Comments on: Zoos: Are they good or are they bad? http://bonobokids.com/blog/2008/05/06/zoos-good-or-bad/ Save the Bonobos. Save the World. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:49:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: LeyHgorilla http://bonobokids.com/blog/2008/05/06/zoos-good-or-bad/#comment-63 LeyHgorilla Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:14:34 +0000 http://bonobokids.com/blog/?p=64#comment-63 Most zoos I've been to seem good for the animals ;8) Most zoos I’ve been to seem good for the animals
;8)

]]> By: bonobo kids http://bonobokids.com/blog/2008/05/06/zoos-good-or-bad/#comment-40 bonobo kids Wed, 21 May 2008 14:15:09 +0000 http://bonobokids.com/blog/?p=64#comment-40 Hi Anthony - We so appreciate you taking the time to comment on our blog and sharing your deep passion - of course, we are not a zoo keepers, but we do have some clue about what we're talking about. We've been to sad, dirty zoos where the animals are literally in rooms or cages and don't look so great. Abuse does happen. I happen to know a wildlife expert who told me specifically that standing on concrete hurts elephant feet and causes all sorts of problems - just one minor example. And what about the zoos or 'zoos' that don't have the AZA behind them??? We grew up going to one of the greatest zoos around - the St. Louis Zoo - where they do an incredible job of building natural habitats and working on education and conservation. For all of that, we are grateful to zoos and believe we stated that rather clearly in the post. Of course the 'wild' is not the Lion King (which wasn't so peachy anyway if you remember), it is the wild, afterall. But it is sad that humans have messed with the natural world to the point that now we have to save animals by putting them in zoos instead of letting them live their natural lives - the good and the bad. The bonobo species may very well be saved from extinction by zoos - we recognize this and it was stated Thank you for being a zoo keeper that truly cares about zoos and animals. Seriously, you are a hero for what you do...thanks and keep it up! Hi Anthony -
We so appreciate you taking the time to comment on our blog and sharing your deep passion - of course, we are not a zoo keepers, but we do have some clue about what we’re talking about. We’ve been to sad, dirty zoos where the animals are literally in rooms or cages and don’t look so great. Abuse does happen. I happen to know a wildlife expert who told me specifically that standing on concrete hurts elephant feet and causes all sorts of problems - just one minor example. And what about the zoos or ‘zoos’ that don’t have the AZA behind them???
We grew up going to one of the greatest zoos around - the St. Louis Zoo - where they do an incredible job of building natural habitats and working on education and conservation. For all of that, we are grateful to zoos and believe we stated that rather clearly in the post.
Of course the ‘wild’ is not the Lion King (which wasn’t so peachy anyway if you remember), it is the wild, afterall. But it is sad that humans have messed with the natural world to the point that now we have to save animals by putting them in zoos instead of letting them live their natural lives - the good and the bad.
The bonobo species may very well be saved from extinction by zoos - we recognize this and it was stated
Thank you for being a zoo keeper that truly cares about zoos and animals. Seriously, you are a hero for what you do…thanks and keep it up!

]]> By: Anthony http://bonobokids.com/blog/2008/05/06/zoos-good-or-bad/#comment-39 Anthony Wed, 21 May 2008 00:28:02 +0000 http://bonobokids.com/blog/?p=64#comment-39 The author of this post clearly doesn't understand what they are talking about. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has an accreditation process for zoos, so if a zoo is accredited by the AZA, its doing everything it should be. None of my statements regarding zoos, cover those that are not AZA accredited. The benefits of zoos greatly exceeds the negatives, especially because the negatives are always drastically overplayed. This author wrote this piece because they love animals, studies have shown that the majority of "animal lovers" developed this love while visiting zoos at a young age. This anti-captivity speak is such nonsense. The "wild" is not like the Lion King, it is a very rough place. The idea that animals would "rather be back in the wild" comes from people that don't understand how good animals in zoo's have it. At AZA zoos there are no "dirty conditions," unless the specific animal requires it. The BS about zookeepers not loving animals is the same as preaching about police that misuse their power, it is extremely rare, and completely unacceptable in an AZA zoo. Accidents happen everywhere. Zoos actually have a much better safety record then most other aspects of society. Statistically you're much safer at a zoo, then pretty much anywhere else. Animal do not become "inactive" or "sick" due to being in a zoo. Practically every animal species lives exponentially longer in captivity then in the wild. Entertainment is the purpose of why many people visit zoos, when zoos cater to this need it is never at the cost of the animal. Just like someones dog, animals that have been trained formally love to "work." The author of this post clearly doesn’t understand what they are talking about. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has an accreditation process for zoos, so if a zoo is accredited by the AZA, its doing everything it should be. None of my statements regarding zoos, cover those that are not AZA accredited. The benefits of zoos greatly exceeds the negatives, especially because the negatives are always drastically overplayed. This author wrote this piece because they love animals, studies have shown that the majority of “animal lovers” developed this love while visiting zoos at a young age.

This anti-captivity speak is such nonsense. The “wild” is not like the Lion King, it is a very rough place. The idea that animals would “rather be back in the wild” comes from people that don’t understand how good animals in zoo’s have it.

At AZA zoos there are no “dirty conditions,” unless the specific animal requires it.

The BS about zookeepers not loving animals is the same as preaching about police that misuse their power, it is extremely rare, and completely unacceptable in an AZA zoo.

Accidents happen everywhere. Zoos actually have a much better safety record then most other aspects of society. Statistically you’re much safer at a zoo, then pretty much anywhere else.

Animal do not become “inactive” or “sick” due to being in a zoo. Practically every animal species lives exponentially longer in captivity then in the wild.

Entertainment is the purpose of why many people visit zoos, when zoos cater to this need it is never at the cost of the animal. Just like someones dog, animals that have been trained formally love to “work.”

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