Moving away from cruelty (Zoos)

Member Name: Smessye

Product:	Zoos
Date:	27/12/05 (433 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Educational for visitors INCLUDING on Animal Cruelty

Disadvantages: some are still not keeping animals in a beneficial environment

I'm a University student, studying Education, and part of our course is to use a resource which will educate children on an area of science. I chose to use my local zoo as a resource. I must admit that there are still zoos which dont seem to have the right environments for the animals to thrive in and there is nothing worse than seeing animals caged up, pacing about uphappily. But in my experience, I haven't seen any zoos such as these.

The zoos I have been to, have had large areas with stimulae for the animals, such as large wooden climbing frames, rope swings and as close to natural habitats as possible.

The zoos have had information on the declining population of endangered species, and the zoos have sponsored and raised thousands towards the prevention of poaching, conserving the environment etc. They create an environment for the animals where visitors can get close but the animals are not in the faces of the visitors with nowhere to hide or feel comfortable.

I can't see these zoos being cruel at all as no animal is caged up and lonely. They animals are cared for and loved by all the staff.

From an educational point of view, they are full of uses by families and schools in educating children about animals, where they live, their natural environments and conservation. Zoos are definitely needed to create an awareness to the world about the planet they live in and see that the animals are here to share it with us.
They are fascinating places where you can get close to animals which you would never normally be able to get to, they enable us to appreciate the world and its diversity.

Hopefully all zoos will ba able to create a stimulating environment for animals as well as people in the future, thinking about the needs of the animals. It would be a shame and very much missed, if we didnt have such places. First hand experience is so special and important for children, as well as adults, to learn. Better than just sitting in front of a t.v. watching a program on animals, and not getting the full experience.

Summary: Zoos are too educational to be dismantled. The majority of zoos are not cruel.