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Zoos: Animal Abuse ?
Posted by lotusb • 8/31/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: zoo animals
I am literally ambiguous on this topic and wonder what my fellow BC'ers think.
Over the weekend, D and I went to the Houston Aquarium. A lovely exhibit of exotic fish, eels, sharks, octopus, reptile...etc. For the most part I felt a little bad for the larger fish, although I'm told they have a very small memory..I couldn't help but think they would rather be in their natural habitat. Then came the tigers. These two beautiful white tigers, regal and proud, stood behind a glass wall and lounged around in a beautiful white brick throne-like room. At first I was distracted by the beauty of this fabulous room they lived in...
...Then I remembered...IT'S A ROOM! Their tigers, for god's sake. As I watched the male tiger pace around before us, waiting for his food... I felt sad. He belongs in some glorious jungle somewhere, where he can roam free, not caged in a room the size of a college dorm for the rest of his life.
But my knowledge of animal captivity is small...so maybe someone can educate me... Do you agree with the format of zoos? Do you think they should be banned? Are they helpful? Harmful?
User Comments
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omg just last week, i was thinking about this. on one hand, i feel like wild animals should be left where they belong: the wild. but then again, i am glad my kids don't have to go to Africa to see lions or the artic to see penguins. so yes it is abuse but... -
They are not free to roam wherever they want, but they don't have to worry about poachers either.
This discussion also got me wondering; are jobs people abuse?-
we get paid and are willing to work. but these animals for the most part are not willing why is a zoo different from the circus?
would you take a job that would require you to be a zoo atteaction?
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back to your cubicle, gnome! -
Thanks MM, i forgot that i was talking to a gnome. It's sad this one doesn't realize that he's been enslaved by the human race along with "his people"
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When I worked in a call center, work really did feel like abuse. Tied to your phone by a headset. -
I was a member of the Cubetariat once myself... make a person feel like a veil-calf
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I know what you mean. When we visit a zoo, I'm always saddened by the fact that the animals don't have the run of a large natural habitat. One thing it's important to remember, though, is that zoos have played a role in bringing back several species of animal from the brink of extinction. Most reputable zoos have breeding programs in place, and several rotate their animals in and out of exhibits so they're not spending their entire time in the enclosure. This summer, we went to the philadelphia zoo and were told that they were closing their elephant exhibit so they could move the elephants to a 5000 acre elephant sanctuary instead of keeping them cooped up in an urban zoo enclosure. To me, that's progress.
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i went to a zoo in NC with my SIL who lives there and the animals were kept in WIDE, open spaces that ressembles their habitats. but this big gorilla just sat there. i swear he looked so sad, angry and indifferent. i did feel guilty.
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I guess what bothered me the most about the tiger exhibit was that it was so "exhibit-ey". Tigers are probably used to trees and running the terrain and cathing prey. I like wildlife reserve parks, where the animals run around free or free-er and are actually surrounded by some of their natural vegetation. But when I see two tigers living inside of a diorama, with nothing around them that is like their natural habitat, and ALL they have to do all day is pace around and wait for food to be thrown at them...I think it's kind of a shame.
I do get what you mean about the extintion rates, I know that zoos have helped a great deal in that area. -
@lolitav
As you can see by my avatar, I sympathize with primates, too. -
huho MM, sorry I didn't realize you were in captivity too. but then again the fact that you are a mom should have given me a hint, all moms (including myself) are in captivity, lol!
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Oh, to be FREE!! (pass me a banana)
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my oldest is about to start school and I am so happy. I cannot wait for the day it happens. I know i'll be sad, but the freedom, oh sweet freedom of a few hours without one of them will make up for it
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I hated zoos ever since I was old enough to think for myself. I don't know why they're still legal. Even though the animal might live longer, whats the use if their not happy? -
no creature should be penned or taken from their home land, however, because a good lot of people are dim and cruel, they like to kill anything and everything that breathes, so in one sense, zoos are better than the wild for certain species. someday, when all humans have finally figured out it's not right to kill everything, the animals will be safe again in their natural habitat, until then, zoos are a bit necessary to keep some animals from going completely extinct. -
When I see magestic animals living out their existence in cages, i cant help but think...somethings wrong here
but at the same time it saddens me when I hear animals natural habitats are being destroyed and hunters are pratically exterminating them..so at least in a zoo they are safe and have food.. -
We have an elephant here named Lucy. Currently, the city is in an uproar as Lucy is sick and the owners of the zoo have refused to let any "outside" vets come and check on her.
