What are some opinions about zoos? I understand why some of them need to exist, but I really don't like the idea of "attraction" zoos. I don't think it's fair to the animals to lock them up in small enclosures, in a habitat that is very different from their native home. I just hate the idea of zoos being around so people can see animals they normally wouldn't. Why take a lion from Sub-saharahan Africa and put him in an acre enclosure in Indiana just so people can see him "up close and personal?" Isn't that a little selfish and explotational? I agree with animal refuges and zoos that provide adequate space & a suitable habitat for the animals, however, I don't know how many of those exist. I do understand that certain endangered species and injuried animals DO need the protection from refuge/zoo, but I feel that most zoos are here for the public's "entertainment." What are some other opinions? I just want to see how others view them. I never hear about zoos in this forum. Peace & Love
Depends on the species being kept. I've done some research, and cetaceans tend to not do well in captivity. And I definitely feel that roadside zoos, for lack of a better word, suck.
I like zoos that are like rescue zoos ya know? They only take animals that can't make it in the wild.
Here we have a Science park that has a mini zoo. The conditions are horrible... They have a lion all alone in a cage that doesnt even give him room to run around... theres a little patch of dead grass basically dirt, and a tiny area with dirty water. The floor in the large animal cages are made of concreet. The hippopotamus pool is depresing. he can barely turn aroun comfortably and the water ir full of you know what... and very stinky. there are also monkeys in cages, and other animal that look so depressed I can't bare to ever go there again... Actually I'm trying to plan some sort of manifistation against these cruel conditions but I don't know were to start... I'm not totaly against zoos because I understand that some animals cant go back to the wild so they are put in zoos to give them a good life... But these animal are not happy, and its not the only zoo in those conditions. I do not aproove of taking animals from the wild to put them in zoos... to me that is cruel and selfish... they are wild animals, born in the wild. Imagine how they feel when they are forced from their family to be put in boxes and shiped of to a place far away from their home, only to be exibited as an atraction... Raised in captivity and taken from the wild are totally diferent conditions... but even some that are raised in captivity arent kept in the best conditions, so it all depends on the zoo.
My husband & I have kept up a membership with the MN Zoo since before we were married... and through that membership have visited many other zoos also afiliated through the AZA. MOST of the zoos in this group seem to be deeply involved with animal conservation, serious education programs for the public, and reintroduction & breeding programs for the endangered species. So far I've not visited an AZA zoo that has not had large, naturalized environments for all of their animals. I'm sure they're out there, but I've been to 29 so far & all of them have been "good zoos" in my mind. I have been to roadside / neighborhood zoos, and "free zoos" that just make me cringe. Stinky brick cages, tight to obscene living quarters, dirty water supply... Yeah, I've seen those too & would love to see them disappear. But I have seen "good" zoos too. love, mom
i believe that everything done with animal....every human interferance....should be in the best interest of the animal. i love sanctuarys and reserves but do not like zoos.some animals are can better adapt to captivity than others but the whole concept of putting animals on display for humans to come and enjoy looking at them all day is totally wrong.
In my country many awful zoos, it at all zoos, there animals never leave the small cells. Them transport from city in city the same cells. Animals there constantly go from to the parties on a cell in which it is hardly possible will be developed. In these places constantly badly smells. And the most bad that it almost all is indifferent, everyone drive the children there and at all do not regret poor animals. Pay for an inputand by that provide the further prosperity of this poor excuse for a zoo.
Where are you from Ostard? I too think that zoos in general are just an exploitation of the animals for our entertainment. If endangered animals are kept in their natural climate and with enough space, I think it's a good thing for the preservation of that species. But to put an elephant or a Giraffe from it's natural warm climate to, for example, Europe - where the winters can be quite harsh, that is just wrong. I would also be interested, what you guys think about animals in circus, cause luckily the EU has banned the use of wild animals for that purpose - but I'm sure there's loads of other places in the world who haven't.
circuses that use animals are totally wrong and i would go so far as to say they are evil. the concept is wrong and besides that the treatment of these animals is beyond discugsting. i live in the south and recently the barnem/bailey cirucus came to town and they were announcing on the radio how everyone should come out to see the animals in tow from the trains to the audetorium (sp). and then to add insult to injury two of the dumbest rednecks on radio...rick and bubba....were discussing the circus and how they had brought their kids to one but to their dismay the circus they went to had NO animals! they were like totally horrified that there were no tigers jumping thru fire and no elephants doing twirls and they said that they would never take their kids to another cirucus before making sure that the circus did indeed have animals! i was so sick when i heard that.
i like a good ZOO my favorite in is St. Louis and i also like Grants Farm also in St. Louis. the cincy zoo isnt to bad either but they charge way too much. and as silent said thwe zoos in PR really SUCK. i have not been to the mini zoo in the science park cause thats in the metro area but i have been to the so called big zoo in mayagueze and its terrible. bad conditons small enclosures and so on. but when you think of the poor conditions many people on the island live its not really that bad. i guess it just depends on how you look at it. buy mainland us standards these zoos are horid and even though federal laws apply here it seems nobody ever enforces laws conserning animals. but i think zoos serve a purpose and need to be around, i mean how often would a kid in PR or NY see an elephant or a lion if not for a zoo?. and how would people develope intrest in saving or protecting anim als in the wild if they had never seen them in person? i mean i sit her all day long and type and type untill my fingures are bleeding about the horrible conditions aniamls live in in puerto rico. but nobody would belive me or show real intrest untill they seen it for them selves. to many people out of sight out of mind. so elephants are losing habitat in africa. people think so what its just an animal. but if they ever been to a zoo and seen one of those giant beasts seen their beauty maybe they will think twice before they try and buy the elephant foot umbrella stand or ashtray. and silent your right the stray dogs down here is a huge problem. but take a look at what people do top their horses. you probably end up crying. a guy dumped a 2 yr colt off on us last week. 2 yrs old but only the size of a 8 moth colt totally skin and bones didnt have the strength to even stand up. and this ass hole tied a rope to its neck then tied it to a tree and drove off letting the horse just fall out of truck choking and he never looked back. i dont think he even knew we were there. but police could care less down here.
