Over the past couple of months I've been looking at the Jersey zoo "Adopt an animal" scheme as I have been considering doing it this Christmas as a present to myself. Let me be clear, I'm not really into the whole "adoption" thing in zoos and I wouldn't normally even consider it as I'm strapped for cash as it is. However, I do understand that these sorts of programs go some way to helping zoos financially and there is no zoo which I would want to support more at this challenging time than Jersey and the work of the Durrell trust. That said, I'm not very impressed with layout and the options available. The past layout included species like the Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur, Livingstone's fruit bat and pied tamarin. In contrast, the current layout is quite uninspired and just goes for the ABC's like Asian short short claw otter, spectacled bear, gorilla, orangutang, ringtailed lemur. I know it hardly matters, but what if I wanted to select a species more symbolic and meaningful to me like the black lion tamarin, Bali starling, aye-aye, Malagasy big headed turtle or Malagasy giant jumping rat ? There is such an amazing range of endangered species kept at Jersey and the ethos of the zoo is all about championing the little brown jobs so it is a wonder that there aren't more options for people considering "adopting" a species. Has anyone done this "adoption scheme" at Jersey zoo before ? What are peoples thoughts on the range of species available to "adopt" ?
I haven't done through Jersey, but I have in the past with other zoos, and especially conservation groups. Some places allow most species to be adopted, others have a short list. It's often dependent on what you get with the adoption. For example, stuffed animals are a fairly common gift, which limits the species available to what toys they can get in that size. Looking at Jersey's, you get a booklet about the species, photos, post cards, and stickers. It's probably not cost effective for them to make those items in all of their species, instead of just the most commonly adopted animals.
Frankly I really think that much more effort / creativity should go into creating the lists of species that can be adopted. Another irritation of mine is surrounding the gift that goes with the adoption. A rather nice Durrell baseball cap used to be available as part of the adoption package but that apparently has been scrapped recently. This is a bit disappointing for me to be honest with you as it would have been brilliant for me to have one of these for fieldwork here in Brazil.
You have to keep in mind zoo adoptions are geared towards children, to encourage their interest in animals and so they can "own" a wild species. While we may prefer a cap, it's of little interest to kids. Caps also retail for more than some stickers and bookmarks do, have to come in sizes, etc.
Unfortunately I do think you have a point that these adoptions are more geared towards children. I think it is a bit of a shame really as they could potentially make quite a good ethical gift for adults too in some ways. Shame about the baseball cap but oh well...
Zoos in Poland have it organized differently. Adoption is mostly a way for businesses to make themselves advertised, also by a logo next to an animal. A minority of animals get adopted by schools or private people. I am not sure anything is given back.
Many years ago, London Zoo allowed MPs to gift each other animal adoptions for free, in an attempt to raise its profile in Parliament. From the sounds of things, the majority of the zoo's species were on offer. This had the, perhaps unintended, effect of also boosting the profile of some of the zoo's lesser known species: Michael Portillo got a thick-lipped grey mullet, Ann Widdecombe a vulturine guinea-fowl and Dennis Skinner a red spitting cobra. The zoo suggested a hamster for Tory grandee Michael Heseltine, who once sat on the board of Zoo Operations Limited and (I think) on ZSL Council too. More examples here, for those interested in 1990s politics: Why Michael Heseltine is like a hamster
Quite an interesting concept. Some really suitable species adoption gifting by the sounds of it given the way the physical appearances of some of these politicians do resemble these animals, lol. I wonder what species Boris Johnson would get ? Any ideas or suggestions ?
Yes, I've seen this kind of scheme done at a couple of zoos in Latin America too. At the Neotropical Feline Conservation Centre here in Brazil, which is not at all a zoo but a private captive breeding centre, this model of adoption scheme is done. Local businessess often adopt a species of feline like the pampas cat or a jaguar for example.
