Kids should be able to visit sanctuaries, not zoos. That way, they still get to experience something similar to the “zoo” experience, except they aren’t funding the exploitation of animals. Zoos are for profit, sanctuaries are for the animals.

When they’re older, they can even volunteer at a local animal sanctuary.

“Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.”

I know that when I was little, the zoo was my favorite place to go; we were blessed to live near a really nice one, and my mom tells me that even as a two year-old I wanted to walk the entire zoo and watch every animal there for at least five or ten minutes instead of the usual few seconds.

However, now that I know better, I know there are many other ways little kids can get to see wild animals that are much better for the animals. For example, I volunteer with a wildlife sanctuary that not only provides forever homes for all kinds of animals and rehabilitates and releases native wildlife but also gives tours to the public and educates them on all kinds of issues, such as not keeping wild animals as pets. That, in my opinion, is infinitely better for kids than a zoo.

I’m not saying you have to agree with me by the way? I just can’t fathom how an animal kept in a small cage could be conceived as better than an animal getting to live with lots of space in an environment similar to its own natural habitat.

So this: http://www.vienna.cc/wienpix/tiere12.jpg
Is better than this?: http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images/pictures/04/47/west-midlands-safari-park-43730.jpg

And I think saving a species is brilliant rather than a whole species dying out due to ignorant humans slaughtering hundreds of thousands of innocent creatures for fur, ‘medicines’, etc.
You will also find you CAN bring a whole species back with only a few animals and avoid mutations if you research into it. Science is a lot more advanced than it used to be.

I don’t like them. I’ve only ever been to “nice” zoos. They even were a bit of a guilty pleasure as I loved seeing the animals etc. They are still wrong though animals should only be in the wild. You can’t release the animals that are in captivity now but if people were to stop breeding animals to be in captivity we would eventually have no animals in captivity. Though in the wild then you of course have the problem of big game hunters etc. I honestly don’t even think humans should waste so much money in trying to “save” animals that are almost extinct. I mean it sucks but you can’t bring back a whole species with only a few animals left without them being completely inbred with genetic mutations and health problems etc. Also unlike what MysteryMalice says I think safari parks are horrible as well probably even worse than zoos most of the time.

When I say ‘fields’ by the way I don’t mean a large square piece of grass lol. I just realised how that sounds, I mean like a large expanse built to be like their habitat in the wild.
The whole debate is with zoo’s and parks vs the wild is definitely a tricky one anyway, there are a lot of pros and cons to weigh up.

I don’t like zoo’s, I much prefer Safari parks where the animals are in large fields with shelter etc
I’m not saying I 100% agree with Safari Parks like my local one (http://www.wmsp.co.uk/) but they are much more animal friendly.
HOWEVER though I don’t like the idea of keeping animals captive I do support their conservation programmes and mating programmes. If it wasn’t for a lot of zoo’s and safari parks breeding and conservation programmes then a lot of animals would be extinct or close to extinction.
Here is West midlands safari park wildlife conservation statement:
http://www.wmsp.co.uk/wildlife-conservation.php

What do you feel about them?

My opinion is shaky. As a kid Im sure most can relate as to how fun it was. Running around, getting freaked out by reptiles. Even the sad attempt to feed the monkey right next to you. Back then I didn’t know better.

However, now that I am aware of their limited life, I feel zoos should be closed. Yet what about the rest of the little kids? Don’t they too get to see what we saw? Just how fair is it to keep beautiful animals locked up?

Whats your thought?