Owls Issue 3 (Jan 2019) - "Zootopia"

Edition IV: Zootopia January 2019

Oxford & Wimbledon Leading Scholarship

The Journal of the Academic Scholars of Oxford and Wimbledon High Schools

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OWLS Quarterly, Edition III, February 2019

Zootopia OWLS (Oxford and Wimbledon Leading Scholarship) is a collaboration between two likeminded sister GDST schools to support our Sixth Form academic scholarship holders. With a first outing in 2017-18 and now working with a second cohort, the OWLS project sees Sixth Form girls in both schools meeting face to face and collaborating online to discuss, debate and pen articles both within individual subject areas and in a cross disciplinary way. The resulting work is published in OWLS Quarterly journal.

The 2018-19 OWLS group of Sixth Form Academic Award-holders met for the first time on a sunny September day at ZSL London Zoo to consider the nature of zoos and animals and our relationship with them. The collaborative writing in this edition of OWLS Quarterly pulls together their thoughts as they peered into cages and pondered the place of animal captivity in a modern world.

Ms Rachael Pallas-Brown (OHS) and Dr John Parsons (WHS) – Editors OWLS Quarterly

CONTENTS Calling London home .......................................................................................................................................Page 3

Where nature improves lives........................................................................................................................ Page 5

Unleashing the Hounds ................................................................................................................................... Page 8

Should self-aware animals be kept in Zoos? ......................................................................................... Page 10

How Zookeepers maintain a suitable Environment for animals ................................................. Page 12

How wild is the Zoo? ...................................................................................................................................... Page 14

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if they were on the coasts of South America. Lack of interference in water temperature is possibly due to the breed of penguin; since they come from Chile and Peru, their natural habitat will have very similar seasons to those experienced in London, England. If

CALLING LONDON HOME

these penguins were still living in their native land, Jess Lee (WHS), Cara McMillan (OHS), Claudia

they would have a series of involuntary systems

Preston (OHS), Libby Westwood (OHS)

allowing them to maintain a constant temperature, water, ion and oxygen levels; these are the same systems that make it possible for them to live in

1

Stretching from the

London.

open canopy of the Savannah to the

On average 30% of a penguin is blubber, creating a

western plains of

thick insulating layer, thus reducing heat loss via

South America, how can these creatures, so different

conduction, convection and radiation, both when

in habitat, both call London their home?

swimming and when on land. For penguins native to

The zoo tries to create the most natural and life-like

significantly colder temperatures, such as the Emperor

enclosures; both giraffes and penguins manage to live

penguins of Antarctica, this is not enough to keep

comfortably almost 7,000 miles from home.

warm, so they have to stay in continuous motion,

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant

particularly when in the water. In extremely cold

internal environment, and is achieved by automatic

weather conditions penguins huddle together, as you

control systems throughout the body that maintain

have likely seen; this is particularly effective because

temperature, glucose levels and water at steady levels.

of their rounded shape, allowing for protection from

Without these advanced and unconscious systems,

the harsh weather on a large percentage of their outer

cells throughout the body would be unable to function,

surface. External fur and feathers are the most efficient

causing the body to shut down.

insulators on a weight for weight basis but can be ruffled by wind and are much less useful when wet.

At Penguin Beach at ZSL London Zoo, the penguins

What really keeps penguins warm in the sea, is a

are Humboldt penguins that breed in coastal Chile and

subcutaneous layer of fat. Penguins also have a

Peru, roughly 7,400 miles away. Although they hail

circulatory system that works to reserve heat, that

from another continent, they are surprisingly well

takes blood from the legs to the heart; known as

adapted to the zoo’s conditions, as their natural

counter current heat exchange. However, the more

environment is relatively similar to London’s. The

pressing issue for the penguins living in the zoo is the

water at Penguin Beach is not temperature controlled,

ability to cool down, as at times it may be marginally

and so it varies with the outside temperature and

warmer in ZSL London zoo than their usual climate.

