Should we close all zoos?

[DaOld Man]

With the recent attacks by the tiger that killed and mauled people, I was wondering if it is time we did away with zoos.
Dont get me wrong, I am not into an animal lovers group or anything like that, but dont you think we have advanced far enough as humans to not need zoos?
We can look at animals on the net, or on TV, we can even get up close and see how they really live in the wild, through our technologies.
I think we should quit replacing zoo animals when they die. It would really be cruel to release them in the wild after being in captivity for most or all of their lives, so i am not suggesting that.
Eventually the zoos could close, as animal populations are shuffled between different zoos.
If you have ever been to a zoo, you probably see how sad most of the animals look.
They were meant to be wild.
Why do we keep them from nature just for our own satisfactions?
It aint right I tell ya!

[polaris]

, but dont you think we have advanced far enough as humans to not need zoos?

not having a go old man but that made me laugh.
for one, theres lotsa people who think shooting an animal is sport.

[TOK]

I went to the Philadelphia Zoo as a kid numerous times and loved it... Later on when I went back, I noticed what you said about the sad looking animals, notably in the gorilla's and big cats. The standard old caged animal zoo's really don't appeal to me, but I'm OK with some of the new stuff. The Cape May Zoo in NJ has an area for the giraffes, zebra and other docile animals that is absolutely huge. Big enough that they have those pay-to-use binocular things to see the far off critters.

[DaOld Man]

not having a go old man but that made me laugh.
for one, theres lotsa people who think shooting an animal is sport.

Well, Im not a hunter, although I used to hunt squirrells and rabbits in my early years, but  I dont really see the need in killing something unless you have to eat it, or if it is a danger or a pest, but I am not against hunting for sport. And I dont hold a grudge against anyone who does it. Its just not for me. But I do appreciate the guys and gals that eliminate (some of) the deer around here each year. The deer population is so large that they have become dangerous about jumping in front of cars. Of course that problem probably originated from us killing out the wolves and bears.
A side note for humor: I work with a bunch of guys that love to hunt. One day a couple were looking at a hunting catalog talking about needing this and needing that. The stuff in there cost a lot of money. I looked at a picture of a man dressed in camouflage sitting against a tree, holding a very expensive rifle. He really did blend in with the surroundings. These guys were thinking about ordering the suit. I said "What is the sport in that? You are smarter than the animal by nature, and you have high powered guns, capable of killing the animal from hundreds of feet, and you have to dress up like a tree and ambush him. If you really want it to be a sport, go naked, sneak up on the deer, grab him by the horns and break his neck."  I lit a fuse there. The guys got mad and starting telling me how the deer were really smart and how strong they were. They realized I was pulling their chains when I couldnt keep a straight face. I still havent decided which animal is smarter though. Oh well, I guess they think the same of my "sport" of building arcades. (This is a true story).

With that being said, I still dont see where hunting is the same as taking an animal from its natural habitat and locking it up in a zoo for the rest of its life. I think it would be more humane to kill it.

[SavannahLion]

I'm not going to argue the merits of Zoos here. However, let it be known I strongly disagree with the OPs evaluation of such a complex problem and his overly simplistic solution.

About the tiger attack, I strongly suspect that the recent attack is caused by someone harassing the cat in question. Since many of these animals are often harassed by bratty little kids, retarded (not the special kind) adults, and moronic foreigners*, it comes as no surprise that such an animal would eventually get pissed off and go on a rampage.

I was recently at the San Francisco zoo (yes same zoo) and some stupid ---fudgesicle--- was throwing crap into the gorilla enclosure to try and entice the gorillas to come out. At the bear enclosure, dumbuck kids were hitting the acrylic viewing pane as hard as they could to try and get a sleeping bear to move. Come to think of it, if I know which cat it is, I think I saw this particular cat in the cat house (a medical holding building?) and it was definately distresssed. It kept walking in circles and hopping off the doors. The same exact behavior my cat does when it gets cabin fever and wants to go outside. When I was there, two idiot foreigners had ducked under the safety rail and were standing within paws length of the cage. Fortunately, a Zoo attendant rushed up and kicked them out.


*Not saying all people from other countries are morons.

[polaris]

oldman
dont see how killing an animal for fun is more humane than caring for it, or even trying and failing to care for it.
zoos and wildlife parks exist now alot to protect species from idiot hunters.
i wasnt comparing the two, i was pointing out that we havent moved on enough as humans not to need zoos, we need them more than ever to give a sanctuary to endangered species

[ChadTower]

The zoo by my house is a veterinary clinic that specializes in restoring good health to endangered animals... and then they'll usually breed them to produce more healthy examples.  We're talking highly endangered stuff.  It's a very small zoo but does perform an important function in species preservation.

