Is The Whole Concept of Zoos Good Or Bad?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
January 3, 2008 1:49am CST
Several discussions have risen up about the issue over the San Francisco Zoo disaster, where a tiger escaped from it's quarters, running after three visitors of the zoo, resulting in the death of one as the person was mauled to death. Yes, the wall confinements weren't up to standard to keep the tiger from escaping, but sorry, animals will NOT attack unless provoked and I have no sympathy for those three men who the tiger was chasing after, and it has been shown that they were in possession of slingshots. Like duh? Doesn't that suggest that the tiger was indeed taunted and provoked. And while another sticky issue is how slow the police were to respond when 911 was called, yet when they did finally arrive at the scene and cornered the tiger, shot it dead...couldn't they have used tranquilizers guns instead?So this brings to my mind the whole concept of the zoo in general. The idea of a designated area sanctioned off as a "zoo" so we "humans" can look at animals we might otherwise not see in our lifetimes, unless of course maybe one goes to a safari kind of vacation in Africa, a trip to the Amazon, jungles of India, and so forth.
Being an animal lover and activist, I'm not crazy about the idea of zoos. Yet, there are two sides of the coin to view here. So many animals are now on the endangered list, hunted down to near extinction. Why? Because we, the human species considers itself the dominant species and in control of our world. We invade natural habitats, driving off many of the animals away, and if not driven away, are killed as they are then considered either dangerous or simply as nuisances to the land now occupied by humans. In one TV show, and I'm trying to do this from sheer memory, it had to do with coffee growing areas in Vietnam where coffee is illegally harvested for the instant coffee industry, such as by Nescafe. In some areas are elephant patrols, to safely drive the elephants away so they ARE'T killed off. But in another area, it was cited that only five elephants existed in the area where formerly there were hundreds...they were killed off.
Even the animal, such as the tiger that was killed at the SF Zoo is an endangered species...they are hunted down and killed either because of being a nuisance to the human inhabitants or because some yahoo wants to become "big mighty hunter" and have a tiger skinned rug.
In my mind, yes, zoos are a bad deal here, the animals aren't free...but what does freedom really mean to those animals who ARE free and are in danger of being killed off. I mean what if we reach the point where so many of the endangered animals population reaches so low, or none at all, that the ONLY live animals are the ones in zoos....can zoos then be seen as some measure in preserving and keeping these animals alive? Also, don't forget, many zoo animals are bred in captivity, that is the zoo environment itself...those animals could NEVER be successfully be freed as they probably couldn't survive the way their wild counterparts could.
So what is your opinion of zoos in general..good, bad, necessary evil,...what? If not zoos, then should more natural reserves be established instead..that is designated areas of broad land just for animals and NO "visitors" allowed??
11 people like this
25 responses
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
3 Jan 08
Some species are in a genetic problem. The cheetah has become so inbreed - even in the wild - that they are probably not going to make it. This was the same problem the Florida panther was having & the wild life people introduced some Texas puma's to the breeding stock to expand the gene base - the cheetah doesn't have that option. The inbreeding may cause them to go inspite of our best efforts sooner rather than later.
The snow leopard is approching that situation, if there were no viable breeding stock in captivity, they would probably be out in the next century or so.
The rhinos are also in some genetic danger - but more from poaching in the wild.
Elephants are also endangered as we all know, for various reasons, not the least is the ivory, but their size needs are quite a problem in a world that is getting smaller by the minute.
As I'm sure most people know, the California condor was nearly gone before DDT was taken from the market and if it hadn't been for captive breeding there would be none left.
The whooping crane is another captive breeding program that has been more successful than the condor breeding program. At one point they were under 25 birds, but now are around 500. Still in great danger, but coming back.
