Caring About Our Friends in Prison

[Bowwowmeow]

Before I was vegan, I volunteered at the San Francisco Zoo, because I loved animals, and wanted to be near them. I made many good friends while I was there, as I was in one of the most coveted positions of being able to work directly with the animals in the Children's Zoo and Barnyard. Though I don't do this anymore, and haven't been back since I quit volunteering, I am torn between knowing captivity is wrong, and wanting to go back to my friends and comfort them in their captivity. Though most have probably passed on, the parrots are probably still there, and I miss them still. I have many fond memories of my experiences.
It was the following article that made me think of creating this thread. I found it very moving:


Cat Comforts Grieving Orangutan at Zoo


By The Associated Press
From Associated Press
March 09, 2006 10:22 PM EST
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - Tondalayo, a 45-year-old Sumatran orangutan, and T.J., a stray tabby cat, became an inseparable duo after a zoo employee introduced them late last year.
Stephanie Willard, Education Director at Zoo World in Panama City Beach, said Tondalayo was depressed since losing her mate two years ago.
Her age prevented her from moving to another zoo or taking another mate. The ducks and turtles swimming in a moat around her island were not enough, Willard told the Panama City News Herald for Thursday's editions.
When the sweet-natured orange cat wandered into Willard's life, the solution became clear.
"It's an unbelievable match," Willard said. "This has worked out a lot better than I expected it to. She's got brighter eyes now. He's brought a lot of light to her."
Zookeepers named the cat, T.K. - short for "Tondalayo's Kitty."
They play together, cuddle and sleep together each night. They have been together constantly for more than a month.
"He's perked up Tonda more than anything," Willard said.


Though the ultimate goal is to put an end to zoos, and the miserable policies that keep poor Tondalayo lonesome because of her age, for example, I feel such a desperate urge to give comfort to the animals in captivity, and I know from my experiences with them that they do indeed take joy from loving attention. But I don't know how to do this without supporting the zoos, so it makes me very unhappy. Maybe if I didn't live so close to a damn zoo I could put it out of my mind. :(:(:(

[Oracl]

Zoos are very sad places. :(

Unfortunately 8 elephants are to be imported from Thailand to Australia to live in 2 of our zoos. :sorry:

Humane Society International is pleased we have been able to improve the welfare conditions for 8 Asian elephants coming to Taronga and Melbourne zoos.

HSI joined with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the RSPCA to challenge a decision by Federal Environment Minister, Senator Ian Campbell, to allow the importation of the elephants from Thailand to facilities now shown to have been inadequate. While our primary position was for the elephants to stay in Thailand, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has ruled that the elephants can come to Australia, but only if a number of important welfare conditions are improved.

As a result of the court case, the elephants will have more comfortable sleeping quarters and mandatory exercise requirements. Electric shock wiring will have to be removed from trees to allow the elephants to scratch and forage. Taronga zoo will have to install earth banks for their elephants to lie on and mud wallows for the elephants to play in will be increased. CCTV will record the elephants 24 hours a day so that behavioural problems can be identified. Both Melbourne and Taronga zoo will now have to comply with husbandry standards that were previously voluntary. The elephant enclosure at Taronga zoo is particularly small, and the Judge has ruled that if the elephants cannot be satisfactorily exercised there, and if other contingency plans fail, the elephants should move to the zoo's open range facility at Western Plains, Dubbo.

The Judge has also ruled that a male elephant to be housed in isolation at Taronga must retain social contact with the other elephants.

Elephants have long life spans and very complex social and biological needs. HSI is confident the elephants will be grateful for the stronger welfare provisions the court case has brought them.

There is a long history of elephants suffering serious health and welfare problems in zoos. HSI and our colleagues from the other animal welfare organisations will be closely monitoring the elephants' welfare once they arrive at the zoos and will alert the authorities to any problems.

[Bowwowmeow]

I hope this is a zoo transfer and they are not taking them from the wild.
Elephants do not belong in zoos. Well, nobody does, but some can adapt better than elephants.
:bmoon::bmoon::bmoon:

[Bowwowmeow]

[/URL]
I just remembered this article!
Zoo Puts Humans Behind Bars


ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Ever wondered how a lion feels, trapped in a zoo cage?
Visitors to Zagreb's zoo can find out, with two cages there set aside for humans as of Friday.
The cages — which visitors will be able to enter and leave at will — are labeled "Homo Sapiens" and are even partially furnished.
[URL="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167280,00.html"]A recent exhibit at the London Zoo was partly for laughs. (http://www.thenakedvegan.net/) This project, launched by the head of the Zagreb zoo, Mladen Anic, goes beyond offering a behind-the-bars experience to warn about human devastation of nature.
"We wanted people to get a perception of how the animal perceive the cage," Anic told The Associated Press. "But we also wanted to inform people about all the ecological problems for which humans are directly responsible."
One cage is for "good man," and is furnished with things made of natural materials — bamboo chairs, and water and fruit displayed on a wooden table.
The other, for "evil man," has materials that harm nature — plastic chairs, and garbage in the corner, with a note above the mirror reading: "The most dangerous beast on the planet."
The "good" cage contains brochures on how to protect the environment; the "bad" one shows how it is being ruined.
"I hope this will make people think about the fate of ourselves and our planet," Anic said.
Already on Friday, dozens of people toured the cages. A group of youngsters amused themselves by throwing food to friends in the cages.