>Actually I'm really proud of the work we do, particularly the education
>programs but yeh, I'm still sensitive. And if the Spotted Owl were
>releasable, and suitable habitat were available I'd vote to release her.
>
>Mike Waller
>WP Zoo

Thanks for the explanation, Mike, which makes a lot of sense. But I'm
thinking back to the years of work I did with zoos, during which a very
common refrain was "one important reason we keep animals in captivity is
that if people get to see animals in a zoo, they'll develop a greater
sensitivity to the species and to nature by the personal contact."
Wouldn't this be especially true in the case of a controversial species
like the Spotted Owl? Wouldn't this captive individual (*much* more
preferably as one of a mated pair) be of special value? It is, after all,
a wonderful experience to see a Spotted Owl up close and personal. Or
would it be that, even with a pair, the low probability of successful
breeding would mitigate against the value of having them in captivity? If
they could easily be bred in captivity, would this make a difference?

I don't want to put you on the spot, Mike, but I'm asking these questions
publicly because I suspect a lot of tweeters are interested in this. Any
other zoo or owl people out there who wish to respond?

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416