I don't think zoos are the greatest idea in the world, but I think the protective work now down by zoos and some of the natural reserves zoos that now exist make them a better option than the total loss of endangered species
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Well here's a real oxymoron for you. Many years ago, it was decided to reintroduce the wolves to Yellowstone National Park...they were considered near extinction too, but due to their release in the park successfully breed. Now this jerk of a government wants to kill them off as the wolves have become too successful in breeding and now considered a nuisance to the yahoos that visit the park every year...is this stupid or what? So like gee, if the captive breeding programs are too successful overall, are we going to see more animals killed off just because they became successful in multiplying again??
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Ya know, Pye, the ranchers never wanted the wolves back because they said that the wolves would not stay on Yellowstone when there was much easier prey on the ranches that boarder it.
The wolves haven't been THAT successful in the breeding, just the hunting. They found the easy cattle off the Park to hunt instead of tackling the bison who are larger & more dangerous. Sadly, the wolves are only protected on the Park property and you can't tell a wolf to stay over there where they are safe - just like they can't keep elephants out of places that put them in danger of having run ins with people.
So, while they are successfully returned to the Park, they are more often straying off the land and having run ins with those people that didn't want them returned in the first place.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Sounds like stupid planning then on part of the people who reintroduced the wolves there then ...no? They should have anticipated somehow that the wolves just wouldn't stay put
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
3 Jan 08
Good Discussion. I have actually thought about this a lot. I hate the idea of animals in cages. I have been to bad zoos like the Little Rock zoo where the animals have almost no space--its heartbreaking. I hate those types of zoos.
But I have also been to really good zoos like the San Diego Zoo where they are always updating trying to provide better compounds for their animals and they work in conjunction with the San Diego Wild Animal Park to do amazing things in conservation and breeding. They have one of the biggest plant collections there and actually grow a lot of their own food for their herbivores, they are also non-profit and everything they make goes back to caring for the animals. They also have the only herd of some nearly extinct animals. So they are doing good things.
I also like zoos for their teaching ability, there is no better way for me to show my students animal diversity then taking them to the zoo which I do every semester.
As a biologist I mourn for the animals freedom, but I also know that some zoos are doing good things in conservation and diversity recovery. As I teacher I like the teaching tool they provide. So I am always conflicted about zoos, they are some good some bad and a necessary evil I think.
As for the poor Tiger in question, if she was taunted then they deserved to be eaten in my opinion, but the down side to that is once an animal in a zoo kills a person then they are always put down since they are deemed to dangerous to keep in the zoo. If the tiger had been tranked by the police it would have just been destroyed later anyways, they never keep man eating animals.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Yes, I've heard a lot about how great the San Diego Zoo is, and it's as close to a natural environment for the animals as possible. You mention Little Rock? Well, I don't know how it is now, as they refurbished it years ago and I haven't been there ...but years and years ago, the Central Park Zoo must have been the worst in the world..they had a lioness in a cage so small she could barely walk around in it.
Yes, I guess I can see your point though...the idea that once an animal tastes human blood it will always want it???
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I'm on the fence when it comes to Zoos...yes I love the fact that since I CAN'T afford to go on an African Safari (though I'd love to) I can go to the Zoo and see the animals and take my kids etc...HOWEVER like you said, they arent free..they are in fact caged, confined and denied the freedom to live as they are meant to...out in the wild....Unfortunately poaching will always exist..hell we have deer poachers here in my neck of the woods which seriously angers the hell out of me...so in the wild the animals are at risk BUT in the wild they are free to be as they should so I'd have to say that the risk is worth it really...As much as I love being able to see these beautiful creatures up close..they really should be free or at least at a safari type place like African Lion Safari rather than stuck in cages and having their food "spoonfed" to them..Its the same with places like Marineland...I CAN'T go there and havent been since I was 11 yrs old..to see these massive gorgeous whales and the beautiful dolphins etc trapped in a fishbowl upsets the hell out of me....Its cruel IMO...
I would really like to see more natural reserves established over zoos and aquariums...unfortunately chances of that happening in todays greedy world are slim..Ppl want the land to clear it for more offices, homes, shopping malls and so on...Sick really considering this land really ISNT ours ya know...
