V&V Opinions... just curious?

Question

I met a vegetarian the other day who works in a zoo. He doesn’t wear animal skin, so I assume his choices are based on more than “dietary” reasoning.

It just seemed odd to me that a vegetarian would work in a zoo. Whatever works for him and makes him happy is fine by me; I’m not judging; it just got me thinking about the concept. I don’t think I would be able to work in a zoo. If I tried, I doubt I would make it long.

What do you think vegetarians and vegans? Would you be able to work in a zoo?
(Please no mean or rude answers.)

This is not in response to anyone's answer, but I think the elephants make me feel the most sad. They roam for miles a day in the wild, and then they end up in fenced-in concrete not much bigger than their bodies.

And the tortoises in kiddy-pool sized environments.
_________
And I'm not sure if this is true, but I heard somewhere that 1 out of every 10 chimps shipped to the zoo actually survive the journey?

Answer 1

No I would not. Zoo's are really not such good places. On top of that they also sell their "unwanted" animals to roadside zoos, or worse to private game hunters.

Some of you need to do some research into the real practices of zoos. Keep in mind that they are a business. Besides no matter how nicely they treat their animals, we still have no right to keep these animals in cages.


p.s @ Acille1jo, I figured I would give you my answers to your questions.

“Do they [zoos’] help maintain ecological integrity or disturb
it)?”

-Considering many of a zoo’s animals are wild caught, for that reason alone (and there are many more) a zoo necessarily disturbs the ecological integrity of an area.

“Also, what is the true value of a single species
in realtion to its ecological system?”

- This is a hard question to answer. It is very much dependent in the species role in the ecosystem. Take one species of tree that certain types of birds depend on for nesting out of the equation, and you may have destroyed half an ecosystem. On the other hand, take humans out of the equation and the loss is minimal ecologically.

“Is it worth saving
a species just so that our grandchildren can see them
live and in person in a cage? Is this a self-serving
effort in the vast scheme of things?”

-I decided to answer these questions as one because I think it’s a slightly different take on the same concept. What we need to understand about this question, the proverbial “burning house” if you will, is that we created it. We would not be talking about a decision between placing a species in a cage for the rest of it’s existence or watching it become extinct if we had not destroyed it’s habitat to begin with.
That aside I think that yes, it is self serving and that we should focus on conservation and rehabilitation as a means of getting to the root of the problem instead of dealing with merely the symptoms of our destruction.

Answer 2

I have several problems with animals being in cages.

1. They're not free. It's obvious.
2. Many are kept from using their
natural insticts due to space restriction
and change of habitat.
3. Many are sold to game hunters for the
purpose of " canned hunts".
I don't think I would feel right working in a zoo.

Wolfeblade touched on a very interesting subject.
When Nixon started the endangered species act
everyone thought it was a great idea. Now however,
we have some descenting scientists who argue that
if a species cannot adapt to its surroundings that
it should become extinct. The issue gets even more
complicated by global warming and the amount of
blame that humans should accept for our environmental
state and the effect it is having on other species.
For example, I read that certain species of butterflies
are projected to be extinct within 25 years due to a
lack of rainforest accompanied by global warming.
The global warming has almost eliminated their
hatching period. Basically my question in all this
rambling is this;( Do zoos benefit the evironment or
are they a band aid for a much bigger problem.
Do they help maintain ecological integrity or disturb
it)? Also, what is the true value of a single species
in relation to its ecological system? Is it worth saving
a species just so that our grandchildren can see them
live and in person in a cage? Is this a self-serving
effort in the vast scheme of things?


Sorry I got off on such a tangent Lyllian I've just been
curious as to how others view this issue.

Answer 3

It would depend on the zoo to tell you the truth. If I were to work in one it would have to have very large environments for the animals to roam in and those would, of course, need to resemble their natural environments.

There are two big zoos in my state. One of them is older than the other and has a more old-fashioned zoo feel, meaning smaller cages/environments. I want to cry most times I go there. (It is free although they accept donations and I feel compelled to give them money in the hopes that they will expand the animals' living areas) The worst exhibit there is the polar bear exibit. It is the size of a one bedroom apartment, maybe. The poor bear will continuously swim in his pool in the exact same pattern, down to pushing off the sides in the same spot. It's pitiful. I could never work there! The other zoo in my area has much larger environments for it's animals-for some you can't even tell where the fence line is! I could definately see myself at a place like that.

Answer 4

I am a vegetarian and lt me put this out to you.
What about vegetarian veteranarians. They have to disect animals to make it through class and learn about animal testing...and yet they save a lot of lives.

