Don't Pawn the Pandas
I love animals. The thought of euthanizing zoo animals fills me with outrage. But after multiple articles from both sides, most specifically, the fact that National Zoo officials state that few zoo animals are ever euthanized in this day and age, coupled with the one-time private funding the zoos received this year*, the sad and depressing state of the Stone Zoo over the last few decades, and the sloppy way this was handled in the media, all makes me even more angry. I am sure that all sides handled this poorly, and all sides are scrambling to improve their image, yadda yadda.
But using animals or children as pawns to stir up emotions and manipulate the public, media, and government, when there is clear evidence that these are threats and not necessarily facts, is BEYOND DISGUSTING. Don't use death threats against your own cared for creatures as a bargaining chip, unless you can back it up with proof. It is outrageous.
I am thrilled to join in fund raising efforts to save the animals if the threat on their lives is real. But if the threat on their lives is a media tactic, or avoidable in any way, and this was deliberate manipulation, I would rather see the Zoo head fired. As it is, I do not know what to think, other that anger that the animals have become pawns regardless.
That, and I'm losing respect for the Globe more and more for the heart-tugging sensationalism as of late, which is lacking in better detail and fact-checking from the get go. I know their own budgets are in peril, but seriously, WTF?
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/15/zoo_chief_defends_statement_on_possible_closings/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/14/the_zoo_that_cried_wolf/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/14/lawmakers_say_they_will_restore_zoos8217_funding/
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/07/14/the_state8217s_budget_zoo/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/13/patrick_accuses_zoo_officials_of_using_scare_tactics/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/12/news_of_zoos8217_financial_woes_stuns/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/11/franklin_park_zoo_may_shut_its_doors/
*Over 300K from the film industry in 2009, plus the publicity and tourism they will see next year after the Zookeeper comes out, which is filming @ Franklin Park. That money alone might not be enough to save both Zoos, but coupled with the release next year, and any DVD footage they include to raise awareness, they could save the Zoos with the hype from this venture alone, bringing in more donations and tourism. Careful budget cuts, the consolidation of resources, and creative thinking can close the gap from there. But that takes forward-thinking and investment, along with good PR, which clearly the Zoos do not have right now.
But using animals or children as pawns to stir up emotions and manipulate the public, media, and government, when there is clear evidence that these are threats and not necessarily facts, is BEYOND DISGUSTING. Don't use death threats against your own cared for creatures as a bargaining chip, unless you can back it up with proof. It is outrageous.
I am thrilled to join in fund raising efforts to save the animals if the threat on their lives is real. But if the threat on their lives is a media tactic, or avoidable in any way, and this was deliberate manipulation, I would rather see the Zoo head fired. As it is, I do not know what to think, other that anger that the animals have become pawns regardless.
That, and I'm losing respect for the Globe more and more for the heart-tugging sensationalism as of late, which is lacking in better detail and fact-checking from the get go. I know their own budgets are in peril, but seriously, WTF?
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/15/zoo_chief_defends_statement_on_possible_closings/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/14/the_zoo_that_cried_wolf/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/14/lawmakers_say_they_will_restore_zoos8217_funding/
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/07/14/the_state8217s_budget_zoo/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/13/patrick_accuses_zoo_officials_of_using_scare_tactics/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/12/news_of_zoos8217_financial_woes_stuns/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/11/franklin_park_zoo_may_shut_its_doors/
*Over 300K from the film industry in 2009, plus the publicity and tourism they will see next year after the Zookeeper comes out, which is filming @ Franklin Park. That money alone might not be enough to save both Zoos, but coupled with the release next year, and any DVD footage they include to raise awareness, they could save the Zoos with the hype from this venture alone, bringing in more donations and tourism. Careful budget cuts, the consolidation of resources, and creative thinking can close the gap from there. But that takes forward-thinking and investment, along with good PR, which clearly the Zoos do not have right now.