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Gee, like we need more land cleared for offices or shopping malls..oh, and hey, don't forget about golf courses! I don't know why the heck I'm thinking about this...but..maybe cause I'm part Native American?? I guess years, and years ago, when Teddy Roosevelt came up with the idea of setting aside prime land areas as the National Parks systems was an okie dokie idea at the time, but like why couldn't they given that land back to the Native Americans instead of shoving them in hellhole, desolate reservations on land no normal "white" man would want anyway, either that or that prime land would be the ideal spot for reserves just for animals? But nooooo...they have the parks systems were yahoos go and screw up the place and pollute the land while they occupy it on their vacations...don't mind me...rambling I guess..LOL
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Oh--just as a mentioning...I went to SeaWorld years ago in Florida. When you think of it that whole concept sucks to "show" off the killer whales and dolphins for "entertainment" for the humans--have to admit though..I, uh, did get some great photos..LOL--of course I long for the day to do the "whale" watch thing in the whales' natural habitat--that is if the whales and dolphins aren't all killed off in the drives they have in Japan and Norway
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
3 Jan 08
It is very unfortunate that the tiger got loose but sounds like the men got what they asked for.
and I love Zoos been going to them since I was real small seems to me like we went to the Salt Lake City Utah zoo from the time I was about 5 adn I have took my kids when we got back there and they in turn took thier neices and nephews.
I also like the idea of natural reserves for them . BUt then again like ya said we would not get to see animals other than in the zoo. every one cant afford to go on a safari.
which I would love to do.
and also ya cant enter them in to the wildlife secene for they wouldnt know how to get along. So I say keep the Zoos but arrest the stupid people that make the animals mad.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I just think what is needed are more open air reserves for animals...the San Diego Zoo is supposed to be one of the best in this country...with a lot of free space and land for the animals
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I was sad when I heard the news about the tiger as well.
Zoos on a principle aren't bad things, I know many zoos where th animals live happy lives. However, not all zoos are good, well-kept, or even treat the animals well.
The police as a rule are not as good as they were, 20 years ago say either.
I don't think we should get rid of all zoos, but I think we should do more natural reserves, AND animal sanctuaries..whcih are kinda like zoos only people would only come in to learn about the animals or volenteer to help out.
The ideal sanctuary in my mind, would be a large building attached to a fence which runs around a large reserve-like area. And the animals would be allowed to be animals, and people would only step in if they were hurt or else needed some other sort of assistance.
This way endangered species could be built back up, many animals could be returned to the wild, et cetera.
You see?
Kinda like...wildlife rehabilitations, I guess.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
A lot of people have been expressing the very same idea that the better route to go would be to have natural type habitats like reserves for the animals. And naturally, perhaps more reserves should be set up in the land of origin where the animals come from themselves instead on foreign soil?? There would have to be some kind of human intervention of course to patrol the areas to ward off potential poachers--I don't think the whole poaching trade will die off so easily, do you?
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I have been to a few zoo's in my life and while I love seeing the animals I always feel bad at them being locked up. I also understand what your saying though about them being hunted and killed and becoming extinct.
Most ppl go to the zoo to enjoy the animals and common sense tells them to respect the animals b/c they are in fact wild animals. These yahoo's that taunted the tiger should be fined for the price of that extinct tiger...maybe that would be a lesson about doing that sort of thing. For future safety, I'd say animals like tigers and such that can get out of their enclosures they should have tops put on their enclosures to ensure they can't get out like this one did.