weather - this is just one example of how ZSL provide

Penguins have the highest feather density of all birds,

the animals with a natural habitat that allows their

not only is this helpful in keeping warm but it provides

bodies to continue to function in the ways they would

1

https://www.zsl.org/file/penguins-swimming

them with the ability to fluff their feathers out even

3

more so that the trapped warm air can escape and

insulation. Giraffes have tight skin that aids blood

enable the penguin to cool down. These intricate

circulation by increasing the pressure: the blood flows

systems, and processes, explain how they can keep

faster and warms up their bodies. Their skin is also

warm during the colder winters of the UK than Chile,

extremely thick, and the fat helps insulation. However,

and more generally, means they can survive in the

it is not only the giraffes themselves that make changes

extreme weather of Antarctica. It is also evidence of

to fit the different environment. ZSL London Zoo has

how they manage survive the warmer climates of Chile

made the enclosures as similar as possible to the

and England during the summer months.

African savanna, and although the native food (e.g. the Acacia tree) is difficult to acquire here in England,

2

giraffes adapt their diet to fit the variety of fruits and

At ZSL London Zoo, Masai

vegetables that the zoo will provide. Most importantly,

giraffes are living in an

the giraffes have an indoor ‘night house’ that provide

environment antagonistic to their

all the comfort, warmth and water needed for the

home in Eastern Africa, 6,800

animals to be happy, and therefore, the Masai giraffes

miles away. Giraffes thrive in

live without trouble in a place so far away from home.

areas where the climate is very hot, and their bodies have evolved

Therefore, it is clear that penguins and giraffes are

to be adapted for these conditions.

complex animals that require systems to control their

The African savannahs and grasslands are perfect for

internal environment and have evolved over centuries.

the giraffe, as the climate varies between humid, wet

ZSL London Zoo does its best to match the conditions

seasons, and arid, dry seasons. Though they have

the animals would be used to in their home countries,

dietary preferences, giraffes are quite adaptable: in the

and combined with the animals’ natural built-in

wet season, they feed on deciduous trees, shrubs and

mechanisms for coping with changes in temperature,

vines and during the dry season, they eat hearty

the zoo is a comfortable environment in which animals

evergreens near rivers and streams. Moreover, a giraffe

to live and thrive.

can consume up to 12 gallons of water at one time when drinking from a water hole, and so they are able

Bibliography

to survive long periods of time without much moisture and humidity. Furthermore, a giraffe’s long neck has

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masai_giraffe

evolved to increase the surface area to mass ratio,

https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/humboldt-penguin

giving the animal more area through which to lose

https://www.zsl.org/giraffe-facts

heat. It has also been discovered that the giraffe has lots of unusually large sweat glands beneath the skin,

https://www.popsci.com/winter-giraffe-care-tips

that will further help achieve efficient heat loss.

But how can giraffes possibly live so comfortably

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_plac

in London where the climate is so different?

es/nature/newsid_7747000/7747693.stm

Homeostasis enables giraffes at ZSL London Zoo to

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/003591

keep warm, and their bodies will use different

90409519170

mechanisms to prevent heat loss and to induce 2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masai_giraffe

4

https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%2 0file/science/cold_penguins.php http://www.penguinworld.com/features/thermoregulati

BIOMIMICRY:

on.html https://seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-

WHERE NATURE

infobooks/penguin/adaptations

IMPROVES LIVES Aabidah Khan (WHS), Elizaveta Sheremetyeva (OHS), Candace Wu (OHS) With science, there is much that we now know about the natural world that our predecessors could only ever dream about. Artificially controlling environmental conditions to optimise agricultural yield, using solar panels to capture sunlight's energy and more. Surely, we have learnt the majority of what nature has to teach us?

Assumptions like these are thoroughly disproven by every new scientific discovery. One such example is the discovery of the water bear: a creature that can independently survive in space and has revolutionized vaccines!

Although interesting, scientific discovery is not the point of this article. So let us move on to nature’s coolest creatures who have adaptations so crazy, they might just work.

If you have ever been at the Northern Edge of Regents Park, London Zoo, at midday while standing in front of the otter enclosure, having decided that the Tigers Live show is just not for you, then you will know that otters can juggle pebbles. You will also remember that otters are incredibly good swimmers, due to the same thing that keeps an empty water bottle afloat: differences in density. By trapping air in their thick fur, they buoy across the water facilitating their swimming. But by thick fur, we mean one million hairs per square inch!

