A Sad Tale of Baghdad's Zoo

[JupiterZen]

Originally posted by peterjhill
Obviously there are some on this thread that will not be convinced, fine with me. I am glad that the animals will be taken care of.

Is has gotten better. I don't deny that. It's just that I went to the zoo for the first time since a couple of years not to long ago, and I just couldn't enjoy looking at all those locked up animals. It felt wrong. And I used to love the zoo as a kid.

Maybe it is because I went to Africa for the first time about two years ago to see the eclipse and was overwhelmed by the beauty of everything I saw there.

They built a whole new outdoor section in our local zoo and it just looked more like something out of a Lego boxset that like something I had seen in Africa.

I must admit the arguments people here give in favor of the zoo are all quite good.

 

[jelloshotsrule]

i agree mostly with what jupiterzen's been saying... zoos are bad. not nearly as bad as circuses (which are disgusting)...

but i think zoos fall below the meat industry and dairy industry by FAR.

the problem i see with seeing zoos as a treatment of endangered species and such, is that by "treating" the problem, we are ignoring the cause... that is, if we round up the animals and toss em in cages, then we don't have to look at why they are endangered (pollution, rainforests disappearing, or perhaps just natural predators). i think that's the big problem with most social problems these days. we look at treatments when "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment" or something like that.

this applies to animals being mistreated, people getting sick from asbestos, etc...

however, i don't doubt that zookeepers more often than not do feel it's the best thing for the animals. and because of that, i can respect them... whereas hunters who are "conservationists".......

 

[Macmaniac]

I do feel that zoos are neccesary, but i do agree that they are an unfortunate byproduct of human stupidity. I do not agree with that all zoos are slums for animals. Many of the zoos I have visited are state of the art with climate controlled rooms and constant attention by keepers. Also zoos do offer a great oportunity to learn about animal reproductive habits. Without zoos the California Condor would be extinct. I am aware that man is responisble for the species problem, but at least their are caring people trying to reverse these trends.
Zoos can never compare to the natural thing, but a well maintained zoo can greatly educate the public about how they can make a difference for these animals, like donating money to save thier habitat.
I would disagree that a zoo is worse than the dairy or meat industry where the animals are forced to eat until they die.
Many animals are injured and zoos give these animals a second chance and many times it allows that animal to reproduce offpsring that can be realesed back into the population that can help repopulate an area.

 

[jelloshotsrule]

Originally posted by Macmaniac

I would disagree that a zoo is worse than the dairy or meat industry where the animals are forced to eat until they die.

yeah, i didn't mean to imply that they are... i just worded it poorly... i said something like "zoos fall below the meat and dairy industry..." what i meant was that zoos aren't as bad.

in zoos, most of the workers genuinely cares for the animals... this is obviously not the case on feedlots, in slaughterhouses, in processing plants, etc...

 

[lmalave]

Originally posted by jelloshotsrule
yeah, i didn't mean to imply that they are... i just worded it poorly... i said something like "zoos fall below the meat and dairy industry..." what i meant was that zoos aren't as bad.

in zoos, most of the workers genuinely cares for the animals... this is obviously not the case on feedlots, in slaughterhouses, in processing plants, etc...

Yeah, not to mention that a lot of zoos are out there trying to save endangered species through breeding programs, etc. Keep in mind, it's not like zoos go out into nature and capture wild animals to keep their zoo well-stocked. Usually, the animals are rescued animals, either from the wild (abandoned orphans, etc.), or from neglected, illegal private collections like Uday's.

 

[JupiterZen]

Originally posted by lmalave
Yeah, not to mention that a lot of zoos are out there trying to save endangered species through breeding programs, etc. Keep in mind, it's not like zoos go out into nature and capture wild animals to keep their zoo well-stocked. Usually, the animals are rescued animals, either from the wild (abandoned orphans, etc.), or from neglected, illegal private collections like Uday's.

I know of the breeding programs. And when they are intended to repopulate the wild, then I'm all for it. Here in The Netherlands we have a place where they treat seals and birds that were (for example) casualties of pollution. Their intention is to set these animals free when they are healed and ready. These places are open to the public so you can go there and learn about the animals. I believe there are similar institutions for animals like dolfines, whales, large felines around the world. These are good efforts, taking care of nature.

But I don't think it's justified to lock somebody up just because they don't know what freedom is (because they were born in captivity or something like that).

 

[abdul]

Originally posted by iJon
thats terrible, ive always had a soft spot for animals and its terrible because i doubt they are being treated well.maybe the us can get some zoologists over there and take care of whats left for the time being.

iJon

ive always had a soft spot for people and its horrible that we helped create orphans . we also bombed innocent people, many left with no limbs, now starving or dying due to lack of health care. Just to remove one mad guy and a whole lot of oil