It's terrible the tiger had to be destroyed when knocking it out would have worked just as well. All it was doing was defending itself.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
The real irony..instead of the families being fined they are suing the zoo...like duh? That gets me no end. A teenager would not have been killed in the first place if they, the boys hadn't been teasing and taunting it
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
3 Jan 08
I don't have anything against most zoos. I look at the one closest to me as an example. It's the Toronto zoo, and there are no cages, the animals are in their natural habitats, or as close as they can get. In a lot of cases the animals are endangered in the wild, and the species couldn't survive without the protection the zoo provides. In a perfect world, I would love to see the animals roaming free, but in our world with the greed of people wanting ivory, gallbladders, furs, etc, they won't survive.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
The Toronto Zoo sounds like a real ideal place, sure wish there were more like that. Grrrr....don't get me going about poachers who kill animals just for certain body parts of animals...there was a good movie some years ago, depressing as all get out, but good, called Wounded. It was all about the poaching of bears just to get their gallbladders as they were considered medicinal in the oriental market. That was the first time I became aware of such a disgusting practice
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I think it is a cross between good and bad. The good is that the animals in zoos won't have to worry about hunters killing them because of there furs, or anything else for that matter. Plus with global warming, and so many animals in danger because of this. It's good to know that zoos will have these animals in a safe place to live. My daughter is a penguin freak, I have learned so much just from her. Sad to know that certain species of penguins are slowing down in numbers. Along with polar bears. At least I know that my grandkids in the very far off future will be able to see them even if it's behind glass.
The bad part of zoo's is like what you mentioned. The animals are so mild mannered eventhough it doesn't seem that way with what happened in California. That tiger wouldn't been able to survive in it's natural habitat. It wouldn't know how to hunt for it self. Close to where I live, there is a elephant santuary, I think they have 5 so far. They are doing much better there than they would ever do in a zoo. They have huge areas of land to move around and explore.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Yes the polar bears are especially suffering since the land masses that they are used to, that is the glaciers are melting away, so there's no place for them to go--I've heard many are drowning as they are swimming and trying to search for places to go to
Yes, large animal sanctuaries would be so much better than zoos
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Jan 08
Yes, believe me I know something really needs to be done, and yes, that's the worse part of it..that we humans who are supposed to be so intelligent had a hand in destroying so much of our earth and the species of animals on it
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I'm also an animal lover and I'm not overly fond of the idea of a zoo. Even as a small child, I used to feel sorry for the creatures in the cages. I don't know what the solution is but I always preferred reading about wild animals in books where they could roam free through my imagination. The animals I see that way thrill me but the ones I've seen in zoo cages just break my heart. I haven't been to a zoo in years and I doubt I'll ever go to one agian.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
The worse zoo in the world is the famous Central Park zoo here in NYC--now years ago, they did redesign it so I don't know what it's like now, but years and years ago, when I had gone there, they had a lioness in a cage so small it barely had room to walk around...spent most of her time just lying down sleeping..what a miserable life for that creature..no?
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I have mixed views about zoos also. The idea of creating natural reserves has some merit. With sprawling populations, many animals are being pushed into smaller regions. Creating natural habitats would also help preserve valuable land. I am not so much in favor of hunting, other than for population control in that there might not be enough resources for all to survive on. You raise many questions. Sometimes I think it is the "humans" who are the real animals.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Bravo! My sentiments exactly. For a species that is supposed to be so intelligent, we're (in general) the stupidest and most dangerous of all species on this planet
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
5 Jan 08
I like zoos coz it could be a place for us to see those cute animals and its also a place where these animals are taken cared for and pampered where they are dangerous in the wild coz there will be hunters who will hunt them for their own.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Unfortunately not all zoos are ideal conditions for the animals, and are all too often caged up in cramp quarters where they don't even have enough room to walk
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
3 Jan 08
This subject is one that I have agonized over for a long time, pyewacket. I did a similar one last year(I believe on a similar incident that had occurred at a zoo. My feelings are that zoos are unnecessary if you are going to be realistic. They are a product of man's desire to dominate the wild animal population and were a bad concept from the very start. I know that man originally was supposed to have dominion over the animals(according to the Bible), but nowhere is it stated that said animals were to be hunted down, encaged, and placed on public display for the pleasure of mankind. This situation has created the need for zoos-which, in turn has created animals who are incapable of surviving in their own natural habitats. We also cannot leave out man's greed for more and more land which encroaches on the territory that was once the animal's natural habitat. They just don't get it-it is natural for wild animals to want to be free to roam and hunt. That is why I detest the idea of hunting for sport. It serves no purpose since the need for most of the world's population to feed their families by hunting was eliminated long ago. And, lastly, I did not know that fact about Nescafe(which I occasionally buy), but I will forego buying that product any longer.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I think probably worse than zoos are the concept of the "circuses" where animals are kept in even more horrendous conditions...these poor animals are really kept in small, confined cages--smaller many times than the cages in zoos. One endearing story,,...and I'm trying to remember this from memory, but Joy Adamson of the Born Free fame. I think the lions cubs that she was taking care of including Elsa (the most famous of them) were going to be taken away from her and set in zoos, but she fought back and kept them until they were able to "teach" them how to survive wild and free...yeesh, talk about a tearjerker movie for me to watch--don't know why I brought that up, but maybe just the whole concept of having the animals wild and free. In fact I think it was due to her efforts that the whole concept of training wild animals that had been captive and releasing them again in the wild was due to her.