Impressed? Animals like otters impress scientists and engineers constantly, so it is no wonder they use them as a source of inspiration. Which brings us to 5

Biomimicry: bio - for biology and mimicry - the act of

dying. This protects the tardigrades’ DNA, RNA and

mimicking i.e. copying something. Etymologically

proteins, enabling them to reanimate.

translated to the copying of the biology of an animal or

Why are we telling you this? The company Biomatrica

a plant.

studied

anhydrobiosis

in

tardigrades

and

have

If you were to guess objects that fell under the category

developed live vaccines, which do not require

of Biomimicry you probably would not think of velcro.

refrigeration. Instead they ‘reanimate’ in water. At the

Ever taken a Sunday stroll and come back with bits of

Nova Laboratories in Leicester, new technology allows

spiky looking plants stuck to you? Well, these are the

vaccines to be secured ‘in a glassy film made of sugars’

seeds of hitchhiker plants with microscopic hooks

(disaccharide trehalose). The disaccharide trehalose is

clinging to your clothes. With velcro, one side mimics

used to keep the virus in the vaccines effective for up to

the hooked section that attaches to the softer side, which

6 months, at temperatures up to 45°C. These are known

is more like the texture of your wool jumper.

‘candy-coated vaccines’ (which sadly cannot be eaten)

Biomimicry is not only seen in everyday objects, but is

and may be used in hotter countries with people in

also changing lives as we speak.

remote and impoverished conditions.

Have you ever heard of the tardigrade? Microscopic,

When one thinks of hot, remote and impoverished areas

amazing and just simply cool. Tardigrades, commonly

it is not too much of a stretch to imagine a large desert

known as water bears, are tiny arthropods with an

where people do not have enough of anything, including

incredible tolerance to extreme temperatures. From

water, without which, the average human can only

absolute zero (-273.15 °C - the lowest temperature

survive about 3-5 days in moderate temperatures.

possible, at which even atoms don’t vibrate) to 1000 °C.

Which does not take into account that the symptoms of

These creatures are not only able to survive in extreme

dehydration (nausea, dizziness, impaired mental

environments (including the inhospitable conditions of

functions, body aches, extreme thirst and weakness) set

space) but they also succeed at continuously surprising

in after 10-15 hours.

scientists.

However, even in the desert, there is water. People have been trying to utilise desert fog for decades, but plants and insects have always been one step ahead. The Darkling beetle (also known as the “Fog beetle”) lives in the Namib desert and has inspired two life-changing inventions simply by existing.

Every day the Darkling beetle collects 40% of its body weight in water. It does so by perching on dunes every morning in a “fog-collecting stance”: a headstand. It

Tardigrades have the unique ability to ‘revive’ after

utilises a mix of hydrophilic (strong affinity to water)

having 'dried up', virtually dead for up to 120 years. This

and hydrophobic (little affinity to water and generally

process is called anhydrobiosis which means ‘life

insoluble) surfaces to augment water collection. The

without water’. During anhydrobiosis, tardigrades

ridges on its back are covered in hydrophilic bumps

remain in a state of suspended animation instead of 6

across a waxy superhydrophobic surface which collect

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then direct droplets into the beetle’s mouth.

Stewart L (Inhabitat.com, 2010), 'Beetle-Inspired Bottle

Pak Kitae developed the first Dew Bank based on our

Harvests

Fog beetle, to provide safe and clean drinking water to

<https://inhabitat.com/beetle-inspired-bottle-harvests-

millions of people. The design copies the ridges to

drinking-water-from-thin-air/> accessed 18 October

increase the area of which the surface is in contact with

2018

moist air while exploiting the temperature difference

Drinking

Water

From

Thin

Air'

Zhang P and others (1998), 'Solid-State 13C NMR

between the air and the surface that makes water

Investigations Of The Glycosidic Linkage In Alpha-

condense. In the morning, the bottle’s ribbed stainless-

Alpha' Trehalose.' 12 Solid State Nuclear Magnetic

steel dome is cold, forming dew drops that slide over the

Resonance

shell and into a channel circling the base. The bottle

<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S09

could collect at least enough for one glass of thirst-

26204098000691> accessed 18 October 2018

quenching water every morning: the difference between Zhang L and others (2015), 'Inkjet Printing For Direct

life and death in the desert.

