LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS, OH WHY?
“A wolf will growl to warn you that it’s angry and a bull will paw the ground before charging. Rattlesnakes rattle, cats moan and hiss, and hyenas grunt and cackle. But a man will smile right in your face as he drives a knife into your heart.”
Zoos: Q & A With The Founder
IT'S TIME TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
Why is there a need for ( public ) zoos? Would you enjoy working for someone else for free? Animals are on duty full time, they have four masters: Zookeepers ( who are not always {formally} educated, professionally trained nor compassionate ). The Paying Public, Research Wings of Pharma and Medical Institutes and Austerity ( the notion that animals are ours to keep, force to reproduce, experiment on, slaughter and eat - at will ). Consider a life forever, behind bars.
"But If there weren't zoo's kids would not learn and be introduced the animal world."
We'd have to come up with another way to educate. Private zoos, "The Menagerie" have proliferated around the globe in every culture. Public zoos, too have evolved some for better or worst and people are no more compassionate towards non human beings because they visited a zoo.
"My kids love the zoo, heck I went to the zoo when I was little".
Most children who visit the zoo do not come away with any more knowledge or compassion than when they came for most it is just a "field trip".
"Climate Change ( man made and natural ) has claimed and is eradicating many species if not zoos how would you suggest we preserve species?"
When human beings agree we are not the rulers of the universe but a small piece in the puzzle of life - and when we can all agree the world is a finite, living, gift we are the stewards of - then we will gather our collective intelligence and creativity to ensure in the most natural un-intrusive way to protect the environment and the non human beings we share our home with will endure.
"Come on, you have to admit most people who work at the zoo and invest in their future are well intended and genuinely care about animals. Okay road side zoo's are bad for the animals and yes some public zoos are not that great but most of them are swell family fun".
Agreed -the majority of the people who work at, make a career of and volunteer with zoo's are solidly invested in what they are doing. HOWEVER please keep in mind "zoos" are a business and some animals are "star attractions". Even the do gooders and well wishers need to earn a living. Most zoos would be unmanned and unkempt if there was a: "you can stay, but we can't pay" announcement over the loud speakers on payday:).
"I hear private menageries are mostly owned by rich folks the same people who collect art the world will never see. What is so bad about being owned by someone with deep pockets?"
The Menagerie was the spark for public zoos. Additionally a well intended effort by a few to preserve endangered species. Conservation efforts were next (mostly in Africa where land was inexpensive or gratis and the animals natural environment ). Even if animals are collected by a wealthy individual or conglomerate and fed the "best" food and housed in the conditions "fitted for a King" the plight of the wild animal - the animal which has not been domesticated ( dogs, cats, for example ) is the longing to live naturally free without fear of human mood swings, economic ups and downs and without man made boundaries.
Yes, if a zoo's sole purpose is to house animals which would have other wise perished because of a man made disaster or other man made circumstance and to educate visitors, then yes zoos could [further evolve} into places which go beyond tools for university and pharmaceutical study, commercial endeavor and Nanny hangouts - to destinations where humans and their non human brothers and sisters learn to live as nature intended - as one. Wishful thinking I know but dreams do come true....The next time you visit a zoo really look at the animals, check out their "keepers" and ask questions of the management. Look at the children to see how they interact with the residents, I guarantee this simple exercise will be an education.
Creature Comforts by Nick Park ( 1989)
A NATURAL INTERVIEW
If animals could express how they feel about living at the zoo what would they say? Some residents at the London Zoo share their thoughts:).
Exercise for students K-12
1. What do you know about the zoo we are going to?
2. How many times have you been to a zoo?
3. What do you expect to see when we get there?
4. How would you like to live at the zoo?
5. What do you suppose the animals see when they look at you?
