I recently spent a day out at the Montecasino Bird Gardens in Johannesburg. As with previous visits, I was pleasantly impressed with this world class facility and had a meaningful day filled with learning, smiles and of course…lots of birds! Tons have been said about zoological gardens/facilities and aquariums in the past, and different people have different opinions. In this blog post we will be diving a bit deeper into this topic, specifically with a focus on the educational role of these facilities towards conservation.
Before we start, I should clarify two points. The first point being that this blog post purely reflects my own opinions, and I am not affiliated with any of these facilities. The second point being that people have written entire books and research documents on this subject. This blog post is only one small aspect of this discussion and at no stage should it be seen as attempting to cover the entire topic.
A day out at the bird gardens
Great, now that we have the formalities out of the way, I would first like to tell you a bit about my day spent at the bird gardens as well as the facility itself. What I have always loved about this facility and others that are similar, is the different types of experiences that you can have in one day! From the shivers of the snake exhibits to the thrill of spotting the tiny frogs hiding in their moss habitats and the tortoises racing towards their food! It is so much more than just a few birds in an aviary.
It is clear from the onset that the facility aims to educate and raise awareness. The facilities and habitats are immaculately kept and there are learning opportunities everywhere, from the informative boards throughout the gardens to interesting discussions with the staff. This all comes together with the bird demonstrations in the amphitheater, where various birds are shown along with relevant information on their habits, habitats and threats while creating a call to action. With birds and animals that are both local and exotic, the idea that biodiversity protection and conservation is a global effort for everyone is again enforced. It is clear from looking at this facility and other similar ones, that the days of overcrowded filthy zoos are moving further into the rear-view mirror.
Of course, there will be exceptions to this and yes, I am wholeheartedly against those that just showcase animals to make a quick buck in conditions that are not optimal, without promoting conservation or education! But the value of well-kept and informative facilities cannot be underestimated! There is a definite place for these facilities, along with all the other conservation properties, from Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to national parks and everything in between. So, let us move on to the role of these zoological facilities and aquariums in 2026.
The role of zoological gardens in 2026
I was incredibly fortunate to tour Australia a few years ago. While visiting one of their world-class zoological gardens in Sydney, a zookeeper made the statement that reads something like this: “Modern zoological facilities are moving further away from just showing different animals and are shifting their main focus towards educating the public and providing an immersive experience.” Besides all the other work that these facilities do such as breeding programs, rescue operations and research, the focus is increasingly on education. Instead of hundreds of years back when the facilities often focussed on themselves and profits, they are increasingly shifting the focus away from themselves and onto the public educational experiences and nature.
My personal education philosophy
My personal philosophy towards nature education is that all people learn through experiencing and seeing nature in real life. A child can be taught about a snake or an eagle in a textbook however many times, but this concept stays just as abstract to them as the far away planets in our solar system which we cannot see. It is not until they see these animals in the flesh that they can truly marvel at the magnificence of these creatures. Once this happens, the abstract concept suddenly becomes real and tangible; of course, not touching them but seeing them in reality.
And yes, first prize would be to take everyone to places such as the Kruger or St. Lucia, however this is just not possible for many reasons. Well maintained ethical zoological facilities thus make these experiences accessible to a multitude of people who might otherwise not have had the chance. They can then be inspired and motivated to act as guardians of their own natural heritage and to protect our African nature that we love so dearly! This is the immersive experience which I believe the zookeeper in Australia referred to during my visit.
I further believe that the success of these facilities in their education pursuits lies in the fact that learning does not feel like learning. Let me explain. On any given weekend I doubt if we would voluntarily go to school to learn. However, a trip to an aquarium or a bird garden sounds like great fun. So while enjoying our day out we are learning about conservation and nature, without even realizing it. We are thus mixing fun and education, in a way that encourages action and change!
Where do these animals come from
So where do the legal and ethical facilities source these animals in their care you might ask? They definitely do not just go out and capture whichever animal they would like from the wild. Not only would that be highly unethical, but it is also highly illegal. All legal facilities must get various permits and approvals from local councils and governments to run their facilities and keep their animals, and this branch of conservation is highly regulated and monitored. Worldwide an entire legal network exists between different facilities. Breeding programs or the exchange of animals between different facilities usually provides the animals which call these zoological facilities and aquariums home.
Many animals in facilities all over the world are also rescued and rehabilitated individuals. This is one of a handful of ethical cases where animals from the wild are incorporated into zoological facilities. And when does this happen? Usually only when these individuals cannot be rehabilitated to a point where release and survival in the wild is possible. These facilities give such animals a chance at life which they would not have had otherwise. Ethical zoological facilities and aquariums will firstly aim to rehabilitate an animal for release and only keep it in the facility should this not be possible.
So, to recap all of this, I firmly believe that educational activities at zoological gardens worldwide are an invaluable resource to conservation. The times are changing and the focus continues to move to the correct places, namely education and conservation. These facilities form part of a larger network of conservation and along with wild spaces and parks all contribute in their own unique way to conservation success. Through increasing accessibility, these facilities give people the chance to connect on a deeper level with nature, rather than just in textbooks or the internet. Ethical legal zoological facilities are highly regulated to ensure compliance with all laws and animal welfare, and the importance they have will continue to increase as the need for conservation education will increase! If done right, they are a great asset for our natural world. Hats off to Montecasino Bird Gardens and other similar facilities for the excellent work which they are doing.
Be filled with nature!
Willem🐛
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