A Zoo Story

Taylor Nelson totally agree! I live right next to the Toronto Zoo and am also a zoological student so I spend a lot of time with behind the scenes studying. The zoo is huge and literally takes 3+ days to properly go through because each group gets a giant enclosure. Not everything is perfect but because the zoo works together with many other accredited zoos and constantly rebuilds areas and are primarily for conservation they're always working to improve. And the birds have free range of the park. i'm not up for zoos in general but the toronto zoo is definitely a good example of nature management. Helps that the rouge is also a strict conservation area

I would just like to say that I live in Canada and I am a zoo member at the Toronto Zoo which I believe is a great zoo. They have conservation projects do not allow their animals to overbreed great enclousures etc. I've had the chance to speak with zookeepers and also go behind the scenes into a staff only area where I got to meet some of the zoos snakes. All the things about the Toronto Zoo are great and I highly reccomend visiting it! In fact speaking of over populating zoos the Toronto Zoo had recently recieved two baby Boa Constrictors that they had not requested and were not warned that they were going to be delivered. But as I've read in previous articles PETA suggests that these unwanted animals will be sold or killed. Well the Toronto Zoo is making room for their new arrivals and in the mean time providing them with excellent care. I just want to say that not all zoos are awful places some do what they are purposed to do and I think that these zoos are an important part of our community. On another note Marineland in Niagara Falls Ontario is an awful place from what I've seen and heard from others who have actually worked there you should not support them.

Que pasa que hay tantas ORGANIZACIONES protectoras de animales donde estan las leyes que amparan a los animales?Como es que AUN no se pueden prohibir todos los negocios y sobre todo los ZOOLOGICOS.Acaso las ORG hacen la vista gorda y todo es una mentira? Si se lucha tanto como es que siguen los ZOOlos CIRCOS? Atte. desde ARGENTINA Y BRASIL.

I support much of what PETA does but I disagree with the organization's position on zoos. I think the position is underinformed and neglects essential conservation efforts and successes achieved by zoos. Many people do not know what zoos do to promote biodiversity. The most endangered animals in the world are often located in zoos and zoos worldwide coordinate the mating of these animals to maintain and increase the biodiversity of these species. PETA seems to be opposed to breeding in zoos but this is absolutely essential to the survival of many endangered species. Furthermore many of the animals housed in zoos were rescued from much worse situations such as the international trade of exotic animals. Many of these animals as well as the animals that are born and raised in zoos could not survive in the wild because of past trauma habitat destruction or because they did not grow up with a "normal" life in the wild. Sometimes certain animals can be "taught" how to survive in the wild and are released but most often a "wild" life is just impossible for animals in zoos. This isn't necessarily the zoo's fault for many of the animals in the zoo the zoo is offering them a much better life than what they had before. PETA belittles the educational value of zoos which is unfair. I had great experiences in zoos as a child and this directly led to the development of my environmentalist ethos. PETA emphasizes compassion towards animals and zoos offers an opportunity for people to develop this with animals. For many people zoos are as close to nature as they get. Yes animals are mistreated in some zoos and historically have been understimulated and confined in very small enclosures. But there are many zoos out there that do a fabulous job of taking care of their animals and these zoos deserve our support. Furthermore these zoos have started a trend to improve the lives of animals in all zoos. PETA says that we should support habitat conservation efforts as an alternative to supporting zoos. And we should support habitat conservation! But zoos deserve our support as well because biodiversity conservation needs and the needs to educate the pubic are enormous and immediate. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a good resource for learning about the positive things zoos do as well as finding some of the best zoos in the country. So I say support zoos that are treating their animals well have a focus on education and promote conservation through breeding programs the increase biodiversity in endangered animals. Rather than boycotting zoos altogether I think PETA should target specific zoos that abuse or neglect animals and encourage zoos to do all they can to promote conservation.

Just for a momentary satisfaction of our curiosity we deprive them of their lives.