We're all going to the zoo tomorrow... (Zoos)

Member Name: stanners

Product:	Zoos
Date:	14/12/01 (446 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Far more spacious than they used to be, Good educational facilities, Conservation

Disadvantages: If the world was a better place, they should still be in the wild.

Well my opinion on zoos has changed somewhat over the last 20 years.
Back then I remember going to a zoo, and seeing all the animals looking so sad. The cages were small and smelt appalling, and it was obvious that the condition were terrible. It didn't quite push me to become a member of the ALF, but it was years before I was to visit a zoo again.
Now that I am a father, my children have got to the age where they are interested in learning about animals. They are full of questions when any animal documentaries come on the telly (although we try to avoid answering them when the mating scenes come on...)
So we have started taking them to the zoo. We have a local one near us.. Marwell Zoo. I have to say it is excellent and has changed my opinion on zoos completely.
They have definitely moved on and have changed from being an "attraction" for the public into an educational place of conservation. It has to be said that with some of the endangered species, they are far safer in a zoo. They would more than likely be faced with extinction if they were to remain in their natural habitat. This is due to the appalling way they are hunted down in certain countries for their fur, ivory, whatever.. which obviously appalls me.
Most zoos have educational facilities, mainly for the children but for adults as well.
Many zoos also have rescued many of the animals from people who bought them as pets and mistreated them.
Another place we have been to is Monkey World in Dorset. Again excellent facilities, and it is well documented how they have rescued many animals from the wild and mistreatment.
We have visited various other zoos across the country now, and the space designated for the animals has increased considerably over the years.
Obviously each zoo is different, and there may be some in the UK that are not quite as spacious and are acting purely as a business, rather than a welfare concern for the animals.
In general
though, I have to say that in this country zoos have become far more than caged animals to view and go "Awww..." at. Many are actual rescue centres that rely on the visiting public to fund their efforts.
I do appreciate however that there are still many zoos in the world, that due to lack of education or the countries treatment of animals in general means that they can be a hive of cruelty to the animals in them. In some cases it is in fact these zoos where animals are rescued to come to UK zoos.
Of course it would be nice if all animals could roam free in the wild, but in many parts of the world this is unfortunately not a safe option for them.
So as far as our zoos are concerned.. I have to now condone them :)

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