Canadian Human Landscape Examples

Abstract

In this paper, we initiate a discussion of zoos as cultural landscapes, using the example of the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We start from the notion that zoos are cultural institutions that do not reflect nature itself but are created landscapes inscribed with social and cultural messages conveyed through the presentation of wild animals. We examine the development of this zoo in the context of the stages through which it has passed in its over a hundred years of existence on the basis of historical accounts as well as Assiniboine Park Zoo master plan and annual report documents. We argue for examining zoos as cultural landscapes that reflect the changing relations between humans and animals and with ‘nature’ more generally.

Zoo Tourism: What Actually Is a Zoo?

“…He believes that they are man-created landscapes that pass on social and cultural messages by presenting live animals. Hallman and Benbow (2006) talk about a type of a cultural landscape that reflects changes in the relationship among human beings, animals and nature as such. This idea is important as it contains development dynamics of the human-nature relationship, which also appears in a number of zoo development typologies (e.g., Rabb, 1994; and changing numbers of visits.…”

Why do zoos attract crows? A comparative study from Europe and Asia

“…Zoos offer a great possibility for such comparisons. Zoos are found in many cities of the world and are typically viewed as cultural landscapes (Axelsson & May, 2008;Hallman & Benbow, 2006) that often show similarities in area (up to few tens of hectares), landscape composition (parks with trees and open spaces), and food availability to free-living birds (food given to zoo animals, leftover/garbage from humans). Zoos that allow access to free-living birds and that provide permanent sources of food may be the first to be colonized by corvids in a city and are usually characterized by high nesting density (Kövér et al, 2015).…”