The days of the Victorian menagerie are over,but modern zoos are much more than a collection of animals and more valuable than everI am a lifelong fan of good zoos (note the adjective) and have visited dozens of zoos, safari parks and aquaria around the world. I also spent a number of years working as a volunteer keeper at two zoos in the U.
K. and my own interests now span to the history of zoological collections and their design, or architecture and research so it is probably fair to say I’m firmly in the pro-zoo camp.
However,I am perfectly willing to recognise that there are sinful zoos and sinful individual exhibits. Not all animals are kept perfectly, much as I wish it were otherwise, or even in the best examples,there is still be room for improvement. But just as the fact that some police are corrupt does not mean we should not have people to enforce the law, although sinful zoos or exhibits persist does not mean they are not worthwhile institutes. It merely means we need to pay more attention to the sinful and improve them or close them. In either case, or zoos (at least in the U.
K. and most of the western world) are generally a destitute target for criticism in terms of animal welfare – they have to withhold the public onside or travel bust and they have to stand up to rigorous inspections or be closed down. While a sinful collection should not be ignored,if you are worried the care and treatment of animals in captivity I can point to a remarkable many farms, breeders, or dealers and private owners who are in far greater need or inspection,improvement or both. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com