How do you dooyoo a zoo? (Zoos)

Member Name: bettyboopy

Product:	Zoos
Date:	23/06/07 (1336 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great if moral, humane, and educated

Disadvantages: Too much cruelty in the world

~~What do zoos in the UK mean to us? ~~

In the UK the majority of us love a good day out at the zoo. I know I do, I have reviewed Chester Zoo already, which is one of my favourite places to visit. When I was a child I would get excited about a trip to the zoo and remember being so excited about going, that I could never sleep the night before. The reason I love zoos? It is a chance to see animals that I will probably never get to see in the wild, some animals that won't be in the wild in 15 years time due to extinction, and some animals that are extinct already. It isn't just seeing these animals that makes me enjoy visiting the zoo, it is seeing them in great, spacious enclosures, close to their natural habitat, and in which they seem to be very comfortable and happy.

It is great to learn about the animals on a zoo visit, and it is fantastic to see zoos doing something for environmental issues and conservation, protecting endangered species and setting up breeding programmes to keep these animals in life. A few people think zoos are cruel places and in the UK we are lucky enough to be a nation of animal lovers who only want the best for the species that are being kept in this country.

**Chester zoo - Chester zoo is my favourite place to visit for a day out, I won't go into huge detail about the zoo, as I have reviewed this already and will be going off topic a little but they have a whole range of campaigns to help with protecting endangered species, including supporting anti poaching of Rhinos in Africa to connservation in forest reserves in China. They really do have a huge input, and at the same time care for their animals in the best possible way they can. They are constantly striving to improve and constantly renovating, and building new enclosures for the existing animals in the zoo, as opposed to leaving them where they are and just making money. They have a new super-enclosure opening next month called Realm Of The Red Ape, which is an enclosure for orang-u-tans, and for those of you who don't know this, this species of ape is expected to be extinct in the wild in the next 20 years. The enclosure has cost £3.5 million to make and this is evidence enough to show that Chester Zoo care about the animals on our planet and in their zoo.

I can go into detail a little more about Chester Zoo, as I have further knowledge of this zoo that any others, and visit on a regular basis.

*Bristol Zoo - Supports Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund, the conservation of seabirds in South Africa, and they support the protection of Tamarins in Brazil, along with numerous other campaigns and funding that they all give to promote consevation and protection of animals.

*Blackpool Zoo - Supports Parrot welfare, and Mountain Gorilla's fight for survival, another animal in danger of becoming extinct. I have also reviewed this zoo and all the animals seemed so happy and had enclosures that were fantastic.

*Edinburgh Zoo - Are helping Save the Rhino, stopping the bushmeat trade in which primates are killed often leaving stranded orphans behind to starve to death, and this zoo has numerous animals entered in breeding programmes to prevent their species from becoming extinct. They are actively involved in conservation in Scotland, as well as other parts of the world.

*London Zoo/whipsnade zoo - Both of these places are ran by the Zoological Society Of London (ZSL). The ZSL run over 30 conservation programmes worldside and run many different campaigns and breeding programmes to protect the planet, fight extinction, prevent global warming, preserving rainforests, water supplies and so much more. This zoo really leads the way as one of the top activists.

All 5 zoos I have mentioned so far, and only 5 out of many zoos and safari parks in the UK, are doing fantastic work for animal welfare across the globe, but at the same time, realise their number one priority are the animals within their care. Chester Zoo is a clear example of this by constantly aiming to improve standards within their zoo, as their moto seems to be "nothing is ever good enough", which is a fantastic attitude to have where animal welfare is concerned. In the UK we have some of the world's leading experts in wild animal care and zoology working within our zoos.

To sum up the first part of the review - we can see that as a whole, the UK seems to strive to be the best at keeping the animals in great conditions, the animals seem happy, and always strive to do better and improve themselves. Zoos in the UK are a "happy place" for us to visit, when we think of a zoo, the majority of us will think of animals being kept to a high standard, an educational, yet fun day out. I find it quite sad that I have to move on to the second part of the review.

<<In the UK - definition of the word ZOO>>
- A place to care for, protect, preserve and nuture many species of animals allowing the public to view them, educating the public at the same time, raising awareness of extinction, conservation issues and campaigns, striving to fight anything terrible happening to the millions of wild animals across our planet.

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~What does the word "Zoo" mean abroad?~

Moving on to the second part of the review... sadly it is not the same as the UK where the rest of the world is concerned. Countries such as America, Canada and Austrailia, and certain European countries seem to have got it pretty much right, with a few exceptions.