Micropatterning Of A Superhydrophobic Surface: Now Saudi Arabian scientists are creating a way to

Toward Biomimetic Fog Harvesting Surfaces' 3 Journal

mimic the micropatterned beetle's back. They have

of

taken a highly hydrophobic surface and used an inkjet

Materials

Chemistry

A

<https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2015/

printer to cover it with a mesh of hydrophilic material.

TA/c4ta05862c> accessed 18 October 2018

This results in a water collection efficiency of 61.8mg/cm2 [for the non-scientists this translates to 61.8

Everts S (2010), 'Candy-Coated Live Vaccines Stay

milligrams of water collected for every centimetre

Active' Vol. 88 Issue 8 Chemical and Engineering News

squared of our already increased dome surface area].

<https://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i8/Candy-Coated-Live-

While this idea is still in the research stage, it is easy to

Vaccines-Stay.html> accessed 18 October 2018

see that inkjet printing will allow for rapid production

Jones

of life-saving materials.

<https://zackandscottkarmachameleons.wordpress.com

These are of course not the only examples of

/2016/02/02/candy-coated-vaccines/>

Biomimicry, where nature inspires humans to innovate.

October 2018

Next time you see velcro, think about hitchhiker plants;

Anthes E (bbc.com, 2014), '‘Resurrection’ Feat Gives

or even imagine how an everyday object relates to

Hope

nature.

<http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121120-jab-hope-

Z

(2016),

For

'Candy-Coated

Future

Vaccines'

accessed

18

Vaccines'

for-resurrection-trick> accessed 18 October 2018 Image sourced from: https://zackandscottkarmachameleons.wordpress.com/ 2016/02/02/candy-coated-vaccines/

7

relationship between animals and humans is set out in Genesis, introducing the idea of human dominion over all living creatures:

UNLEASHING THE HOUNDS: A LITERARY EXPLORATION

So, God created mankind in his own image;

OF HUMAN EXPLOITATION

In the image of God, he created them

OF ANIMALS

Male and female he created them

Elizabeth Anderson (OHS), Lydia Fontes

God blessed them and said to them,

(WHS), Alice Travis (OHS), Elsa Voak (OHS),

Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and

Kaitlin Wallace (WHS)

subdue it.

Rule over the fish in the sea and birds in the sky

The presence of zoos in our society raises questions

and over every living creature that moves on the

about the relationship between human beings and

ground.

animals, revealing it to be contradictory and inconsistent. Zoos, as institutions, satisfy the human propensity to capitalise from sensationalism and

This license to ‘rule’ over animals legitimises the

exploitation - confining animals to spaces from which

human tendency to view animals as tools for

their existence, from fighting to feeding to sleeping,

agriculture or from which to derive entertainment. A

can be observed for human entertainment. Is zoology

practical view of animals is reflected in didactic

itself a product of this same voyeuristic curiosity or is

literature such as Aesop’s Fables or Animal Farm - as

it a compassionate discipline designed to benefit

animals are used only as a vehicle to convey the

animals themselves? Are humans predisposed to see

author’s moral message. These animals are

animals as tools or as equals? The duality of zoology

anthropomorphised to represent abstract concepts or

as a discipline gives rise to the contemplation of

human counterparts and bear almost no resemblance to

animals in literature. Literature is predominantly a

the animals of our world; they are usually binary,

medium through which we contemplate and explore

exaggerated entities, lacking the nuance and depth

the human condition, or human relationships and

afforded to human characters. The contrast between

duties with larger worldly forces. The realm of

the functional role of animals in this morally

anthropomorphic literature provides us with a

instructional literature and the sensitive imaginings of

complex, and often paradoxical, representation of how

the animal experience, as detailed in works such as

humans view the animal world.

Sewell’s Black Beauty prove that the relationship between humans and animals is deeply complex.