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I feel there was a lot done wrong in San Francisco and the tigar paid the ultimate price.
The zoo staff did not do enough to protect the tigar and they did not repond properly. I also feel those boys where in the wrong and desevered what they got. It is not funny in any way to tease, taunt, or throw things at any animal.
I know that those boys and their families will be getting a lot of money from the zoo's insurance when they where in the fault which sinckens me to no end.
Now taking about zoos in general. I feel they are good in one sense because I feel some animals would be extinct without them. I feel their breeding programs are great and they also teach the public a lot of great stuff about the animals. I feel zoos are good also to keep animals safe.
I feel zoos are bad because they usually do not give the animals enough space to roam or be a natural animal that they are. They do not let them hunt like they would in the wild. What are we teaching these animals when we give them there meals? nothing,
I feel we should not feed wild animals of anykind if it is even a ground squirl who we give peanut butter to or the raccoons that come and get bread we leave out for them. I feel it takes the hunters and gathers instints away from the animals. Now if the animal are starving then help the animal, rescue it by all means.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
What infuriates me is how the families of those boys are trying to make them out as wide-eyed innocents...baloney...those kids were taunting the lion. I think the cops were in the wrong to shoot the tiger too, couldn't hey have just tranquilized it?
I guess as far as space wise, it depends on the zoo system itself, some are so cramped that the animals don't have any room to move, while others like the San Diego, is pretty much a free roaming zoo for it's animals..if more zoos followed their example it would be so much better
@peanutjar (5198)
• Canada
3 Jan 08
Hi pyewacket:)
I hate seeing caged up animals at a zoo,but if some of them were not,they would be killed off in the wild because of poaching.I am scared lately of zoos because of the escapes they have and am even scared of going near a cage just to have a lookie with my daughter.@ years ago we went to a zoo 4 hours from here,my daughter was 3 almost.There was a big tiger with the master feeding it raw meat,as it was eating it was looking at all the small children that were with their parents and even following one childs movements as he walked around his parents and in front of the cage,like stalking.The tiger even set its eyes on my daughter who was sitting in the stroller,staring with big eyes.If it had the chance,im sure it would grab a small child for sure if let loose and eat,sorry for saying it:(I am soo paranoid of going to zoos now,you really never know when one will escape and attack.Its just their normal/natural instincts,which never leave them no matter how long they are in captivity eating well and such.I watched a show on t.v about pet animals gone wild,even our pets can become crazy and ferocious,broken down elephants who have had enough of being chained up at circuses,etc.Yes,special land for bred animals to be "free" would be an excellent idea.