[tommy]

With the recent attacks by the tiger that killed and mauled people, I was wondering if it is time we did away with zoos.

This is not the first time an animal has gotten loose from a zoo and killed someone before. This is an unfortunate accident but no reason to start banning zoos.

We can talk for days about trying to get rid of things when an accident happens. Should we get rid of cars when two of them crash into each other to save lives? I think not.

We do not need to get into any other examples.

[Jdurg]

As a kid I went on a field trip to the Bronx Zoo in NYC.  It was simply an amazing place.  I don't know about you, but not everybody on this planet can afford to have high-speed internet service, or a computer, or a personal jet to go see the animals in their own habitats.  For many, the zoo is a relatively inexpensive way to see nature and what else is there on this earth.

I think the zoos have more to it than just "caged up animals".  There is a lot to learn there that you can't get from books/internet.

[koolmoecraig]

I think zoos serve a purpose in exposing children to the wonders of life.  Plus people are more likely to want to save a species that they have seen in person in it's splendor than just reading about in a book or magazine.

A circus like Barnum and Bailey is way more evil and should be banned.

I went a few years ago and was sickened at the sight of an animal "trainer" whipping the nose of a hippo to get him to walk up and down a few stairs for the crowds amusement.  Not to mention all of the other animals that are whipped into doing their "tricks". Primitive and disgusting.

Also Tommy, I'm pretty sure this is the first time in modern history that an animal has escaped and killed a person at a zoo.  At least in America.

[WaRpEd]

To me the tiger was doing what tigers do hunt and kill prey.
I'm sure a safety violation or 2 happened fro the animal to escape.
It's tragic for all involved. But how are we going to learn about animals from other counrties without going on safari?
These incidents are fairly rare and usually the handlers carelessness that cause a mauling.
Just my 2 cents

[koolmoecraig]

It's not just "fairly rare", it has NEVER HAPPENED.

Animals have gotten out before but none have killed.  Stop with the propaganda.

[danny_galaga]

last time i went to a zoo was in stanley park, vancouver. seeing this emmaciated, really, really sad looking polar bear there put me off forever. ill probably never go to a zoo again...

[DaOld Man]

A related story:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22444811/?GT1=10645

[billf]

A related story:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22444811/?GT1=10645

Related to what?  I see its a story about a zoo and an animal dying, but it also notes that the normal life span of that animal is 40-50 years.  In the zoo it lived to 55 years old.  Not really sure this backs up your point of view about closing zoos. 

[RayB]

Consider, if your kid grows up never seeing such wild animals, the "disconnection" they will have. Why should they grow up to care about the plight of animals they've never even seen, when they hear about their habitat and numbers dwindling in far-off countries? Many zoos provide education about animals, their habitat and threats from man.

Get rid of CRAPPY ENTERTAINMENT ZOOs, sure. If it's run for profit and tourism, then it's not likely to be important to research or protection of endangered species. So, close those ones. But don't go including the good zoos that provide valuable research into protecting endangered species. Zoos like the San Diego Zoo are very valuable.

http://cres.sandiegozoo.org/

[tommy]

Zoos and people who care about animals are also a very good way to save endangered animals from becoming extinct. Some animals can't survive in the wild from all the people hunting them down and selling off their parts.

[btp2k2]

Oh no!  A scary tiger attacked and killed someone.

Let's close all the zoos....better yet....let's all live in plastic bubbles so nothing can ever hurt us.

 

[polaris]

Oh no!  A scary tiger attacked and killed someone.

Let's close all the zoos....better yet....let's all live in plastic bubbles so nothing can ever hurt us.

 

well if you think it'll help carry on, i reckon a tiger would get through the bubble personally

[JackTucky]

We should remove all the cages and make it even.  No guns allowed,  Only slingshots.

=J

[polaris]

37 fighters from the cambodian midget fighting league went up against a lion, 23 died. true story.

[RayB]

37 fighters from the cambodian midget fighting league went up against a lion, 23 died. true story.

Is it wrong that I tried to find this on Youtube? 

[polaris]

the cambodian govt wouldnt allow filmimg as that would be tastless , the govt did however take 50% of the door takings

[ChadTower]

Is it wrong that I tried to find this on Youtube? 

It is very, very wrong.  You should be ashamed.  Your mom is ashamed.

I couldn't find it on the torrent sites either.

Where the eff do you get 37 Cambodian midgets?  That's like the hardest scavenger hunt item ever.