The representation of animals in literature has a significant history. Ambivalent attitudes towards

Orwell’s Animal Farm uses animalistic stereotypes to

animals are featured prominently in a vast range of

parallel political tensions in Soviet Russia, exploiting

literature. It is important to note that a fundamental

animals in a literary dimension to criticise the 8

hypocrisy of Stalin’s tyrannical rule. Aesop's Fables

Alexander Pope’s most famous poem An Essay on

are another poignant example of this, in which animals

Man echoes Sewell’s depiction of animals

inhabit the rhetoric to fulfil the purpose of celebrating

experiencing human emotions and directly challenging

or condemning certain human traits. We criticise the

the prevalent attitude that animals exist purely for

pride of the lion, the cunning of the fox, the curiosity

human enjoyment.

of the cat - animals who are given agency transcending their actual existences as creatures of instinct and thus exist purely to serve the human narrative. The use of

“Is it for thee the lark ascends and sings?

animals in such literature is unavoidable - humans in

Joy tunes his voice, joy elevates his wings.

these stories would be problematic, tarnished by Is it for thee the linnet pours his throat?

associations with gender, class, religion and race. We are multifaceted where animals are simplistic.

Loves of his own and raptures swell the note.

The bounding steed you pompously bestride,

This is similar to animals in the context of a zoo, as

Shares with his lord the pleasure and the pride.”

animals are commercialised to encourage visitors. The enclosures at London Zoo are surrounded by exaggerated cartoons anthropomorphising the animals

This is where conflicting literary portrayal of animals

within them, using similar stereotypical character traits

reflects perceptions of zoology; whether there is an

to the ones Aesop sets out in his work. This is an

innate human propensity for animal exploitation, or a

example of the literary treatment of animals being

capacity for caring and wider scientific understanding

transposed onto real life. They are portrayed as

for their benefit. It speaks to much larger philosophical

entertaining caricatures; metaphorically and quite

contemplations of the 21st century. Steven Collins

literally.

notes that “the unignorability of ecological issues and the rise of environmental criticism across the disciplines of the humanities are bringing the question

However, the cultivation of compassion toward

of animal to a new prominence.’’ The 20th century

animals, particularly horses, was the specific moral

saw the opening of many animal themed parks, such as

lesson Anna Sewell sought to impart when she wrote

the notorious American empire of Sea World,

Black Beauty (1877) - a stark contrast with the

scintillating emporiums which could offer humans

functional use of animal traits employed by Aesop and

entrance into the marine world. However, the 21st

Orwell. The first-person narrative from an animal’s

century has seen the rise of anti-zoo movements,

point of view implies that they experience a parallel

driven by NGOs such as PETA, which insist on the

existence to that of humankind and encourages the

damaging and inhumane nature of these parks and

reader to identify with the horse. The sensitive moral

fight to debunk the justification of commercial zoos as

framework established by Sewell is a rejection of

refuges of conservation.

pragmatic views towards animals - showing human capacity to care for animals.

9

Bibliography The Holy Bible, (1998). Authorised King James Version. Oxford UP.

SHOULD SELF-AWARE Orwell, G. (1946). Animal Farm. London: Penguin

ANIMALS BE KEPT IN ZOOS?

Group.

Aesop. (2007). Fables. New York: Penguin Group.

Morgan Callaway (WHS), Charlotte Furness

Sewell, A. (2011) Black Beauty: The Autobiography of

(OHS), Rosie Leeson (OHS), Hetty Nicholls

a Horse. The Jarrold Group

(OHS)

Pope, A. (2015). An Essay on Man; In Epistles to a

As we walked around ZSL London Zoo on a warm

Friend (Epistle III). London: Printed for J. Wilford.

Wednesday in September, we were able to see a variety of living creatures, from the mighty adult gorilla to tiny

Collins S. (2007) Thinking Perhaps Begins There: The

baby seahorses (called fry). Despite enjoying being able

Question of the Animal A review-essay, published in

to see these animals, we were concerned that some of

Textual Practice.

the more intelligent creatures appeared to be struggling with their life in captivity. This led us to wonder whether it is wrong for certain types of animals, especially those which are self-aware, to be kept in a zoo.

