• Question: What are your views on zoos

    Asked by Giller_98 to Colin, John, Kevin, Shikha, Triona on 17 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Kevin Motherway

      Kevin Motherway answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      I’m not so keen on Zoos as they always seem a bit cramped. In Cork we have Fota wildlife park and i’d say tha majoroity of the anmals there seem happy enough with the vast expanses and I’m sure they’re inspired many a young person to study biology/zoology; but I think keeping large mammals like polar bears or killer whales in capitivity is just plain wrong.

    • Photo: Shikha Sharma

      Shikha Sharma answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      Hi Giller_98,

      I believe zoos behave like intensive care units for species. Yes, their natural habitat is the best place for them but that simply isn’t an option in many cases. The best zoos are heavily involved in conservation and breeding programmes, and depending on circumstances contribute to returning animals to wild habitats. And in terms of providing animals with appropriate environment and space, they have come an enormously long way in the last decades. Its humans who needs to stop destroying their natural habitat if you want their freedom.
      Some of the animals enjoy their life in Zoo as they are safe from their predators

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