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Which one is your favorite? I have a toss up between Kasi the Cheetah and Daniel the Masai Giraffe.

Zoo Babies of 2011

Alas, I am not a fan of zoos or having wild animals breed in captivity. The tremendous downside to this conduct comes in when zoos get strapped for money and sell off their "born in captivity" wild animal collection, typically to breeders.

I'm doing quite a lot of research on the trickle down effect from this practice and so far I've found it fuels the black market and large pockets of wild animal breeders - a gross of them in Texas - who then sell the animals off to people as pets. In fact, that is how "Tony" the Truck Stop Tiger came to live in Louisiana.

I expect someday I will set out a series of articles about this mentality and why it is destructive to wildlife. However, I first have to process out the rage it pulls forth in me before I can report on it rationally and objectively.

One thing I know to be sure is that man's attempt to domesticate wildlife does not hinder their extinction, it only hastens it.

Sory, Deb. I am not endorsing the zoo or having wild animals in captivity. I agree with you that "man's attempt to domesticate wildlife does not hinder their extinction, it only hastens it."

I just thought the pictures were so cute.

Further, I have seen both cheetah and Masai Giraffes in the wild - untouched - and in captivity.

For anyone to say they have seen these animals thriving in their true nature while in captivity is like saying canned apples are the same as eating a freshly picked one off a tree.

There is simply no comparison. Make no mistake these wildlife animals are a shell of their former selves and in noway actually represents the majestic beauty and magic found inside each one of them. They are in prison and they know it.

Of course - I am sure the zoo animals are very aware that they do not belong in zoos. They belong in Nature and they feel the wrongness being done to them. I was only seeing some cute baby animals, not endorsing zoos.

awww ... I know Phyllis. They are so cute this is true. It's one of those soapbox issues for me ... lol

Hence, why I back off from writing about them right now - I think every other word would be cussing. OMG - lol.

You know how it goes if somebody builds the soapbox for you it is nearly impossible to resist it ... and - I tried! *sigh*

Thank you for posting and sharing the cuteness. I'll try not to be a madwoman running around but I make no guarantees

LOL - you are so funny, yet so very honest. I totally understand how you feel about it. The babies would be so much cuter if they were given the gift meant for them - Freedom and Nature.

I will not be upset if you would like to delete this entire thread - for it does give people the impression that zoos are a good place for wild animals. Many will not think about what goes on behind the "cute" pictures.