Self-awareness, as defined by psychologist Daniel Goleman, is “knowing one’s internal states, preference, resources and intuitions”. For a long period of time, humans have asked the question ‘are animals selfaware?’ Many tests have been devised to test this, but the most widely accepted is the mirror self-recognition test (MSR) devised by Gordon Gallup Jr. This test suggests that if an animal is self-aware, they will recognise their image in a mirror, and respond to their reflection. Animals that have been seen to react positively to the test include Asian Elephants, Great Apes and Bottlenose Dolphins - all animals that have been suggested to have levels of intelligence closest to humans.

With this in mind, we began to observe the different animals at the zoo more closely. By watching the smaller animals such as the otters and penguins at feeding time, we determined that they appeared very happy with the life they were leading, as both kinds of 10

creatures were interacting with the crowds and playing

including some gorillas, are critically endangered. The

amongst themselves. However, when walking through

question we should now be considering is whether zoos

the gorilla enclosure, we were quick to notice that one

are the most appropriate way to preserve endangered

gorilla in particular was curled up in a small overhead

species. Is the survival of a species worth the

passageway, gazing out at us as we passed with an

unhappiness and inhumane treatment of its members?

extremely sad expression in its eyes. Even smaller

Perhaps, rather than trying to improve conditions in

monkeys such as the white-naped mangabeys, which

zoos (which sadly in many cases are far worse than in

were very happy and energetic when we first saw them,

ZSL London Zoo), we should be investing that money

were similarly despondent at times. For example, one

in helping species to thrive in their natural habitats.

monkey tried to stretch his arm out through the bars of his cage, trying in vain to reach some leaves growing on the other side.

Bibliography

Linking these observations to our thoughts on self-

Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books http://www.animalcognition.org/2015/04/15/list-ofanimals-that-have-passed-the-mirror-test/ https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/mirror_test.htm Photo by Charlotte Furness (OHS)

awareness, we were able to conclude that the animals struggling most with their life in captivity were indeed the same animals who passed the MSR test. Therefore, the creatures who were most unhappy were those with an emotional intelligence closest to humans. But how great is the gap between us and them? Is the difference really big enough to let us feel comfortable with taking these animals from their natural habitat, and keeping them in cages just for the sake of entertaining us? If levels of intelligence are not considered important enough to take this argument seriously, then why are extremely intelligent animals kept in zoos when humans are not?

The ethical dilemma of keeping these animals in zoos when some of them are clearly suffering becomes even more complex when we consider the reasons they are kept there. Other than the goal of entertaining and, more importantly, educating humans, many of the animals, 11

The polar region is considered to be one of the harshest climates on the globe, yet famously, polar bears call it their home. Like other species in the extreme cold, polar bears have adapted to combat the low

HOW ZOOKEEPERS MAINTAIN

temperatures. They have a layer of fat under their skin

A SUITABLE ENVIROMENT FOR

which is so well insulated that they have to move slowly and often rest to avoid becoming overheated.

ANIMALS

Another species that can combat the cold is the Amy Beaumont (WHS), Amelia Hayes (WHS), Sara

penguin: they use the size of their colonies to huddle

Lyden (OHS), May Rainbird (OHS) and Jessica

around each other and so insulate themselves. While

Saunders (OHS)

some species endure the extreme cold, others adapt to it by migrating farther south when the temperature

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon in late September,

drops and then head north once it begins to warm.

five girls strolled around London Zoo. We all keenly felt the cold breeze in spite of having wrapped up

Hot climates also require their inhabitants to adapt in

warm. As we eagerly gazed upon the stunning colony

order for them to survive in these conditions. Animals

of Humboldt penguins swimming in the crystal-clear

who live in these climates, such as lions, have evolved

water from the underwater viewing areas, we

to pant, be less active during the hottest parts of the

wondered how they had kept cool in the heatwave we

day, and seek shade. They also vasoconstrict and

experienced in late July. We moved onwards, excitedly

dilate. Lions lose heat through their paws and licking

observing the lions and tigers padding around their

also speeds up heat loss. Ectotherms (cold blooded

enclosures and pondered just how they had coped with

animals) have adapted to utilise surrounding energy

the snow in March. We remembered the adaptations

sources (like the sun) and therefore are dependent on

these animals have developed by combating extreme

external sources of (heat) energy.

weather from their local habitat, but were curious as to what measures zookeepers had to take to keep the

