The Evolution of Animal Captive Trade from 1930s to Captive Breeding Programs

The Golden Age of Collecting Exotic Animals (1930s)

In 1933, the world was a significantly different place compared to today. The 1930s were the Golden Age of collecting animals for zoos and circuses. This period marked a transition from wealthy elites hunting animals for trophies and skins, to zoos and circuses undertaking collecting expeditions to bring exotic creatures back to the United States for public display. Prior to this era, dead animals were often collected for natural history museums, but zoos began to emphasize the importance of bringing animals back alive.

Enterprising Entrepreneurs and their Impact

One of the prime movers in this era was Frank Buck, a renowned entrepreneur who made animal capturing into a big business. Buck was a multi-faceted figure—he was an adventurer, writer, and actor who captured rare and dangerous animals for zoos, and he even opened zoos, circuses, and exhibitions featuring his wild captures. His fame surpassed that of Steve Irwin, who would later continue a more controversial approach.

The San Diego Zoo and Its Legacy

The iconic San Diego Zoo, one of the first major zoos in the United States, played a significant role in this transition. One of their early residents, King Tut, a cockatoo captured by Frank Buck, greeted visitors at the zoo's entrance for decades, ultimately passing away in 1989. This demonstrates the indelible mark that these early collectors left on the world of zoos and wildlife conservation.

Scientific and Conservation Progress

However, as the world began to understand the importance of wildlife conservation, zoos and conservationists realized that the practice of capturing animals from the wild was unsustainable. William Temple Hornady, who created the New York Zoological Society and the Bronx Zoo, promoted wildlife conservation and used zoos to aid in this cause. His efforts, especially regarding the American bison, were instrumental in conservation progress.

Frank Buck's approach, however, represented a significant step backward in the scientific and conservation efforts of the time. As Hornady's life drew to a close, Buck's methods were just coming into prominence. Steve Irwin's approach, often labeled as the "Frank Buck approach" due to his flamboyant and often controversial methods, also posed a regressive challenge to conservation efforts.

The Role of Television in Conservation

Marlin Perkins, known for his TV series Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, seemed to find a relatively professional middle ground. Perkins focused on transplanting animals to improve their numbers and genetic diversity. He utilized the knowledge and expertise developed by the zoo business to help animals in the wild, rather than just capturing them for display.

The Modern Zoo and Conservation Efforts

The evolution of zoos from the 1930s to today has been marked by various steps forward and backward. While each step has been necessary, there is still room for more progress. The grand showmanship of the 1930s, like King Kong in the movies, may have been a necessary step to raise awareness about animals, leading to eventual care and conservation.

Historical Context: P.T. Barnum's grand showmanship, which came even before Hornady, helped to introduce the public to the wonders of the natural world in a dramatic way. The 1930s coincided with a unique era of large-scale animal collecting, where a real King Kong might have been displayed in a grand show, leading to the real-life Gargantua gorilla, Frank Buck's "King Kong."

The world of animal conservation and zoo ethics has come a long way, with major strides made in captive breeding programs and conservation efforts. It is a continuation of the steps made and the lessons learned from the early 1930s to the present day.

Keywords: 1930s animal trade, Frank Buck, zoo ethics, conservation efforts, historical context