Health Issues in Naturalistic Mixed-Species Environments: A Day in the Life of a Zoo Pathologist

摘要

Animals have been kept in captivity for literally thousands of years. However, the reasons for keeping animals in captivity and the ways in which they are housed, managed, and cared for has changed over time. This paper will provide a very brief history of animals in captivity from prehistoric period through modern times, describe the evolution of "modern" zoos and zoological parks and discuss several major health issues associated with naturalistic, mixed-species exhibits, a common form of exhibitry in most of today's zoological parks.