All animals have different adaptations for the climate

animals safe and happy. Also, we were intrigued by

they live in (e.g. polar bears are white because it is the

how animals were affected by being kept in captivity,

same colour as the snow; rainforest animals are

and what physical and emotional effects the wrong

colourful for camouflage; camels have large feet to

climate would have on the animal. This caused us to

stop themselves from sinking in the sand) and it is this

debate whether it was morally correct to take animals

that allows life to sustain itself in such varied

out of their natural habitats and bring them to a new

environments. These adaptations help the animal thrive

climate if it was detrimental to their wellbeing.

in different environments; however, the vast majority of these animals can still survive in less severe

All animals and organisms are adapted to survive in

climates, such as a zoo.

their own climate and environment. Those who inhabit more extreme climates have unique characteristics to

As the majority of animals in the zoo are endotherms

enable them to endure the otherwise uninhabitable

(warm-blooded animals), the temperature must be

parts of the world.

adjusted to suit the animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; body temperature. In the summer when it gets hot, zookeepers add sprinklers and pools to lower the temperature for animals that are 12

used to a colder environment, animals also ingest

can unfortunately harm the animals’ mental health as

foods that lower their rising body temperatures, such

they no longer have the same social structure that they

as ice cubes and frozen fruit, in order to maintain a

would have in the wild and they may not have very

constant body temperature. Other ways of making sure

much room at all. Zoos also mean that the animals

the animals don’t overheat include taking the animals

become institutionalised as they become so dependent

such as chinchillas and other small mammals inside

on the zookeepers feeding them special food as

and putting the air con on. When it’s winter, the

described above that they could not survive in the wild.

animals are taken in and the heaters are turned on. This is especially important for the mole rat - if the

In conclusion we believe that zoos are not physically

temperature deviates as little as 5 degrees Celsius from

harmful to the majority of species but we think that

its body temperature, the effects could potentially be

zoos should make more effort to ensure a good mental

fatal.

health of the animals.

One example of how maintaining the environment is

Bibliography

essential is the Butterfly Paradise at the ZSL London

Toppr (date accessed 14/11/18)

Zoo. The temperature must be kept at around 29 https://www.toppr.com/guides/science/weather-

degrees Celsius and humidity must be at least at 78

climate-and-adaptation-of-animals-to-

percent. This is important because it means that the

climate/adaptation-in-animals/

butterflies stay active and live longer. Having a wellinsulated house helps to keep the temperature stable,

The Zoological Society of London (date accessed

therefore zoos often have double doors. Two doors

14/11/18)

opening at different times reduces heat loss by

https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/butterfly-

convection from the butterfly house. Humidity is

paradise

maintained using a mist system and sprinklers. This is also similar to the many water sprinklers in the

Liskey.E (2008) Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House.

rainforest habitat for the rainforest species, including

Ground.mags

fruit bats and sloths. Having a mist system helps to

http://grounds-

replicate the environment in the animals’ natural

mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_sophia_sachs_bu

habitats.

tterfly/

Many people believe that it is ethically wrong to put

Bradfield, P. and Potter, S. (2009). Edexcel IGCSE

animals in zoos as it they are being taken away from

Biology (Edexcel International GCSE). Oxford University Press

their habitat which could be detrimental to their health.

However, as shown above we think that on the whole

Johnson, P. and Woolley, S. (2009). Edexcel IGCSE

living in a zoo is not that damaging to most animals’

Physics (Edexcel International GCSE). Oxford

physical health as zookeepers try extremely hard to

University Press

provide the best environment for their animals. We also think that there are many positives for animals living in zoos because they educate, conserve and allows for further research. However, living in a zoo 13

The Humboldt current which flows northward from Antarctica influences the habitat of the Humboldt penguins. The cold current carries high nutrients, serving importance in the yield of foods (krill etc.) for

HOW WILD IS THE ZOO?

such penguins. Their natural habitat in the rocky coast Elena Gupta (WHS), Emily Kress (WHS), Leslie Lee

of Chile and Peru shows features of burrowing holes in

(WHS), Maya Patel (WHS), Emily Wenban-Smith

guano, caves and also scrape nests which are suited for

(OHS)

their living. Furthermore, their supraorbital gland gives them ability to filter salt from salt water in their natural

The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) is

habitat; however in zoos including ZSL, they live in

native to Chile and Peru in the offshore, cold water

freshwater and therefore the gland stays dormant. This

currents. It feeds on schooling anchovies, squid and

does not affect penguins’ health but could be an

other small fish which are mainly caught in inshore

example of a difference created between penguins in the

waters. It is named after the German naturalist and

wild and in captivity as a result of contrasting living

explorer Alexander Van Humboldt, who spent his life

environment.

studying the Americas during the 1800s.

