zoo's

[futureguineamom]

What is your opinion on zoo's?

[Maggie]

I think there are some great public zoos, especially in big cities that have the money for it, that take wonderful care of their animals and really care about them. But, of course, there are bad ones. My local zoo I'm not very happy with, however, because they had a dozen chickens there that weren't being taken care of properly. (I raise chickens, so I knew everything they were doing wrong ) But otherwise that zoo takes great care of their animals.
But, if you talk about private zoos, sometimes those can get ugly.

[happie gurl]

I think that if the people know what they are doing and have the money and the room for it, zoo's can be wonderful, and help preserve endangerd species. But sometimes they are awful.
Its all depends..

[Eolith]

Sorry, but it makes me wince every time I see "zoo's" as opposed to "zoos". If we're talking plural, which we are, the apostrophe is not needed. If were were talking about the zoo's tigers, it would be correct to have the apostrophe.

Anyway, I haven't been to many zoos, but the ones that I have been to always take extraordinary care of their animals. The ones I've been to are public, and the government has no room to mistreat their animals. They'd be pestered to death if they did.

[Chloë-Jasmine]

I've only ever been to the Toronto Zoo and I thought it was really nice. But they have this this about 30minutes away from North Bay and it's a meat place but they have like 3 tigers, and whenever the mom has pups (or kittens... what would they be?), they bring them into their home and stuff. And they take the tigers for walks too! They have huge chains. And how they feed them is with left over meat or meat they can't sell. And they are really friendly. The babies are like big cats. And I think they sell the babies to the animal safari thing that's close by. So I'm not sure, I think they kept good care of them, but does anyone know like what they should be feeding them and stuff? I know it's off topic but it reminded me of it.

[Eolith]

Hehe, I'm not really a tiger zoo keeper, so I have no clue what they should be eating or how much or in what condition it should be. All I know is that they're carnivores.

[Susan9608]

There was another thread a few weeks ago, talking about zoos and farms. Here's the link: http://cavycages.com/forum/showthrea...7&page=1&pp=20

[Maggie]

There are some places that do horrible things and don't take care of their animals like in one of the posts on the linked board above. Some zoos don't even bother exhibiting pet animals, since they aren't rare and exotic.

[iLoveDusty]

I've only been to one zoo and I think it is horrible, but I'm guess ing that some zoos are not. I think they should only keep endangered of threatened animals in zoos, like tigers, or animals losing their habitat. I don't think they should put animals in there if they dont have to.

[futureguineamom]

Sorry, but it makes me wince every time I see "zoo's" as opposed to "zoos". If we're talking plural, which we are, the apostrophe is not needed. If were were talking about the zoo's tigers, it would be correct to have the apostrophe.

Thanks for correcting me. I wasn't really sure, but thought it looked funny without the apostrophe. Anyway..

I've only been to one zoo and I think it is horrible, but I'm guess ing that some zoos are not. I think they should only keep endangered of threatened animals in zoos, like tigers, or animals losing their habitat. I don't think they should put animals in there if they dont have to.

I agree with you. I don't feel that it's very fair to take animals out of their natural habitat and put them on display for the world to see. If the zoo can set it up so that the animals have the proper habitat then I think it's alright, but definately it should only be endangered and threatened animals.

The reason I asked this question is because of the course I want to take. What I really want to do is work for a big organization like the world wildlife fund, but it seems like the biggest it gets for this course is working in a zoo. I would like to do that, but am unsure as to where I stand on zoos. Know what I mean?

[fourbwabbys]

The zoos I've been to have all had animals that were extremely well taken of. I agree to some extent that the endangered animals should not be kept in zoos. I do agree with the breeding programs they have for the very endangered animals. Some zoos do wonders with breeding them and returning them to the wild. But, if their population is fine, but their habitat is being taken away, they should remain in the wild. You want to see them? Look at pictures.

[Maggie]

Originally Posted by futureguineamom

I agree with you. I don't feel that it's very fair to take animals out of their natural habitat and put them on display for the world to see. If the zoo can set it up so that the animals have the proper habitat then I think it's alright, but definately it should only be endangered and threatened animals.

Alot of the big zoos build extremely wonderful exhibits. (You can see this on the show 'Ultimate Zoo' on Animal planet, I love watching it) And the zoo keepers are people just as passionate as you and me about animals, so they design the exhibits to mimic their habitat, to make them feel at home, and also include features that help reduce the stress of all the crowds. (alot of zoo animals today are born into captivity, so they're already use to people, plus they get use to the crowds eventually and the stress dies down)
Some zoos seek new and creative ways to stimulate the animals, by making them forage like they would in the wild. One zoo even had a machine that would send the cheetas'(sp) meat racing through the exhibit so that they would chase after it and catch it like in the wild!
They also have a breeding program for the cheetas, in order to help build up the population.

[iLoveDusty]

Yes, see, that zoo that Maggie is talking about helps keep the cheetah population up, and that's sooo good! By the way, that machine sounds awesome!! ( I wonder if I could shoot veggies out of a low powered one...)

[i love piggies]

I have been to many Zoos all over Australia. Some of them made me angry some made me happy.

I have been to-
Dubbo's Western plain Zoo
Alma Park Zoo QLD(I think thats the name)
Melbourne Zoo
Adelaide Zoo
The Croc Hunters Zoo

I have also been to many animal sanctuaries for different animals such as-
Koalas
Farm Animals
Reptiles
Birds
The best Zoo I have ever been to is The Mogo Zoo (NSW, near Batemans Bay) They save animals from cruel conditions over seas. Such as dancing bears, Tigers, Snow leopards.

I like Zoos but somtimes I worry there is too much focus on profits and publicity. It's ok if the money goes towards the animals and preservation of thier species.

[futureguineamom]

Thanks for all of your input. It's nice to hear that there is hope out there for some of these animals and that zoos aren't just about "trophies."

[Spirited]

My 'local' zoo is one of the best in the country, and look after their animals very well and a lot of their efforts go to raising awarness of the wild cousins of their captive animals - which is great. I think there is a place for good zoos.

That said, wildlife belongs in the wild, and there are too many zoos and private collections that are substandard. I support Born Free in their protection of wild habitats for animals.

Spirited

[ellenvega]

I think they should only keep endangered of threatened animals in zoos, like tigers, or animals losing their habitat. I don't think they should put animals in there if they dont have to.

Agreed.

One zoo even had a machine that would send the cheetas'(sp) meat racing through the exhibit so that they would chase after it and catch it like in the wild!
I got to see something similar to this when I volunteered with the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia last year. It was so awesome! One of the girls in action:

[iLoveDusty]

That is so cool!!! That cheetah looks awesoem!