Not a great deal can be said for the rest of the world, I'm afraid.

*City Zoo, Warsaw, Poland. - This zoo is over 70 years old and alot of it is rotting away. Used as a money maker, this zoo doesn't seem to give a hoot about it's inhabitants. I have never visited this zoo, but have read that there have been a few improvements over the last few years, but they are no where near up to any means of what I would call a humane standard.
Here is a video of a polar bear being kept at Warsaw Zoo. It is pacing up and down, rocking through boredem, no food or water is visible, the swimming pool is green, and no toys, no company.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxAlZQ12ebw&mo de=related&search=

*Changchung Wildlife Park, China. - This place has to be one of the most barbaric and cruel places ever. For a charge, visitors can "purchase" a live chicken, lamb or cow, and have them fed live to animals within the zoo. I find this unnecessary and cruel. In this country it is illegal to feed live animals to a captive mammal, it is a huge shame that the Chinese cannot realise that it is cruel to do what they are doing.
Here is a video of the whole procedure from this zoo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-kGq5LgKxg

*Various animals from various Chinese Zoos are being forced to take part in the annual "Animal Olympics", a cruel and barbaric way,of yet again, making money. It involves wild animals doing all kinds of tricks, involving bears, primates, reptiles. A truly sick sport, and money maker. An example, bears are gagged, muzzled, and chained together so they "wrestle"... this is "bear fighting". They are screamed at by crowds of people cheering them on who have paid to watch this sick event.
China, as a country is a very wealthy and very educated country. How on earth can they not realise that what they are doing is unneccessary, sick and cruel?

*Unknown zoo, Thailand - This zoo uses animals to perform tricks, of course always at a charge to make money money money. Elephants riding bikes, which they are clearly "stuck to" to perform. This is not keeping animals in their natural habitat, this is not preserving wildlife, this is not keeping them in great conditions, and this is not humane.
Here is another video, this one of the elephant riding a bike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2QzbPG3Z78

The above zoos are only 5 out of the thousands of zoos worldwide. My advice is, if you are travelling abroad, do not visit a zoo. 1. You are only encouraging them by handing over your money. 2. It will be extremely upsetting, after visiting a zoo in the UK to be faced with derelict conditions, poor treatment of animals, and what would be classed as a serious cruelty charge here in the UK.
Of course, not all zoos abroad are like this, but it is a sad fact that the majority are. The majority of zoos abroad do not do anything for animal welfare, no campaigns and no charites. They are all out to make money for themselves and to hell with the animals. It seems the attitude here is "If the animals are alive, then we make the cash".

To sum up the second part of the review - I cannot understand why on earth, the UK, a teeny tiny little area of the globe can be so advanced with animal welfare, care and protection when major, established countries like China, haven't got a clue. They are lucky enough to have some of these animals living wild in their country, and take them for granted, maybe that is the reason, who knows? I certainly cannot get my head around the fact that we, a tiny nation are so far advanced with our animal protection laws, than further established countries in every way possible. The UK seems to be a place that has its priorities right where it comes to animal welfare, and we should be proud of setting a fantastic example to the rest of the world - its just a pity they don't seem to be following.

<<Abroad - Definition of the word ZOO>>
- A place to keep animals, perform animal shows and make money.

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So to sum up the whole review:

Zoos have a place in today's society. They have a fantastic place in society within the UK, and not the case abroad. The problem is, I don't think this will ever change, untill other countries start to change their laws on animal cruelty as their standards of animal husbandry are terrible. Not all zoos abroad are like this, but alot sadly are, with China and Eastern Europe being amongst the worst.

The answer to the orginal question depends on what society you live in, if you live in a society where animals are looked after, they seem happy, they are not forced to perform, they have habitats as close to their natural wild habitats as possible, they are fed the correct foods, have plenty of things to do, not overcrowded by guests, and are seriously treasured, then yes, Zoos have a fantastic place in society. If not, then zoos should be forced to close and the animals moved to a safer place, i.e. a REAL zoo. Many of the zoos in Eastern Europe only house around 50 animals, kept in dire conditions. On the other hand, you have Chester Zoo, with over 7000 animals kept in fantastic conditions.

I will never ever visit a foreign zoo untill conditions are improved and they get off their backsides, stop wanting to just make money and actually give a damn about the animals on this planet.

Summary: Be careful what attractions you visit on holiday. The society we are used to is so different!