Should we Really be Supporting Zoos..
By Jshean20
@Jshean20 (14347)
Canada
August 14, 2012 10:39pm CST
I know that zoos tend to be a family favorite when it comes to day trips, seeing all the animals is cute and the atmosphere might seem nice. These are wild animals we are talking about here, I'm sure they are not happy to be there. I have also heard of cases of cruelty at zoos and I just don't think it's worth supporting to keep them in business. I know that these animals usually have lots of room to move and it might look nice, but it's not nearly the same as the wild. What is your view on this?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Aug 12
It would raise awareness though if you got your placards out, to to speak.
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
15 Aug 12
I'd have to agree because zoos are common everywhere. It isn't something that's new and so I doubt it would be heard now.
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
15 Aug 12
I kind of have mixed feelings. Zoos are great family attractions and it's cool to see a whole bunch of wild animals you wouldn't normally be able to see all at once like you do in a zoo. Most of the bigger zoos have great enclosures and top care for their animals and maybe the smaller, family-run zoos aren't as great. I know these animals should be in the wild but for animals in zoos captivity is all they've ever known and they wouldn't be able to survive in the wild. I also think zoos are a good way to keep endangered species alive and trying to repopulate.
A zoo may not be the best situation for a wild animal to be in, but at least they have constant human care and if they were to get sick or something, someone is always there to help whereas in the wild, they would just die off.
@Jshean20 (14347)
• Canada
15 Aug 12
That's true that there would be constant human care there to take care of them. However, think about humans who are really ill and in the hospital, a lot of them would rather just live their last day in their homes rather than hooked up to machines at the hospital.
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
15 Aug 12
That's true, but only if the illness is severe and life threatening. In the wild, an animal can have the simplest of problems and then die from it. At a zoo, there's someone who could take care of the little things like that without compromising the animal's life.
I think that for the most part, zoo animals don't really know anything different than a zoo. Usually, they're zoo bred for a few years and they don't know any other life than being in a zoo. All the zoos I've ever been to the animals seem content and some even like showing off for people lol.
I don't mind zoos, but circuses are a different story
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
16 Aug 12
Well put it this way, if we stop destroying their habitats so they had somewhere to live and hunting them to the brink of extinction there would be no need for zoos. Good zoos are there to breed and release animals and also educate people on the importance of conservation in the hopes that the kids that grow up will learn to respect them.
A lot of the animals these days are born in the zoo so they don't know any different and not that I know what they are feeling but they don't seem sad to me 
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
16 Aug 12
Aha as a child you say? Have you not been since? There are some pretty bad zoos out there but that shouldn't reflect to all of them. Where abouts in Canada are you? If you live in Toronto area there is a place called Jungle Cat World. It's quite small and privately owned but it's a great place and these animals are happy being there I'm sure of it. I stayed there for a for a few nights and loved it
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
15 Aug 12
I am not in agreement with zoos except that some of the animals will never be able to live in the wild. Other than that I would rather that the animals were left alone to live their lives in their natural habitats.
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
15 Aug 12
I don't think this is wrong. I have seen the same sometimes. It must feel like they're in jail but I don't know how they would know the difference except that it is in their instinct to be that way.
