Where was the world's first zoo?

Historians aren’t sure exactly when the first zoo was built, but it’s clear humans have kept exotic animals for thousands of years.

Michael J. Renner, Professor of Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Science & Sustainability, Director Zoo & Conservation Science, Drake University • conversation
May 23, 2022 ~6 min

Zoos and aquariums shift to a new standard of 'animal welfare' that depends on deeper understanding of animals' lives

A fundamental change in how North American zoos and aquariums are accredited supports their animal conservation and species survival work.

Michael J. Renner, Professor of Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Science & Sustainability, and director of the program in Zoo & Conservation Science, Drake University • conversation
Jan. 4, 2022 ~9 min


We're creating 'humanized pigs' in our ultraclean lab to study human illnesses and treatments

Medical research to benefit people is first conducted in animals. Creating a new biomedical model by inserting human immune cells into pigs may lead to new insights and treatments.

Adeline Boettcher, Technical Writer II, Iowa State University • conversation
April 12, 2021 ~8 min

The neural cruelty of captivity: Keeping large mammals in zoos and aquariums damages their brains

Life in captivity causes observable harm to the structure and function of large mammals' brains.

Bob Jacobs, Professor of Neuroscience, Colorado College • conversation
Sept. 24, 2020 ~10 min

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