................. 41 3.2.2 Park Attractions .............................................................................. 44 3.3 Park Culture ................................................................................................... 50 3.3.1 Visitors............................................................................................ 50 3.3.2 Animal Attractions .......................................................................... 53 3.3.3 Park Interactions ............................................................................ 54 3.3.4 Education Interactions .................................................................... 54 3.3.5 Analysis of Zooleón Park Culture ................................................... 58 4. STRUCTURAL BARRIERS: A TENSION BETWEEN U.S. EXPORT EXPECTATIONS AND LOCAL RESOURCES .................................................... 59 4.1 Gaining AZA Membership .............................................................................. 59 4.2 Budget Constraints ......................................................................................... 61 4.3 Sponsorships.................................................................................................. 66 4.4 Professional Development ............................................................................. 70 4.5 Infrastructure .................................................................................................. 72 4.6 Analysis of Structural Barriers ........................................................................ 75 5. THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR OWN WAYS: HOW CULTURE SHAPES VISITORS’ EXPECTATIONS ABOUT ZOOS ...................................... 78 5.1 AZA Education Expectations .......................................................................... 79 5.2 AZA Visitor Motivations .................................................................................. 80 5.3 Visitor Motivation Groups at Zooleón ............................................................. 86 5.3.1 Family/Group Integration ................................................................ 88 5.3.2 Experience Seekers ....................................................................... 91 vi 5.3.3 Education/Professionals................................................................. 92 5.3.4 Analysis .......................................................................................... 94 6. “THE PUBLIC HAS A VERY POOR CULTURE”: THE ROLE OF CLASS AND EDUCATION ON INTERACTIONS WITH ZOO VISITORS ........................ 98 6.1 Staff Connection to Conservation .................................................................. 99 6.1.1 Zoo Leadership .............................................................................. 99 6.1.2 Education Staff and Volunteers ................................................... 103 6.1.3 Animal Care Staff ......................................................................... 107 6.1.4 Other Staff .................................................................................... 110 6.1.5 Synthesis of Conservation-Oriented Staff .................................... 112 6.2 Education Staff Perceptions of Visitor Motivation and Conservation Attitude ..................................................................... 113 6.3 Synthesis of Staff Perceptions ..................................................................... 116 7. UNDERSTANDING THE AUDIENCE: CONCLUSIONS AND AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ZOOLEÓN .............................................................. 118 7.1 Structural Barriers ........................................................................................ 119 7.2 Cultural Barriers ........................................................................................... 123 7.3 They Want to Be Involved ............................................................................ 128 APPENDIX A. ORAL INTERVIEW SCRIPT FOR STAFF IN ENGLISH ............................................ 134 B. ORAL INTERVIEW SCRIPT FOR VISITORS IN ENGLISH ...................................... 136 C. ORAL INTERVIEW SCRIPT FOR STAFF IN SPANISH ...........................................