In this article we will explore the difference in the style

The Humboldt penguin is a social creature that usually

of living between the Humboldt penguins in the ZSL

stays in close colonies and in the ocean, only venturing

London Zoo and of those living in the wild. We will

between 5-20 miles from land. This species of penguin

focus on several different aspects including the group

has a deep love for preening using oil from the glands

size/social structure, feeding and hunting, habitat,

in their tails to apply on their own, and the feathers of

predation and illness, and the climate and terrain in

other penguins in their colonies. In ZSL London Zoo,

which they live.

the penguins reside in ‘Penguin Beach’, a breeding Humboldt penguins are only found along the pacific

facility for the Humboldt penguin that allows them to

coast of South America, between Isla Foca, Peru (5°S)

stay social; while still being looked after with their own

and Algarrobo, Chile (33°S). The semi-arid to arid

incubation unit and a specialised small pool for the baby

climate of Peru and Chile means that the penguins’ nests

penguins to learn how to swim. While penguins in the

are not generally at risk from being flooded by heavy

zoo may have access to more superior care and

rain. Daily average temperatures range from 15℃ to

technology, the penguins are not brought up with the

24℃. At ZSL London Zoo, average temperatures range

same social closeness that they might have in the wild,

from 4℃ to 23℃. Overall, the temperatures in London

as there would be less predation and other external

are - unsurprisingly- lower than in the penguins’ natural

factors, such as weather, to cause the protective instincts

habitat but, the average annual rainfall in both locations

of the waddle to arise.

is similar (400-800mm in Chile/Peru and 583.6mm in The Humboldt penguin is a carnivorous animal (like all

London). However, the lower temperatures in London

other penguin species) which survives on a diet

are not a concern for the lifestyle of the penguins as they

composed by only marine animals. In ZSL, Humboldt

are adapted for the cold water Humboldt current after

penguins are fed a diet consisting of schooling fish like

which they are named.

anchovies and sardines. It is not as varied as it would be in the wild, as different breeds of penguins are usually 14

held together in one place, therefore the food has to be

Bibliography

suited for more than one species.

Penguins-World

(2017)

Humboldt

Penguin

Spheniscus Humboldti London:WordPress

In the wild, however, the Humboldt penguin tends to feed mostly on krill and small crustaceans, along with

Animal Corner (2005) Humboldt Penguin

larger organisms such as squids or various species of fish. In order to catch their food, the Humboldt penguins

Cecchini, Pegasusweb Mirko Climate-Peru

can be hunting at sea for days, diving deep in the water

Bingham, Mike Humboldt Penguin

for up to 10 minutes at a time; a feat which penguins Penguins Info (2000) Lifespan or Longevity

held in captivity are no longer able to achieve.

In captivity the main causes of death for penguins are Avian Malaria and Aspergillosis and the life expectancy is up to 30 years. This is because there is little predation or competition for food, and the birds are vaccinated and treated for common diseases, and subjected to regular vet check-ups to ensure they are healthy. In comparison, in the wild many penguins only live for 10 or 15 years as they are hunted by leopard seals, sharks and killer whales, and their eggs are sometimes eaten by snakes.

They also do not receive treatment for any illnesses they contract. These factors combine to ensure that animals living in the zoo are much healthier than those in the wild.

Overall, while Humboldt Penguins might not exhibit the same traits as they might in the wild, they do have a longer life expectancy in the zoo and all their needs are catered for with specialised care for births and preventative care for illnesses. However, keeping the penguins in a dependent environment means that they no longer use their specialised glands and systems. This would further put them at risk with evolution, causing the penguins to evolve and remain dependent on humans to the extent that they might never be able to hunt or withstand the harsh environments of the wild in the future.

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