Do you agree with zoos?

**BOBS DAD** · 04-07-2006, 11:23 AM

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.

**BOBS DAD** · 04-07-2006, 11:55 AM

This is Pgh Zoo... circa 1960!!!

That's me - 3rd from Left!!!! LOL!

**Lori Jordan** · 04-07-2006, 02:26 PM

I dont like that some animals are taken from there home habitat,but what can you do?

**Suki Wingy** · 04-07-2006, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by BOBS DAD

I 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"!

LOL, I DO!!! They are like my comfort zone.

**Tollers-n-Dobes** · 04-08-2006, 09:01 PM

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** · 04-09-2006, 11:26 AM

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.