Appealing to Your Audience

This image, while silly in the minds of some, accurately depicts what zoos are trying to do when they select the animals they do to keep in their zoos. We have the apex predator that provides a sense of danger to visitors, the large, “gentle” herbivores that instill a sense of awe and respect, the resplendent bird that is a pure object of beauty, and the monkey, the jester, a human-like animal that provides entertainment. This picture is a surprisingly good summary of what zoos strive to achieve in relating to their audience and represents the everyday exposure that inspired me to investigate zoo policy in selection.

Sandylion Handmade Essentials. “Zoo Animals.” Remember This Scrapbooking. 6/26/2008. Online Image. 4/14/10 http://rememberthisscrapbooking.ca/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=27_57