Rubbish ones are, yes. They have their place in research and protection of endangered species, but as a spectacle and learning tool for the general public have now been superceeded by the vast array of excellent documentaries available. I'm also told this inter web thing might take off.
Speaking of which there are still 4 lions and a bunch of bears unaccounted for in Tblisi! There was one picture with a bear outside someone's bedroom window after is had climbed up. Quite a shock opening the curtains I imagine.
Zoos have absolutely no place in modern society, any more than dolphinariums or Victorian carnival sideshow freaks. The last zoo I went to (as a aide with an elementary school) was Philadelphia Zoo. The one single lasting memory I have was a raggedy old lion (or lioness it was impossible to tell) in a concrete hutch a tadge bigger than the size of a crate you would transport a large dog in. City 'petting zoos' for domesticated sheep, goats, rabbits and the like are just fine. Any thing more is simply cruel. But as the head transplant thread shows - when did humans ever really consider ethics?
There're zoos and zoos. Some are excellent with well cared for animals in spacious enclosures and do valuable research and conservation work. Some are appalling. However good tv wildlife programmes become, there's still a place for kids to see the real thing. A safari's better though. But also more expensive.
Zoos may soon be the only places to see species like tigers, there are only a few thousand left in the wild and I imagine they are close to if not already past the critical point of sustainability and variation in genetics to prevent inbreeding All so some slimey 5hit in China can have tiger medicine or some fat f*** in USA can have a trophy photo Lions and the rest of the big cats won't be far behind I actually think the best thing that could happen is Ebola wiping out half of the humans on the planet
There are otters (European ones) at Edinburgh zoo in a very nice enclosure but they tend to hide themselves away a bit and are indeed quite difficult to see!
There are some lovely one in Woburn Safari Park. They have this lovely big new enclosure, very nice it is.
If a Zoo stopped a species becoming extinct then is it worthwhile? If that Zoo also needed other attractions to bring in the money to keep that species alive and well would that also be worthwhile? Zoo's have their place IMO and have moved on fantastically since I was a kid, (well most have).
I'm a member of ZSL and regularly attend Whipsnade and London zoos. Great day out and they do important work for conservation and research. Not sure if they do fig leaves, but I like figs. if captive bred animals are kept in good conditions and support conservation work, I don't see the objection, or the comparison to dolphinaria. Should we also abolish pets? Domestication of all animals? Farming? There's a difference between a captured wild bear in a 6x4 cage with a shortened lifespan and responsibly bred and kept animals living in an environment which allows them a decent quality of life and may hold the key to the survival of their species.
