Zoos

Where do I start?!? This is just an overview:

• feed the animals/figure out the diets
• entertain/exercise the animals
• give tours
• possibly train the animals
• clean the cages
• programs (for the guests and the animals)

Zoo animals are usually a wild or exotic species, and many time they are a threatened or endangered species. The Zoo will work with the animals in either a captive breeding program, educational lecture, or volunteer programs to improve the conservation efforts for the species. The following is a short list of animals often found in zoos;

• Apes
• Buffalo
• Bears
• Camel
• Elephants
• Fox
• Giraffe
• Hippos
• Kangaroo
• Lemurs
• Lions
• Monkeys
• Ostrich
• Pandas
• Rhinos
• Tigers
• Wolves
• Zebras

The cost of a ticket is different depending on the age of the visitor, and what type of ticket is purchased. For children under 2 years of age the zoo is free, and those less than 12 years old are considered children, therefore the ticket cost is less. The "total experience ticket" includes all seven rides and attractions, and the general admission ticket is admission to the zoo only. Wednesdays are a"pay-what-you-wish' donation day. They do recommend that adults donate at least $15.00, children at least donate $11.00 while seniors at least donate $13.00. The following is a quick reference of what a ticket cost.

• For one adult ticket "total experience" is $27.00--for one general admission ticket it's $16.00
• For one child ticket "total experience" is $21.00--for one general admission ticket it's $12.00
• For one Senior ticket (65+yr) "total experience" is $23.00--for one general admission ticket $14.00

For more details, please see sites listed below.

In zoos they get treatments that they need. Food and safety from predator's

The Other Side:

In the wild. Where they are from. It's incredibly unhealthy to be locked up in a cage, some animals in captivity live shorter periods of time then animals that are in their natural habitat.

The wild. I have seen too many sad animals in captivity, and it seems they are too sad to even proceed in acting as their species does in the wild. They must remain wild, for I have also seen by my own eyes they die lonely and scared, unless sadly bred in captivity. Let these animals be wild, for they are much, much happier.

Answer

Animals should be kept in zoos because their safe from other animals!

Additional Info: The species, it's safety, and overall future population needs have to be considered when deciding where maybe the safest place for many wild exotic animals. The critically endangered, and endangered species need protection, breeding programs for reintroduction to the wild, and many species need, general observation, and study, so we might learn to aid them in their native habitat in the future. Also some species live longer in the zoo setting than in the wild, for instance the Polar Bear lives longer in the zoo than in the wild. But the Elephant usually lives longer in the wild than in the zoo, so that type of information needs to be considered when making decisions about where animals need to be. It may be that instead of putting the animals in the zoo for people to interact with, that the zoo should be designed with the animals welfare in mind only. Then design educational programs around the animals for people. For more details, see the sites listed below.

Moobobo's Answer

I once read an article about an Asian elephant named Calle. She was captured only one year old and spent more than three decades being traded between circuses, carnivals and zoos. She had a foot problems and degenerative joint disease that the zoo blamed on her time spent in the many circuses and carnivals. The true reason for the problem was that the zoo did not have enough space in the exhibit for the elephants to have full movement in their daily activities. The other surviving Asian elephant now has a similar condition .Calle was given a heavy dosage of drugs and given unnecessary treatments. If the zoo had put the elephant in a safe sanctuary she might still be living. The drugs used covered the illnesses so the public wouldn't notice. "Immediately send them to sanctuaries before it's too late." the Commission of Animals Control and Welfare warned after the elephant's death, but the zoo refused.

Animals need freedom. They need space and independence, to live in the wild and live their life without the humans.

Who do we think we are?

Destroying animal's habitats and then putting them in cages for the rest of their life. When I went to Thailand, I saw some baby gibbons. My tour guide told me that people shoot the mother gibbon, take the babies away and treat them badly. At day they are forced to be on show, so that tourists will give money. By night they're stuffed into tiny cages and not fed. At zoos, I admit, they are better. But it's still the same thing though, isn't it. Captured, put in a small habitat, and then just stand there so people can look at them. It's not right.

Its a matter of opinion, some people believe that they should be left open some people believe they should be shut down, its all a matter of what you believe.

Additional Info: Many Zoos are working with endangered species, either in breeding programs, or research in the field. They also help teach the public about animals, their environment, and their future needs. Zoos give people the chance to experience, interact, and understand animals in new and lasting ways. This is not to say that this is what all zoos do but those that are working towards this type of efforts and goals might should be open.
Zoos provide an excellent environment for animals to make babies. Baby making by rare and endangered animals is essential for conservation purposes to ensure future generations of animals.

Zoos also are an excellent way for people to learn about animals and junk about the animals and see them in an habitat somewhat similar to their natural one, a chance that not many people may get.

In addition, zoos raise awareness of conservation needs.