Do you agree with zoos?

[Miss Z]

I've met quite a few people who say that zoos are cruel because large animals should not be kept in cages in a habitat un-natural to them.

I think that they're a good thing though, breeding programmes for many endangered animals can be set up to increase their numbers, and then be re-released into the wild. Of course, I would hate to see any animal in a tiny cage, but zoos can educate people and help save animals. If it wasn't for zoos, then animals such as the Przewalkski's horse would be extinct.

What are PT's views on this?

[Lady'sOtherHuman]

I've met quite a few people who say that zoos are cruel because large animals should not be kept in cages in a habitat un-natural to them.

I think that they're a good thing though, breeding programmes for many endangered animals can be set up to increase their numbers, and then be re-released into the wild. Of course, I would hate to see any animal in a tiny cage, but zoos can educate people and help save animals. If it wasn't for zoos, then animals such as the Przewalkski's horse would be extinct.

What are PT's views on this?

I agree I think zoos are a good thing. Especially now that they take the time to learn about the animals habitats and use that knowledge build their enclosures so that the animals will feel more comfortable.

[Karen]

A good zoo, like the San Diego Wild Animal Park, is a good thing.

But zoos with small enclosures and barren habitats are dreadful.
Seeing an elephant - what should be a magnificent, glorious creature - standing face toward the wall, swaying in distress in an empty, grassless, treeless space is enough to break your heart.

I admire zoos with good habitats, and responsible animal care, and think that they are good ways for children and adults to learn about the animals of the world. And in some cases, a zoo is, tragically, a safer place for some animals than their natural habitat where they are being hunted toward extinction and their home developed for human housing or burn down to make charcoal for fuel.

I wish we were a responsible-enough species not to need zoos, but as we are not, a good zoo seems like a decent compromise.

[sammy101]

I love zoos.I've only been to a few but one of my favourites is the Calgary Zoo.I hate it when zoos have terrible enclousures though,small and not like their natural habitat at all.The houston(tx) zoo is nice too,and Frankfurt zoo.

[Uabassoon]

I love Zoos, but I don't like all of them. Certain Zoos such as the San Diego Zoo are great, the animals have such great habitats to live in. However zoos like the one here in Tucson make me want to cry. It is so small and they have such large animals living in tiny little spaces. I wish that there were better regulations.

[zoomer]

Well some things are good and some are bad. I do not like how they keep large animals in cages, but at least its like natural habitat.

[Vette]

I agree with Zoomer. somethings are good...somethings are bad.

i dont like how they keep elephants chained up and how they treat them.

[Jessika]

Some things are good, some things are bad.

Some zoos are good, where others are bad.

I've been to a mixture of both. Zoos are EXCELLENT to rehab animals or to take in animals whos lives are otherwise in danger (or for endangered animals). It just depends on which zoo you go to and how much room the zoo has! Like the zoo in Omaha, Nebraska... is HUMONGOUS... with its own ecosystems! So its not like animals just outside in weather and a climate not native to them... Omaha brought their native climate to THEM. That is a very good zoo I think!!

[lute]

i agree with their breeding programs. i don't like the way a lot of zoos keep their animals.

[IRescue452]

We have several roadside zoos in WI. I think the Milwaukee zoo is the closest to being a decent zoo around. The large zoo closest to us has recently within the past 20 years been updated from a roadside zoo. The enclosures are still way too small. Also, our zoos don't have decent indoor enclosures. For the Wisconsin climate they need much better winter enclosures for the animals that can't take the cold. Imagine a poor lion being put in a small kennel run indoors for 6 months out of the year. -By roadside zoo I mean they have cages like 6x6 dog kennel runs set up in a circle for people to walk around and see. Sometimes tha animal can barely move. There are no regulations in WI, you just need a permit to own the animal.

[Suki Wingy]

Like the zoo in Omaha, Nebraska... is HUMONGOUS... with its own ecosystems! So its not like animals just outside in weather and a climate not native to them... Omaha brought their native climate to THEM. That is a very good zoo I think!!

I would vote Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo the best zoo in the world! Have you seen the Kingdom of the Night alligator/turle/racoon exhibit? It is EXCELENT! and reall cool to. My dad's good friend and fellow herp expert was given a baby alligator (ex-pet-)and so he donated it to that exhibit.
Does anyone else watch the TV show Ultimate Zoo? My fav was the preditor-prey rotation exhibits

[BOBS DAD]

I haven't really been to any of the other zoos that are mentioned in other posts. I guess that is pretty common for most folks as when you travel, you don't usually get off the plane and say, "let's find the nearest zoo"!

Sounds like some of them are really cool while others can use some help. And the "Roadside Zoos" you mention - that should be just plain banned!!!

I know that the Pittsburgh Zoo has undergone a dramatic transformation. When I was a kid (40 years ago), our zoo gave first meaning to the term, "Concrete Jungle". All the animals were housed in relatively small enclosures and walked around on cement with little or no shade from trees. I am shocked when I look at old photos of our visits there and see the deplorable conditions they lived in.

Now, it is really quite nice. It is like a forest. It is very shady there with open savannas, rivers/streams running through it. Indoor facilities. It is all naturall habitat with wide open spaces. Sometimes so expansive that you may not get to see a particular animal in the event that they choose nor to be within viewing distance. But it's nicer that way, when you do see them... you see them come runnming from a distance, jumping over obstacles, amyne climbing a tree. It's almost like they are wild.

Anyways, point is... the Zoo is quite nice now and I do believe they serve a functional and important part in the preservation of species along with educating people about respect for wild animals.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

There are good things and bad things about each zoo just like there are good and bad zoos. I personally like the zoo in my city (especially now that they've redone a lot of exhibits) and haven't been to any others, but there are also some things I don't like about it.

[Alysser]

Zoos such as the Washington Zoo or the San Deigo Zoo are a good thing. They take good care of their animals and have breeding programs. We have a pretty good zoo around here. Its the Popcorn park zoo. You can feed the deer and stuff popcorn. They have no breeding programs but they take in animals that not one wants such as bears,cougars,ect. They were neglected somehow.