Animals in Captivity

I think it's a pretty complex issue to try to tackle.  BUT,  there's a lot of endangered species that are being kept alive/attempting to grow in numbers, as a direct goal of a lot of these zoos.


Of course, it's man's fault these animals are endangered anyways. I feel like there's too many avenues to approach this issue from, so I'm just going to leave all of you with this rushed post.


Also, wasn't that whale responsible for at least one other death too? Should have just made soup and candles out of him by now.

RoboCop wrote: I personally like having zoos and aquariums. They give shows to make people interested to come to them and pay them. This money is used to try to help research and birth to endangered species. No matter what we do, these animals are still wild animals and we can't control them and have to expect the worse.

Agreed.

Tical3.0 wrote: oldpbnoob wrote: Ok, so lot's of press recently about the "Killer Whale" dragging the trainer into the water and playing with her like a beach ball resulting in her death. I think it is time to go see a therapist, becuase I laughed way to hard at that first sentence.

Me for saying it, or you for laughing at it? I was going to say 'chew toy", but it didn't have the same frolicking visual impact.

First off, I need to make it clear that I'm very nearly willing to condone keeping animals in captivity for the sole reason that I'd get to be on the opposite of the fence from Peta. I have no use for those jackasses and their methodology. At the core, they make some sense, but how they go about things makes me want to tear animals throats out with my teeth just to piss them off.

I guess the entire thing depends on the facilities where the animals are kept. I don't have a lot of use for such things as circuses that showcase animals to make a buck and no other reason, but well maintained zoos that try their best to recreate the natural environments of endangered or rare species of animals is just fine with me.

Besides, they're just animals, they can't feel feelings. I've never seen a baboon crying itself to sleep because it was locked in a cage.

If anything, zoos are GOOD for the animals....think of how stress free the water buffalo pen has to be when they realize they dont risk being gnawed on by a crocodile every time they take a drink of water.

^^ I wasn't really being serious, as a lifelong dog owner I know full well that animals are more than capable of a wide range of feelings from depression to anticipation, excitement and happiness.

Not to mention the stories from the Culled Elephant herds in Africa, Where entire families of elephants would die of depression after losing members to culling practices.

rednekk98 wrote: Tical3.0 wrote: oldpbnoob wrote: Ok, so lot's of press recently about the "Killer Whale" dragging the trainer into the water and playing with her like a beach ball resulting in her death. I think it is time to go see a therapist, becuase I laughed way to hard at that first sentence. When someone posted this story on facebook I commented : "Om nom nom!" I'm not a fan of seeing miserable looking elephants at the zoo. IMO sea world is very exploitative. Free the Orca or eat it, it's killed like three people now and chomped over 10 others. I'm not a fan of bad zoos, but think they do have their place in educating people and promoting conservation as well as for breeding programs, and I do get a kick out of seeing chimps entertain themselves by jump-kicking the glass next to small children or wanking in public. I have a healthy respect for animals, despite the fact that I shoot and eat them. People who treat them like furry/blubbery/ feathered people or delight in teasing them usually have it coming to them. The best case of that was the tiger jumping the wall and moat to go after the idiots with the sling-shot. That tiger could have busted out whenever it wanted to, but just needed a reason.

I think rednekk pretty much nailed it here.

Common sense is an uncommon trait, unfortunately, and people will mistreat animals, even at the zoo.

rednekk98 wrote: I have a theory as to what triggered this. The whale was part of the breeding program and after all he got was a belly-rub he got belligerent.

Wouldn't you?

rednekk98 wrote: I'm just glad I don't have flippers so I can take care of it myself. Still not gonna drown a 'ho in my toilet.

<insert free willy joke here>

I had a really nice, well thought out response to this involving multiple realization, but the forum chose not to keep it :D

It's a really loaded topic.

I'm not a huge fan of circus animals, not the animals themselves but the more or less their envirmoent.

Zoos serve a purpose, not only to educate but to study, protect and in some instances help re-populate. Nothing will ever be like living in the wild but a well maintained zoo is the next best thing.

Seaworld/Amusement parks serve their purpose as well. A Zoo, while educational might not be as exciting as seeing a 12,000 pound whale jump through flaming hoops or nom a human. On that note an amusement park brings a certain excitement to humans by showing the talents or capabilities of the animals that will either A)spark interest in said animal and cause someone to want to learn more about the animal or B) Interest the guest enough to come back and spend money, and thus that money being put back into the animals or conservation projects. Sure it won't as much as what's lining the owners pockets, but something is better than nothing.

The amusement parks, I think have a certain responsibility that if they are going to "exploit" the animals then they should be providing the best man made enviropment for them, and using profits from the animals to increase awareness for endangered species and demonstrate how they are impacting conservation efforts in positive ways.

Edited by PAINTBALL1 - 26 February 2010 at 9:49am