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-=-Animals in Zoos-=-

Every animal has territorial instincts. They like being familar with their surroundings and are comfortable with daily routines. But have you ever thought about zoo animals? Have you ever wondered if they are happy with the only thing they know? Its very hard for me to decide if zoo life for wild animals is cruel or not. You can look at it both ways, positive and negative aspects of zoo life:

Its sad to think that living in the same small area your whole life is the outcome for most zoo animals. They will never be free, never get the chance to feel their natural habitat beneth their feet and probally wont get to embrace the true meaning of life. Nope, instead they do the same thing, day after day for the rest of their lives. Its depressing to think about. What right does man kind have to place another life-being in a cage to be on display?

On the other hand, Its puzzeling to think that captive born animals just dont have any recollection of what they are missing, and therefore dont have any longing for it. Maybe they like having a set feeding schedual, or maybe they like the fact that they never have to worry about becomming somethings lunch. Who really knows? I think that setting free an animal that knows what its like to be cared for, etc, is like taking your whole family, putting them out into the middle of the woods, and just saying "Alright, your FREE!" Honestly, wouldnt your family be like "Um, I think not- I want my warm place to sleep, my 3 meals a day, and everything else that comes with it." I guess thats just another aspect to look at and analize.

What do you guys think? Zoos- good or bad?

Sorry if this seems like random scattered thought, but they are.... Not to menchin its 3:22 am. Goodnight fellow Petfinders.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:34 am Post subject:

i guess those are some ways to look at it.

but there are also some animals that are put in the zoo for their own good.

like the ones that have been hurt in the wild and can't take care of themselves or if for instance its a bird that has lost a wing it can't get away from any preditors the only other solution would be to put them down and i think i would rather see it in a zoo or sactuary to keep it safe. the there the one's that as a baby lost thier mother they don't know how to survive in the wild.

but the ones that was caught healthy in the wild i can deffinatley see them missing it.

so i am undecided on this it depends on the circumstances i guess.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:36 am Post subject:

that one is hard considering how many wild animals die due to human overpopulation, habitats being destroyed, hunting, and natural diseases acting as population control even if the animal is endangered. people dont think about it but the planet creates population control of its own, if animals where not domesticated, spayed/nuetured, given shots to protect from disease, and fed routinely do you think we would have animal overpopulation? people also never consider how long have we spayed or nuetured our pets? how long has shots for diseases been around and vets? considering how long dogs have been domesticated these things are relativly new! all these problems spawned from people. dogs die from diseases like parvo, or other fatal things because NATURE made it happen. how long has premium dog food been around? dogs where raised as companions for hunting and guarding. fed table scraps yet now there are soooo many dieing unnaturally. dogs used to lived outdoors all their lives and people curse others unknowing of living conditions. they curse them for their dog living outdoors. people should deeply think about things before judging others....

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:38 am Post subject:

sorry i start going out on a limb and take it in all directions Embarassed

anyhoo breeding tigers is a good thing people hunt them they are extremely endangered as are wolves some people re-release bred animals ^_^ its pretty neat. saves the species Very Happy

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:56 am Post subject:

hey,
I used to do some exotic husbantry classes and was thinking about putting that as my major. That gave me the opertunity to get some good inside looks at zoos and other places so this is the info I'd like to share with y'all that you might not know.

A lot of my classes were taken at Brookfeild Zoo and as I was taking my classes I realized, there is alot of the zoo that is not open to the general public. One day I asked my teacher if there was a ratio of how much of the zoo facilities is behind the scenes, and after some research we found out that about 3/4 of the zoo the general public was not allowed to see. This included further habitat structure for the animals, a genetic engenering lab (one of only two in the united states, both which have proved to be vital in the task of providing stable gene pools for endanger species being breed in captivity to be reinterduced into the wild) an eco lab, and many many mnay other research facilities. In fact Brookfeild Zoo really is more research facility then it is zoo. We need to research these animals and see how we can best take care of the creatures that are left to us. With the major zoos the stuff you see is a nice front and a money maker to the massive research facilties you'll probably never get to see.

Extensive round the clock procedures are taken in the care of these animals. I'm willing to say that at no time a group of animals are left to themselves by their trainers. If they aren't being feed, they're being cleaned, if they aren't being cleaned, they're going through their husbandry lessons, if it's not that they're being checked by doctors for health, or they're playing in their habitat, and anytime they're not in direct contact with their trainers someone is busy surrying behind the scenes researching and gathering info on the well being of that animal and how we can make the life of that animal better, and there for make the life of it's wild cousins better and safter too. We often say that when you get a new pet, weather dog or cat, to be sure that you're familiar or experienced with the demands of the breed. These animals have dozens of people waiting on it that are extremely familiar with every aspect of the creature. They're very much living the cushy life and I dout would be able to make it in the wild (which is a major concern with more captivity breed and release projects, making the animals work as appose to living the high life like they're parents are used to).

Zoos are also necesarry in the education and rehabilitation process. It's rather late at night and I just got up for awhile but I could go on and on with the research miracles zoos have done that have greatly benifited the animals there as well as the wild animals too. The animals there are crutial to the education of the people researching them as well as the general public. I have no dout that with out them that many more speices would be in a threatend state and we'd still be very much in the dark about protecting them.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 8:08 am Post subject:

what concerns me is the location of the zoo and the animals that reside there. in baltimore we have very humid hot summers. the polar bears are always in the water and very sluggish. i can't imagine that they are very happy. there are sanctuaries, and there are zoos. i have not made up my mind yet on whether zoos are a good thing or not. i don't know that much about them. but from what i can see so far, the sactuaries seem to be more comfortable living conditions for the animals in thier care. they keep the species that are natural habitants of thier area. not to say that all zoos are good or bad. i guess it is like rescues and shelters for dogs and cats. some are good, and some are bad. it is up to you to research your local zoo, aquarium etc. to make up your mind on the type of facility it is.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:53 am Post subject:

It depends entirely upon the zoo. Most zoos now take a lot of care to provide a stimulating habitat that is appropriate for the animals. Things have come a long way since Ivan the Gorilla lived for over a decade in a cage at the Tacoma Mall.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:10 pm Post subject:

For the animals that are born in zoos, I suppose they don't know what they are missing, so they are used to their surroundings.

But, for example, the dolphins and whales caught in the wild that are then transported to zoos, they go from having the whole ocean to live and play in to only having a tiny tank. It's a pretty drastic life change that can be difficult for them.

Like some others on here, I still haven't decided whether zoos are "good" or not, but I do know that I don't approve of wild animals being brought out of their lives to live in cages.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 12:28 pm Post subject:

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:38 pm Post subject:

You didn't mention breeding programs. They are VERY important in keeping endangered species alive, and some have been successful in releasing animals back in the wild. I support zoos, because the vast majority provide excellent care to their animals and education for the community. There are of course, private zoos, but the majority of them also respect and properly care for their animals as well.

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:41 pm Post subject:

I think it entirely depends on the zoo. I've been in many zoos throughout the US. Some go to extreme lengths to try to ensure that the animals have a habit as close to their natural one as possible, while others I just was surprised at how bad the enclosures looked.

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