Who's who in the zoo? Emily McLeod is here to answer any and all questions

Although we can't visit the zoo right now, that does not mean there's nothing going on behind those mysterious gates. Animals still need to be fed, entertained and cared for, and Zoos Victoria staff are very busy behind the scenes working on day-to-day animal care, as well as ongoing conservation work. But while things are a little quieter, staff have been opening up to some tricky questions in a series of 'ask me anything' videos. They're answering even very curly ones, like "what is the purpose of zoos today, and should they exist?". 

We spoke to Emily McLeod, senior social science research manager at Zoos Victoria, about the AMAs and what the zoo has been like during lockdown. Check out the Zoos Victoria Facebook page or the Animals at Home page for more AMA videos – and plenty of adorable behind-the-scenes animal content, too.

What made you decide to specialise in social science and work for Zoos Victoria?

My connection to nature definitely played a part in getting me here! I have a background in psychology and zoology and found that working in the conservation social science space was the perfect way to bring together my fascination with human behaviour and desire to help protect our native species and environment. At Zoos Victoria I work within the community conservation team and get to spend my time researching how we can help connect our visitors with nature and inspire them to take action to help wildlife. 

What are some of the best questions that are coming out of the current AMA campaign?

I think one of my favourite questions was “What will zoos look like in the future?”. Modern zoos are a world away from zoos of the past, and it’s exciting to think about where we might be in the future. We’re continuing to evolve our zoos to be places where people can come to immerse themselves in nature and see the conservation work we do. Talking to our community and understanding their expectations also helps to shape the way we plan for the future of zoos. 

Have there been some really tricky questions?

Yes, but those are the best ones! Questions around the existence of zoos and the welfare of the animals in our care are complex and emotionally charged topics that are so important to ask and talk about. We have an exceptional team of animal welfare scientists and specialists at Zoos Victoria who work with our keepers to ensure our animals have positive welfare. For us, it’s really important to have transparency around the work that we do. We want to talk about the changes that we’ve made and are continuing to make as we learn more about how we can create positive experiences for our animals and our visitors. 

Who are zoos for? What kind of visitors come to the zoo?

For us, zoos are a place for threatened species research and conservation, and a place to drive pro-conservation beliefs and behaviours within our visitors. We have a spectrum of people who visit us, from those who love watching animals to those who want to learn about conservation to those who want a safe place to bring their little kids to play to people who just want to enjoy a day out with friends and family. The research in this field has shown that while zoo visitors come from all walks of life, when they spend time visiting zoos they leave with a greater knowledge of wildlife, a sense of connection to animals, and a desire to do something to help. 

What is your favourite part of your job? What's your least favourite?

I love the variety inherent in my job and the real-world impacts from the projects I work on. I have the privilege to work on a wide range of research projects, such as exploring how to help cat owners keep their cats safe at home, researching the drivers of purchasing behaviours that support habitat protection, and examining how a close encounter experience at one of our properties may influence a visitor’s beliefs about our animals and build their connection to wildlife. Many of these projects are run as part of a collaboration between Zoos Victoria and other research organisations and so I have the pleasure of working with some very talented people across a range of universities and conservation organisations. This means I’m always learning and am always in great company! My least favourite part is having to occasionally say no to a new project idea. There are so many fascinating research questions, and sadly we can’t be involved in them all. 

What do you say to people who think animals should not be caged?

I would start by asking them to tell me what they’re picturing when they talk about animals in cages and see if it matches up with the reality of modern zoos. It’s easy to think of zoos as they historically were, but around the world, we’ve seen dramatic shifts in the way that zoos house and care for their animals. Enclosures in modern zoos are based on natural environments and are designed to enrich the lives of the animals that live there. There is also a great deal of thought that goes into deciding which animals to house. 

What can people who care about animals do to help protect them and their habitats?

There are lots of easy ways to help protect our wildlife! Using bubbles instead of balloons outside helps to keep plastic out of our oceans; buying toilet paper made from recycled paper helps keep trees in the ground; keeping pet cats safe and happy at home also keeps our wildlife safe and happy; and, creating a wildlife-friendly garden provides food and shelter for our urban wildlife. All of these actions will have a positive impact and, by sharing these actions with your friends and family, you can help to create a community of people acting to help wildlife. You can see more ways to help at zoo.org.au/fighting-extinction. 

The issue of climate change seems overwhelming. How do you overcome that sense of giving up?

I look for positive stories of people taking action to give me hope again. It’s hard sometimes not to feel overwhelmed, but I find it helps to remember that we already know what we need to do. We know what actions will help slow the planet’s rising temperature. Our decisions and behaviours can have a hugely positive impact, and that is reason to be hopeful. Climate change is a massive threat to the conservation of our wildlife, and we are heavily invested in making sure our work at Zoos Victoria is sustainable. In 2011 we became the world’s first carbon-neutral zoo, and our Environmental Sustainability program has only grown since then.

Check out the Zoos Victoria Facebook page or the Animals at Home page for more AMA videos – and plenty of adorable behind-the-scenes animal content, too.