The formost expert on Elephants (in the world) who is also a vet has offered to come and see Lucy, completely free of charge to make sure she is ok in her environment and they have turned her down flat. There have also been offers to send her to a Wildlife Sanctuary to live out the rest of her days with her own kind, she is an Asian Elephant.
Now here is the kicker .. An Elephant MUST have earth under thier feel or they will get a terrible infection that will kill them. Lucy lives in a concrete compound most of the year as it gets too cold here for her to be outside .. So, this zoo will not have her checked out, they will not let her move and they are not treating her for the issues with her feet.
That tells me one thing, that money is the only objective here, not her health. Female elephants are extremely herd orientated and will not live a long, healthy & happy life if they do not have companions. Another thing that bothers me is the housing she is in .. I mean really, if you weighed 6000 pounds, would you want to stand on a concrete floor all day long??
The zoo says the only solution they are willing to offer is to bring in another elephant to keep Lucy company, so now, if that happens. We end up with two dying elephants living in horrible conditions ..
Is it just me or does this particular story seem all about the almighty dollar? hmmm ... -
I was at the Houston Aquarium last month and felt very bad for the tiger (there was only one in the room when we were there). He played in the pool for a few minutes, but then just paced and seemed very aggravated by the onlookers.-
Yea. There are two there now...pacing back and forth. Sad...but beautiful...but Sad.
You live in Houston? -
felines and aquariums don't seem like a good fit...
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No, in San Antonio. We were there on a day trip.
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the local zoo just recently got like 8 tigers, there's 3 or 4 different 'exhibits'. They aren't in cage per se, they have a lot of room to move around.
I don't think it's abuse. They have a better chance of surviving and breeding in captivity than they do in nature -
It depends on the zoo. Some zoos have lot of room for the animals and put a lot of thought into their comfort and wellbeing. But some zoos are horrible. The San Francisco zoo used to be so horrible that I only went there once. Especially the cages the monkey were in--they were so tiny I just couldn't see how they could be comfortable for the animals.
I have heard they've made some big improvements--but I haven't been back. To be perfectly honest, I don't like seeing animals locked up at zoos. I would prefer to go on a safari in Africa and see them in the wild. -
I think of keeping animals in a zoo as cruelty. Animals should be in their natural habitat free and "at home". Zoos and aquariums is not home for a tiger or a blue whale.
Zoo should be a place where animals are temporarily kept may be because they got injured and are being treated or for a temp. stop on their way home.-
a lot of animals do get released back into the wild or a sanctuary
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I agree. That would be something of a refuge--rather than a permanent home--but I do think that's a great idea to have zoos be temporary landing places rather than permanent homes.
The animals just don't look that happy to me in the zoo! -
@ dbowles1017 I am not sure if ALL are released. They stay in the zoo or amusement parks as long as they are fetching money. Example: Shamu whale at San Diego SeaWorld. The huge Shamu is been taken care of and fed but I sure that whale is not be happy in that 'pond'.
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"Shamu" is the show name. They cycle the whales out, although I don't know the frequency. The original shamu is long gone. I never said ALL get released.
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Gotcha But it's still sad for the blue whales. Right?
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I didn't even know blue whales were at zoo's ;p
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It's captivity for me if I am kept in a beautiful castle and have all the riches at my disposal. So is for these innocent animals who have ENOUGH room to move around.
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I agree with Melinda - to an extent. Some zoos are very bad, otehrs are excellent.
It's important to remember though, that many zoos also take on animals who can not survive in the wild for whatever reason, or are endangered from poaching and encroaching urban development.
To release many of the "wild animals" in a zoo who have actually always known a life of captivity would be signing their death warrant. -
I think there are ups & downs. For example, our local zoo is deeply involved in a program to breed, raise & release whooping cranes, which have been in danger of extinction for a while now.
Another, smaller, local zoo provides protection (& dozens of free-range, grazing acres,) for one of the very last herds of an extremely endangered type of African antelope (only 1400 left in the world.) Again, the facility is working to increase their numbers & return them to their native habitat.
Numerous zoos on the west coast are doing the same thing for the California condor.
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