In your opinion, do you think zoos are causing more harm than good? Some people think zoos take animals away from enjoying their natural habitats and others think zoos are great for conservation of animal species. What are your thoughts?

There are a lot of variables to consider:

 

The intelligence of the animal in question, are they self aware?

 

How close does their environment mimic their natural one?

 

How much space do they have?

 

Are they adequately stimulated?

 

How close to extinction is the species?

 

Etc...

Breeding programs have had some success. Zoos for entertainments sake I'm not a big fan of.

My distaste of the "cage" is offset by my appreciation of heightened awareness. I'm convinced more support goes to endangered animals people can see in real life rather than in pictures. Instilling a love of wildlife and varied environments in children is a valuable investment.

 

Abnormal captivity vs dangers of the wild seems fairly evenly offset as well. I use the term abnormal because nothing we do is really unnatural, since we're part of nature too. We know the benefits of domestication. How we deal with wild animals is an ongoing problem for us though.

There are a lot of variables to consider:

 

The intelligence of the animal in question, are they self aware?

 

How close does their environment mimic their natural one?

 

How much space do they have?

 

Are they adequately stimulated?

 

How close to extinction is the species?

 

Etc...

 

So it depends on the zoo? If they are responsible enough to meet the animals' needs?

So it depends on the zoo? If they are responsible enough to meet the animals' needs?

 

No, it depends on the animal, for instance wolves can run up to 30 miles a day in search of food; is the food or the chase, more important to a wolf or a combination of both?

Edited January 7, 20179 yr by dimreepr

So it depends on the zoo? If they are responsible enough to meet the animals' needs?

 

How about this for a dilemma?

 

Our local zoo is Loro Park, Tenerife. Originally kept parrots (Loro in Spanish) and has hundreds of different species. Now has a brilliant penguin enclosure with artificial snow etc etc. They have dolphins, sea lions, but they also have orcas, and this is the problem. These creatures are kept in what must be aquatic cages - pretty big but woefully inadequate for these enormous animals.

 

I've seen their display several times, and it is spectacular. The crowd is enchanted every time. Wonderful PR for the species. And yet I feel immensely sad seeing them in conditions which are so different from their natural habitat. Despite the love and care provided by their devoted keepers, it probably amounts to cruelty keeping them like that. It is generally accepted that they would not survive in the wild - born in captivity and so on. What is to be done?

Zoos are good if they have environments and spaces almost like the creature's habitat.

Zoos are good if they have environments and spaces almost like the creature's habitat.

 

That narrow's it down to ants and a couple of other simple creatures.

How about this for a dilemma?

 

Our local zoo is Loro Park, Tenerife. Originally kept parrots (Loro in Spanish) and has hundreds of different species. Now has a brilliant penguin enclosure with artificial snow etc etc. They have dolphins, sea lions, but they also have orcas, and this is the problem. These creatures are kept in what must be aquatic cages - pretty big but woefully inadequate for these enormous animals.

 

I've seen their display several times, and it is spectacular. The crowd is enchanted every time. Wonderful PR for the species. And yet I feel immensely sad seeing them in conditions which are so different from their natural habitat. Despite the love and care provided by their devoted keepers, it probably amounts to cruelty keeping them like that. It is generally accepted that they would not survive in the wild - born in captivity and so on. What is to be done?

 

There is only so much space you can give aquatic animals, I understand why it can be pretty sad watching those animals that originally come from what makes up 71% of the Earth. You said you have seen their display several times, did the animals look at all happy?

There is only so much space you can give aquatic animals, I understand why it can be pretty sad watching those animals that originally come from what makes up 71% of the Earth. You said you have seen their display several times, did the animals look at all happy?

 

The performances involve spectacular leaps through hoops at great heights, drenching the crowd with tail swipes, being kissed by a young child in a boat etc. all of which is rewarded by copious supplies of fish at every move. Yes - they "looked" extremely happy - but how do you know what a happy orca looks like? If there is nothing else on offer, what would they not do for a mouthful of fish?

Not sure how a happy orca look like. But a big cat who is bored or depressed will probably pace back and forth or in circles, or grooms itself excessively until it loses some of its fur.