Zoo's. We should be put in one!! (Zoos)

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Product:	Zoos
Date:	28/12/01 (186 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can't think of a thing.

Disadvantages: Profits., Animal Care., ENCLOSURES

I am certainly outraged at the amount of animals that are kept from their natural habitats. I recently visited my local zoo, and I felt so sorry especially for the orang-utans. Looking up at me with those big eyes, I could see that they were filled with rage and SADNESS!! I know, i know that it's a way of making money, but why do it??

Lets not pretend that most of the zoos in the world are keeping animals for a misplaced belief in there welfare. PETA reports that

‘Although more than 112 million people visit zoos in the United States and Canada every year, most zoos operate at a loss and must find ways to cut costs (which sometimes means selling animals) or add gimmicks that will attract visitors. Zoo officials often consider profits ahead of the animals' well-being.’

Most people love going to the zoo, I admit I do, but not now. I hear so many stories about animals being hurt.

I can remember a story that happened years ago, a baby elephant was in a SMALL enclosure at Dudley Zoo, (My local zoo) and fell off the enclosure into the grassy part at the side of it. Being so weak, it couldn't climb back up the wall, the owners couldn't move it because it weighed 2 tons I think, but eventually they got a few CRANES and lifted it back up to the enclosure.

Unfortunately, the poor fellow died a few days later, of course people were 'sad' at the thought of a little elephant dying, but did nothing about it. They didn't widen the enclosures for all of the other animals that were in danger of this same fault; they didn't even do anything for the elephant ENCLOSURE.

When I heard about it, I was really angry and really sad at the thought of what that elephant must have gone through at that time.

It is a shame that zoos do have to exist, but I think that until someone comes up with a better idea for safeguarding animal welfare then they are indeed a necessary evil. Yes, the only
reasons I can find for condoning their existence is because they aid in putting right what man is himself doing wrong, and by their very nature create another wrong, but if the 'discomfort' of a few animals can help the many, then I'm afraid I have to agree with their continuing existence. No, I have to agree with the continuing existence of some of them. There is no need for places like London Zoo, or Colchester Zoo, which is a little closer to home for me, to exist. They are too small, the cages too cramped and the animals are not allowed any room to manoeuvre. This is wrong. I give you Whipsnade Zoo as a better example of how it should be done. Perhaps there needs to be some guidelines laid down, that an elephant needs however much space, a tiget this much etc.

See if you can answer this question for me:- ‘How come animals DIE just to GET to a ZOO??’

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