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Should a wild animal be brought and kept confined in a zoo?
the poor fellow deserves to be with his friends in the wild. Why torture him by keeping him in a zoo?

The existence of zoos is the subject of controversy. Should we do away with them? Zoos do provide captive breeding programs for endangered species, but that could be done "behind the scenes" without the animals put on display. However, having them on display keeps the zoos honest, with the public watching how they are cared for, the types of environment they are living in, etc. Zoos also promote education, bringing the plight of some animals to the unknowing public, thus increasing awareness and funding.

Marian

I agree with what you say. About funding for animals etc. but what about the imprisoned animals? We sentence human beings to imprisnment for a limited period. But an animal is kept there forever for no fault. Is this not cruel? I find it very cruel and unjust.

Once an animal is put into captivity, they cannot be released back into the wild easily. They become imprinted on humans, and that can cause all kinds of problems if they were released. Look at what happened to Keiko from the movie Free Willy. The orca that played Keiko was finally released back into the wild, incorporated into a pod, but kept leaving the pod to go back to the marina or seek out humans.

It seems to be the same thing with humans in captivity. Once we release them from prison, most don't adjust well to life in their "natural habitat". lol

i understand this about animals, but is this also true for humans as you say?

Since a study showed that in the USA 67% of prisoners released from prison are re-arrested within 3 years, I would say "yes". These people do not seem to adjust well to their "natural habitat"....lol,

Is it their love of prison or love of crime?

I am often surprised at how many people think *all* zoo animals have been rescued. They really have no understanding of the fact that most zoo animals have been CAPTURED and forced to live in a cage (or other type of enclosure).

I'm especially against large animals being kept in captivity--examples: elephants, dolphins, and killer whales.

No animal should be kept in a zoo. We do it because we are more powerful. But it is ethically very wrong.

<quote>the poor fellow deserves to be with his friends in the wild.</quote>

This is great. Except for most of the "wild" is gone! So when the habitate is gone, should the entire species be gone too?
I don't like caged animales either but if it IS a way to save a species from extinction, perhaps some generation after ours will have more sense and be able to put them back into the wild again. Kinda like the return of the timber wolf to Yellowstone.
That's my hope. In the meantime, let the caged ones act as ambassadores for their kind and teach kids. They are the future.

Save the jungles. Do not cut the trees. Let the animals have their space. that is my thought. India has seen so much destruction of wild life that it pains me madly.