Zoos and Aquariums—The Results Are In!

Here you go...

Thanks to everyone who participated in this short survey. We got way more responses than expected, and some of the answers were surprising, to say the least. An analysis of these results is underway, and I will be following up within the next week.

Of course, I'm not a professional pollster and if these questions were biased or leading, I wouldn't even know. Keep in mind, this is primarily an opinion poll. A couple questions (like #5 and #6), you either got it "right" or "wrong". But for the rest, no right or wrong answers, it's just about what you believe. And that's what I wanted to know.

Again, analysis and more discussion is on the way. As for the open-response questions, those are of course the most interesting results and I will definitely be sharing some thoughts on those (don't worry "Sandwich" Guy—it's completely anonymous).

For now, take a look at where you stand among fellow readers of the Gypsy Dive Log:

1. Do you consider yourself a supporter of local zoos and/or aquariums?

59% yes
41% no

2. Do you prefer zoos over aquariums, or vice versa?

53% I like both zoos and aquariums about the same
22% I like aquariums, but I don't like zoos
19% I don't really like zoos or aquariums
6% I like zoos, but I don't like aquariums

3. What do you consider to be the primary objective of zoos and aquariums?

75% Education
10% Entertainment
6% Conservation
3% Rehabilitation
6% None of the above

4. Of the choices below, which objective would you personally consider justification for the capture and captivity of wild animals? (choose any/all that apply)

75% Rehabilitation
72% Conservation
69% Education
6% Entertainment
3% None of the above

5. Do you believe the National Zoo to be...

47% Administered and funded by the federal government
38% Administered and funded by a nonprofit organization
6% Administered and funded by a private company
0% Administered and funded by a city or cities
9% None of the above

6. Do you believe the National Aquarium to be...

34% Administered and funded by the federal government
28% Administered and funded by a nonprofit organization
16% Administered and funded by a private company
13% Administered and funded by a city or cities
9% None of the above

7. Do you believe it's possible that zoos and aquariums could accomplish their stated goals without keeping wild animals in captivity?

47% Not sure
31% No
22% Yes

8. Do you think zoos and aquariums would be open to alternatives to keeping wild animals in captivity, if it meant they could still accomplish their stated goals?

44% Yes
41% Not sure
15% No

9. Who, if anyone, should be responsible for monitoring and regulating the practice of capturing and keeping live animals for zoos and/or aquariums?

41% Conservation organizations/nonprofits (Nature Conservancy, WWF, Greenpeace, etc.)
25% International organizations (WAZA, UN, etc.)
25% Local, state and/or federal governments
3% Individual institutions (those that capture and/or keep the animals)
3% Someone other than the above
3% No one

#10 was an open-response question: What do you really think? Is it okay to keep wild animals in captivity? Why or why not? Under what circumstances?
We had a ton of great responses to this, and will be sharing some of those results within the next week or so.

Thanks again, yall!