Zoo rant

[gogh_me]

For my brother's birthday (he's turning 29, not 5 or anything cute and innocent like that) my entire family is going to the zoo :(  Zoos are miserable places and if I go I know I'm going to have to work hard to not bring everyone down with me

Comments

[scatterbeetle]

I have been to both a zoo and a sanctuary in Melbourne, Australia over the last couple of years, and didn't really notice any difference in the way the animals were kept. The sanctuary had a rehabilitation hospital onsite that you can walk through, but we ran out of time on the day (was with a class trip). In both establishments, the animals are still in enclosures, and it still made me sad. Especially the monkeys - they're so active and intelligent and delightful, and there they are stuck in an enclosure.

I have never been to the rodeo, but even thinking about it or seeing it on TV makes me so angry and sad. How can 'cowboys' not understand that their favourite hobby/sport hurts animals so badly - both physically and psychologically? Fuckers. I would NEVER go do such an event.

As for circuses, I haven't been to one since I was a kid. Wouldn't go now, no matter what the occasion.

[scatterbeetle]

Er, I wouldn't go to such an event, either...

[bizwac]

When I was little my dad asked if I'd like to go to a circus where I could ride an elephant. Even at that age I felt odd about it, thinking about the poor elephant who probably doesn't want little kids on its back.

Would you be fine going to circuses without animals. I'm alwasy shocked when I hear an ad for a circus with animals. They seem to be less and less accepted, and so less common.

My sister (a circus performer)is opposed to animals in circuses, as are many of her fellow circus performers (and many are also veg*n. woohoo), so there are plenty of circuses you can go to that just have people.

[scatterbeetle]

Oh, I would certainly go to a circus without animals. I love performances where people show off their own skills and daring. :o)

[bizwac]

Were the monkeys in a cage type encloser? at Western Plains Zoo, they have islands for the monkeys and lemurs etc to live on.

[scatterbeetle]

Yes, they were enclosed in cages. Rather large cages, full of branches and trees, with lots of places to sleep and play. But they were enclosures just the same. :o(