In this very first episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I talk about the frustrations that I, a wildlife biologist, had about the Netflix docuseries Tiger King. While the series focused on big cat owners, it skirted around some major issues on animals in captivity.
Should animals be in captivity? What purposes do they serve?
Do zoos play an important role in conservation? How?
Are all of the facilities in the Tiger King really the same? What are the differences?
From my 17 years in wildlife biology and conservation, I provide a much-needed expert opinion on the series.
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Blog posts mentioned in the episode:
Review of the Tiger King Zoo: Joe Exotic Didn’t Love His Animals
Does Myrtle Beach Safari Really Promote Conservation?
Is Cub Petting Conservation for Big Cats?
Is Big Cat Rescue as Bad as the Zoos in Tiger King?
What is a Wildlife Sanctuary? Why Do We Need Them?
Ethical Zoos: How to Determine the Good from the Bad
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Stephanie Manka, Ph.D. is a wildlife biologist with 20 years of experience in mammal ecology and conservation, education, and outreach. Read her story to find out how she went from the daughter of a jeweler to a Ph.D. in wildlife biology.
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