Peanutjar:)
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I guess a lot depends on the type of zoo system in general. I think the more confined and caged up an animal is, the more restless nature it will have. Now I haven't been there in ages, not since they "redesigned" it, for the better I don't know, but one of the worse zoo systems of all time just has to be the zoo in NYC's famous Central Park--I remember the one cage, with the female lioness must have been only something like four feet by five feet..kind of claustrophobic for such a large animal, no? And if I remember years ago, a polar bear from that zoo attacked some jerk that was taunting it. Yes, there was only a small iron, but low guardrail to separate the space between the cage and the people, but lets face it a bear or lion could reach out from the cage and hook it's paws into a person if they got too close
@Stiletto (4579)
•
4 Jan 08
You know when I was younger I used to love going to the zoo but even back then I used to feel a little sad for the animals. As I've got older going to the zoo just makes me uncomfortable so it's something I haven't done for some time now. It's not just the size of the enclosures, I think it's the spectator part of it that bothers me too. The last time I was standing in the primate house at Edinburgh Zoo watching a group of chimpanzees playing with their babies. The mother chimp kept looking across at me and at one point we looked directly into each others eyes and, bizarre as this sounds, I suddenly felt embarassed - as if I was intruding on their privacy, which I suppose I was. I guess I feel that standing around gawping at these animals, even if it is in admiration, is stripping them of their dignity. I think they have the right to privacy and to not be put on display for our entertainment. When the idea of zoos was conceived it was the only chance most people would ever have to see an elephant or a giraffe, apart from in books of course. Nowadays people just need to turn on their TV to see these animals.
Of course I wouldn't for a second advocate turning them all loose. These animals are mainly bred in captivity and couldn't survive in their natural habitat. In fact for many their natural habitat has been virtually destroyed anyway. I also don't want to diminish the contribution that zoos have made towards preserving endangered species, but on the whole I prefer the concept of Safari Parks where the animals can be kept in a less "captive" environment or ideally your suggestion of designated areas of broadland with no visitors allowed.
I think our focus should be on ensuring that the natural habitat of these animals is preserved and the animals themselves protected in such a way that zoos and safari parks become a thing of the past.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Wow great answer Stiletto. You brought a point that I think many of us fail to think about...the lack of privacy these animals have in zoos...with us dumb humans always gawking at them..It'd be like how would we like that? Stuck in a small cramped cage with someone staring at our every move? Yes, I do think if more reserves or Safari type parks were formed to have wild animals in as close to their natural environments would be the better solution. As you say, such animals in zoos could never be turned lose, they just wouldn't know how to survive
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Yes, it was the zoo's fault that the enclosure for the tiger wasn't better
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I love animals. Animals are the most amazing things to me, and that is why I have to say, ulitimatly, Zoos are bad. I admit, I go to the zoo, and usually enjoy myself. I love being able to see all those beautiful animals.
But I know that isn't where they belong. I wish we could have more things like safari's, where the animals can be totally wild and in their natural habitats. That is where they belong.
Although I do support zoos that breed endangered species. I think all the future children should be able to see all the beautiful creatures we have today! So zoos that save endangered species are fine by me! But other than that, animals should be kept where they belong, in the wild.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I wish there were more open reserves for animals...it would be a protected environment for the animals, but at the same time they could roam free, like they could in the wild
@liztr3s410 (16)
• Mexico
4 Jan 08
I think zoos are a good opportunity to learn about animals and wild life, but its a chance to remember animals are wilds and nobody can stop them.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Yes, we can learn about animals in a zoo, I just wish that more animal reserves were established that are more natural to the original habitat the animals came from rather than being kept in cages.
@milondali07 (334)
• United States
3 Jan 08
The whole idea of taking wild animals out of their environment and putting them in a cage for people's amusement is wrong. The only good you're getting out of it, is education. Education that is live and came jump right out at you. Seeing the creatures up close is very beautiful. One thing that I find very nice, is zoos that give their animals open space, like natural reserves. Animals need to be in their usual setting. It gives them the freedom that they deserve.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Yes, I wish there were more reserve type areas for animals rather than cramped zoos, though not all zoos are this way...even worse than zoos are how animals are kept though for circuses.
@remorseless (6)
• Singapore
4 Jan 08
i am against these all zoos.U sure do get a chance to see the animals but that cage is torture for them.Imagine if u were locked i some cage and some other people would come and visit you would u feel good in that cage??
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Nope I wouldn't feel good about being in a cage and gawked at...
