How do you feel about the zoo?

“Feel about the zoo.” I don’t believe that is something I have ever even stopped to consider once in my long life.

How do I feel about it? Hmmm…

A gross display of man’s need to control and condition life to his own machinations, for his own vainglory vanity and sense of self importance.

I prefer leaving life to itself, and observing animals in their natural environments… They just seem so much… happier.

It depends on the zoo.

A good zoo can be a refuge for endangered animals, can promote an environment for biologists and zoologists and animal behaviorists for studies that will benefit a large number of species and can serve to help educate another generation of those concerned for the biosphere.

I think zoos can help with keeping endangered species from becoming exitinct by having a good mating programme and, as @JilltheTooth said, offering refudge for certain members of a species that would be in danger from man or demise of habitat in the wild.

I have, however, seen some very sad animals in zoos and that’s when I question my feelings about them.

I haved mixed feelings about the zoo sometimes. I certainly enjoy the opportunity of being able to see exotic animals up close that I might never have the chance to see in the wild otherwise. On the other hand, I’m also distressed sometimes to see that some animals are penned up or caged in an artificial environment that is much too small for them to be healthy or comfortable.

As far as helping animals, there’s no question zoos can be beneficial. Our zoo here in Phoenix, the largest non-profit zoo in the United States, pretty much brough back the Arabian Oryx from the edge of extinction with their Operation Oryx program.

My feelings very much align with @Bluefreedom.‘s There is good and bad; and I give high praise to those facilities that display far more good than bad. I feel the same way about “nursing homes,” BTW.

@JilltheTooth That’s what national parks are for. Africa is full of natural habitat exclusive to those species that are still allowed to exist in the wild and are protected from poaching.

China as well has habitat for endangered panda and Borneo has protective nature parks for the orangutan.

@picante Nursing homes vary as well, you have Skilled nursing facilities as well as assisted living facilities, most of which are volunatry and in the case of human beings, we can’t generally tend to care for ourselves… Nursing being the operative word in that position. People need nursing, wild animals do not.

@GabrielsLamb : The kind of study that can happen in a zoo is very different from that of a park.

@GabrielsLamb, yes that was my point (apparently poorly made), that nursing homes, like zoos, vary greatly. Some excellent facilities might save a human from near extinction, and some might hasten the demise.

I went to the zoo when I was six. I haven’t thought about it since.

Animals in good facilities seem as happy as animals in the wild, are healthier, and live longer. They are less likely to suffer ongoing medical problems, and won’t die from a diminished ability to hide or hunt. So I don’t think the argument that they are “better off in the wild.” makes much sense.

The idea that __we__ are better off just going to the wild to see them is silly. At a typical zoo, a million people a year may see a single exhibit. Imagine what damage would be done to the hunting or foraging grounds if a million people a year went to see any one animal.

Also, zoos are a great place to people watch.

So yeah, thumbs up.

For some animals yes. At least they get proper medical help and they get food so they won’t starver .. to bad nobody cleans after them every day.

When the zoo is properly run, with exhibits similar to their natural surroundings, zoos promote protection and awareness of the animal habitat. There are several species that no longer exist in the wild.

I do not believe in keeping animals in small cages just for exhibits.

I love the zoo but as I age then I don’t love it for the welfare of the animals kept there. I understand trying to keep endangered species alive and sanctuaries but the regular zoo attraction animals, I mainly feel sorry for.

The zoo is an awesome place for near extinct animals to reside. Furthermore, it’s a great place for children to learn about biology and real life animals. (not just youtubing everything) I’m in San Diego, home the “world famous zoo” and I get that it may seem wrong. But honestly, it’s not like they are capturing animals for fun to show off. It is more like, other people from other regions destroy these animals habitats and they become endangered etc. So for some animals the zoo becomes a sanctuary. I don’t feel there is anything wrong with exhibiting animals either. It’s always been a fun and educational purpose and enlightens ones imagination.

It seems like the zoos that truly care about the animals are doing a good job. They simulate the natural environment as best they can and while I’m sure many animal lovers would rather see these creatures in their natural environment, I guess it’s not that realistic considering what humans are doing to the planet. So I guess like many other areas in life, one group of humans is trying to undo or change what another group is changing or hurting. ::sighs::

@picante Ahhh then carry on! *Smiles!

Thanks for clarifying, it’s not you, it’s me… *No, it REALLY is me !

I can be just daft at times.

Many of the individual animals are zoo-bred and raised. If not for zoos, they would not be. There is not now, nor has there ever been an option for them to be in the wild, anymore than there is an option for Malians born in poverty to choose to live in Bridgeport. Although I hear Bridgeport is nice.