what is the law saying that you cannot feed live animals to any animals captivated in a zoo?why can u feed meal worms for example but not live fish to the penguins? is it something to do with vertabrates and invertabrates. But if so the why cant you feed live squid as they have no back bone?
2007-02-11 01:07:06 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Zoo food is carefully screened for disease- parasites-freshness etc. While they are being prepped they are often "filled" with vitamins and supplements for the animals heath. It is also a lot easier to care for dead animals and fish than live ones. Finally-I don't think the public would appreciate a zoo keeper throwing a live seal to a polar bear
2007-02-12 07:49:25 · answer #1 · answered by Allen L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's illegal in the UK to feed live vertebrate for various reasons. The main one is welfare. The prey animal will get extremely stressed. It isn't like in the wild where they have a chance of escape. It is not a natural hunting situation. Also they could damage the predator. Animals in the wild have a lot of battle scars and can even die from injuries sustained when hunting, when you have valuble endangered animals you don't want to risk that, and you don't want to be spending needless amounts of money on vets visits either.
There're also health issues. someone has already mentioned parasites, but there are various parts of certain animals that are not allowed to be fed to other animals because of risk of transmitting things such as BSE. It's pretty hard to remove animal parts when the animal is still alive!
I believe (haven't actually read it) that the bill is however written in such a way that you could defend your actions if it were a unusual medical necessity, but it's extremely unlikely that any zoo would bother to go to court over that, the practise is frowned upon in general, law or no law.
Cephlapods (such as squid) are scientifically considered to experience pain and suffering as much as vertebrates, but I don't think that they're legally covered yet, it's just best practise and ethical to already include them.
2007-02-12 16:59:21 · answer #2 · answered by Kate 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The food the zoo feed the animals is carefully checked for parasites and other things. At this point the zoo can add vitamins for the animals heath to supplement what they would recieve from live prey. Same as when exotic pet owners have to add calcuim dust to the foods they feed their pets.
Plus it wouldn't be a very nice sight to see would it? Exspecially for children.
Also some zoo's will pick a day when the animal does not get fed, because in the wild they may not be able to catch food every day.
2007-02-11 11:12:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Keep in mind that zoos have to receive, store, and replenish large amounts of food for many different types of animals, and they have to monitor the animals' diets. Live food would be too much of a logistical challenge (not to mention the questions of ethics).
http://www.helium.com/tm/148154
2007-02-12 01:18:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
HOW DARE YOU!!!!!! That is so unspeakable of doing. Okay well just answer this Mr. I don't care about animals, would u want to be killed then fed to a gator who would rip you into shreads so u'd suffer or just be fed right to him and feel the pain of ripping you to shreads?
2007-02-13 17:40:08 · answer #5 · answered by wildlilo2266 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its political. think about it, would you want to take your kid to the zoo, and have them watch a tiger or lion grab some animal by the neck and suffocate it? invertebrates don't take on the same psychological effects on children who see many of these animals as heroes and potential pets.
2007-02-11 13:33:50 · answer #6 · answered by Falcon Man 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The animals will get use to people feeding. Once you stop, the animal gets very aggressive, e.g crocodiles. That particular animal will lose its 'feeding time' memory.
2007-02-11 09:12:51 · answer #7 · answered by D 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is unethical, esp. for the prey. for example, a gazelle in the wild would have a fighting chance of escaping the lion. However, put into a small enclosed space, it would have no chance at all!!
2007-02-11 14:41:43 · answer #8 · answered by Serry's mum 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i have heard it all now
by the way you have
a live turkey for dinner
2007-02-11 09:15:20 · answer #9 · answered by S Csparky 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you could use feeder-squid but alas, we do not keep the Japanese captive(any more).
2007-02-11 09:17:38 · answer #10 · answered by rufus 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