I would ask the question "what kind of zoo is it" every zoo is different and some have good practices and others don't
There have been a lot of animals that have been on the verge of extinction and ONLY came back because of zoo and wildlife center breeding programs. (yes they are raised to learn how to live int he wild, they aren't jsut hand fed then dumped in the middle of the wilderness.)
As one person mentioned this is a band aid for llarger problems but at least there are some people trying to do somethign about it. Humans caused the problem but does that mean you should let it take a snoball effect and jsut let things start isapears. Thats liek saying "I won't litter but if I see garbae laying on the ground I will leave it there, its not my problem anymore"
or saying "I won't teal but if I see someone else stealing I don't care"

Lots of smaller zoos have very cramped cages for their animals and the animals suffer greatly for it..on the other hand some zoos have so much land for their animals you are lucky if you see them without binoculars.
Some zoos example will beat their elephants with metal rod/hooks like circus trainers will and other do not,t hey start from birth using hand signals and treats like you would a human child..they understand they are inteligent enough to teach them this.

Just As I own a cat and feel there is nothing wrong with it. If the animals were Not ripped out of the wild (were rescued from being abandoned or injured, or bred for that purpose) AND the animals are well taken care of then there is nothing worng with them being in a zoo.

Answer 5

I understand what you are saying--- I too feel great sadness seeing the animals (especially elephants) in captivity, and I had completely boycotted all zoos, animal parks, circuses etc. for years.
My sorrow for the animals has not decreased--- but it seems as though at least some zoos have made a much greater effort to supply the animals with a more natural environment. And the truly tragic truth is, many of these animals would not survive in their former natural environments because the wild areas no longer exist. It seems to me the most important thing we can do for nature is to mandate that large stretches of it be preserved, and the wonderful wild animals be allowed to live as they always did before mankind turned everything into cement parking lots, or "safe" animal-free parks.
As far as working in a zoo-- I could, but only to champion for the needs of the animals. And of course, there is the hope that seeing these wonderful creatures will raise people's awareness of the need to care for them properly and preserve wild areas for them.
Circuses that keep animlas, in my opinion, should be outlawed.

Answer 6

I guess it depends on the zoo, although in general, I think zoos (and circuses especially) are wrong. Especially since our zoo just put up a huge pig pen that promotes pig farming, and it makes me sick! "About this percentage of the food in the USA is made from pigs...
"Did you know all the neat things that are made out of pigs?..." I E-mailed all the make-up companies I buy from that day.

And I think that animals shouldn't be taken from there habitat to be stared at by frightening strangers. If they are going to display animals, it is only fair that they have a human display, right? Yet they don't. It just isn't fair. It doesn't help the animals at all. Wildlife preserves help animals, not zoos. But, you know, I'm a hypocrite. I still go to the zoo when my mom offers to take me. (But not the circus!)
Okay, I'm sorry for my long rant. It's out of my system now.

Answer 7

I think I could work at a zoo. I might have a similar feeling to working at an animal shelter. They both do what good they can because there aren't enough funds to do the absolute best thing. That is as long as the zoo is a legit zoo and is only in it for the animal's well being. Not like roadside zoos and all those atrocities.

Answer 8

That's a good question. Perhaps it would depend on the zoo facilities and whether the animals were well cared for. After all, some zoos are better than others in that regard. It's also possible that this guy might think that since the animals are going to be incarcerated, anyway, he may as well do what he can to make their stay as bearable as possible.

Answer 9

Well, some zoos are better than others. Also, zoos aren't going away, so isn't it better that an animal-lover looks after them, as opposed to some high-school kid who wants to make extra cash? Lastly, I think with the amount of poaching and illegal trade in animals that goes on, zoos may end up being one of the few places where those animals exist.

Answer 10

Well i think that zoos are necessary. I mean, i know that it is humans fault for destroying animals habitats and stuff, but we have to do something about it...we cant let any more animals become extinct.
In fact, my first thoughts when i read this question were that vegys would be more likely to work in zzos, because they care for animals! But i do see what you mean-i once saw a massive snake that could have wrapped around my car about 2-3 x curled up in a tiiny grey cage about 1/4 bigger than him, and it has no water pool or greenery like you see in some.
However you do get btter zoos, nad drive-through zoos where animals are allowed to roam free.
So, in answer to your q, i would be able to work in zoo(i maight be able to do something about it!) but personally, i actually wouldnt as that is not what i want to do...but not for the reason that i dont eat meat! that make sense???