I thought, what with the recent tiger attack in the news, that this would be a good time to bring up the subject of zoos altogether. Personally, i hate them. It just seems that the animals are always completely depressed. They are unable to fufil their instincts, and get frustrated. They basically mastaurbate while they wait for their food to arrive, the only 'animal' action left to them. so, yeah, zoos are mean to animals. think, talk, discuss.
Yes, I also completely hate zoos. Going to them depresses me... so I avoid them like the plague. Those animals deserve to roam free, instead of being caged. Humans think that there is nothing wrong with caging an animal because most of us cage ourselves in houses and live out our trapped depressing existence in them. Animals shouldn't loose their freedom just because we lost ours.
I agree with you both, since I consider a zoo nothing more than abusive animal prisons condoned by our sick society. If only we could take the zoo keepers and the visiting patrons; put them in the place of the animals and let them see what it feels like to be caged up and gawked at for the rest of their natural lives! It is no surprise these suffering animals fight back simply out of frustration, which is a valid response to our human arrogance and apathy towards all other mammals living on earth. It really bothers me too, that the media always places the blame on the "vicious" tiger or elephant, who in reality, are only acting out of a valid response to their obvious abuse by mankind.
Check this out, from a public radio show in new york: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2007/06/01 Just the show: http://www.wnyc.org/flashpop.html?playlist=%2Fstream%2Fxspf%2F71747 It's all about zoos and animal development, and progressive zoos that use different "cage" and feeding ideas from others. Also touches on how people interact with the animals and vice-versa
I'm in favor of them. They allow the animals to, well, be animals. they can run, explore a territory (more than a little room), hunt, and mate. really, i think that most basic unhappiness stems from frustrated instincts, and if we give them the space to allow those instincts to be fufilled, the animals will be happier. I want to start by saying that i love radiolab. however, a very pretty cage is still a cage. most animals need a large territory to freely roam around in, more than a zoo can provide. Also, predators need to hunt their food in order to be predators. I betcha that when the tiger was tracking those people that that was the only time in his life at the zoo he felt like a tiger.
Oh yeah I agree completely. There are some zoos that make it practice to take in wounded animals, or animals that were bread in captivity that don't have the required skills to live in the wild. I support this practice. But ultimately you're right the majority of animals that are in a zoo should really be roaming... though there are exceptions.
You know... I've just started reading "The Life of Pi", and the first 40 pages of the book make a very compelling argument for zoos.
I believe that well secured animal preserves/refuges are the best way to protect wildlife from man, while those animals unable to survive in the wild are best served by animal sanctuaries where they are cared for life and without the need for a circus/zoo type environment where the must suffer from a mass multitude of human observers. In terms of the "The Life of Pi", I must say it is an excellent read and I have a feeling you will be surprised as you progress through the book. If you all have the chance, check out a book called "When Elephants Weep" by Jefferey Maason. It is a rather good exploration of the subject of animals having the ability to think and feel and how they interpret us presupposed and all powerful human beings. It should be noted that the people in SF instigated their own misfortune by harassing the tiger as determined by these jerks footprints on the top of the retaining wall. This development indicates that it is not the people who need protection, but the animals who are constrained and utterly subject to the vagaries of human ill behavior.
zoos are prisons for animals. Simple as that. They are locked up, visited by independent board of visitors, fed (In a lot of cases abused, although this is very very very rare. Only really happens in Human zoos/prisons. I reckon that they should all be closed down,but then there are animals that can never go back out into the real world again. This is a bit like humans after serving a considerable time in prison. They come out, the world hates them, they are chased with axes, and they are homeless. The thought of prison becomes a soothing ailment to their predicament. Three square meals, bed shelter and regular physiotherapy(Beatings)
I dont like zoos. However, I would say that Australia Zoo seem alright because they actually let the animals have a close - to - natural habitat. But some zoos are so run down and unsafe for humans & animals that I wouldnt go to one. I think there at least should be a limited number of zoos around the world & should be close to natural as possible.
To animals, zoos are, I think, the equivalent of prisons to men. Captivity is not the equivalent of their natural way of life. Sure, for one's education, it is important to see animals in flesh and blood, but at least they should create better conditions for them in zoos, give them larger space...
It should be noted that there is a clear and distinct difference between the incarceration of human criminals versus the imprisonment of innocent animals.
