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Original poster

To wonder why older kids never go to the zoo?

160 replies

anotherfinemess1 · 17/11/2024 10:34

I had a fantastic day out with DS (8 years old) at London Zoo yesterday. We all loved seeing the animals and it’s great now he’s older and can read the signs and learn about species and how they are being saved in the wild. I was really shocked that he was about the oldest kid there. Why don’t older kids (8+) go to zoos any more? I hope my son never grows out of it - at the moment he wants to be a conservationist when he grows up and surely that’s going to be really important for his generation after the older generations have made such a mess of the planet!

OP posts:
RobertaFirmino · 17/11/2024 21:45

I'm not keen on zoos at all. I do love a monkey sanctuary though.

Oblomov24 · 17/11/2024 21:41

I don't like zoos. I can't see animals in small cages.

BellissimoGecko · 17/11/2024 19:28

Mine are 18 and 20, and still love the zoo!

blackrabbitwhiterabbit · 17/11/2024 19:07

Maybe cos the older kids are wise enough to realise that zoos are cruel.

Purrdrop · 17/11/2024 19:06

I grew up in Bristol and I loved going to the zoo to see the meerkats, aquarium and reptile house. I was obsessed with the reptiles! But I remember hating the crowds and seeing the larger mammals in tiny enclosures made me feel uneasy and anxious. As I grew older I don't remember consciously deciding to shun the zoo but I did have other interests by then.

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 18:52

TickingAlongNicely · 17/11/2024 18:39

You know the ast majority of animals in zoos have lived their whole life in captivity, as they were bred there're?They don't get a random zebra from the Savannah. It is literally the whole life they have known.

But anyway. Wd are going in circles. I believe that keeping pets is cruel and that their welfare standards are low. You don't.

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You really have a serious gap in your knowledge.

Domestic animals are bred to be domestic.

Wild animals aren't.

Keeping pets is how the animals live. Dogs and cats that are bred today wouldn't survive in the wild.

Now if you don't understand that then I suggest you ask the nearest ten year old because mine could explain it.

TickingAlongNicely · 17/11/2024 18:39

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 18:01

So you fail to comprehend the difference between domesticated animals versus wild animals, ok.

Zoo's are not in keeping with animals best welfare they belong in the wild. Or with support in their native country. Domestic animals won't survive in the wild.

It does indeed appear to be clear your comprehension is lacking.

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You know the ast majority of animals in zoos have lived their whole life in captivity, as they were bred there're?They don't get a random zebra from the Savannah. It is literally the whole life they have known.

But anyway. Wd are going in circles. I believe that keeping pets is cruel and that their welfare standards are low. You don't.

SweetSakura · 17/11/2024 18:14

Mine have lots of hobbies at weekends so days out tend to be done in the holidays

Apollo365 · 17/11/2024 18:14

It’s boring AF. I hated it and opted out as soon as I could 🤣

NuffSaidSam · 17/11/2024 18:11

YankSplaining · 17/11/2024 14:50

Zoo animals used to be in actual metal cages. I was curious if that was still done in the UK or if people were talking about small enclosures - which, though they might be inadequate for the animals, aren’t what comes to many people’s minds when they hear the word “cages.”

As for “what do you think,” I think you were unnecessarily rude and hostile towards a genuine question asked in good faith.

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You thought the UK might be caging animals like it's the 1920's? Really?

To clear up, no we're not. We also have running water and electricity. It's an absolute dream over here, you should come and visit.

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 18:01

TickingAlongNicely · 17/11/2024 17:54

My comprehension is fine thanks. My point is that many zoo animals live in better conditions then so called loved pets. Either both is wrong or neither is wrong.

I think we should stop breeding all animals for purely entertainment purposes. And meanwhile ensure that all those that already exist are kept in the best possible manner.

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So you fail to comprehend the difference between domesticated animals versus wild animals, ok.

Zoo's are not in keeping with animals best welfare they belong in the wild. Or with support in their native country. Domestic animals won't survive in the wild.

It does indeed appear to be clear your comprehension is lacking.

TickingAlongNicely · 17/11/2024 17:54

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 17:50

Your comment showed your ignorance of animals which can be classed as domestic or wild. So now you are deflecting ,😂😂😂

All animal cruelty is unacceptable. But charging to view it in person is worse. Does that help your comprehension?

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My comprehension is fine thanks. My point is that many zoo animals live in better conditions then so called loved pets. Either both is wrong or neither is wrong.

I think we should stop breeding all animals for purely entertainment purposes. And meanwhile ensure that all those that already exist are kept in the best possible manner.

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 17:50

TickingAlongNicely · 17/11/2024 17:30

So a rabbit or guinea pig kept in a small cage ignored in a garden knows no better than a zebra kept in an encousure of several acres?

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Your comment showed your ignorance of animals which can be classed as domestic or wild. So now you are deflecting ,😂😂😂

All animal cruelty is unacceptable. But charging to view it in person is worse. Does that help your comprehension?

TickingAlongNicely · 17/11/2024 17:30

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 16:40

They do because they understand the difference between domestic and wild animals 🤦‍♀️

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So a rabbit or guinea pig kept in a small cage ignored in a garden knows no better than a zebra kept in an encousure of several acres?

Maria1979 · 17/11/2024 16:57

Because they find it boring? Or because they feel sorry for the animals locked in cages?

huuskymam · 17/11/2024 16:52

My 14 year old always comes when we're taking the grand daughter, my 20 year old also decided to come once during the summer because it was years since he's been.

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 16:46

Please do not make the "breeding programme" argument and research.

Any researcher or animal advocate would understand putting the resources where the animals are native! Dragging magnificent tigers and lions to the UK so they can breed is not an acceptable argument.

The reality is zoos were created for humans pleasure. I like to think we have evolved since then. But obviously not.

And no my children don't have tik tok or any such nonsense. They do have a sense of justice that I will proudly support in any way I can.

Marblesbackagain · 17/11/2024 16:40

TickingAlongNicely · 17/11/2024 12:59

I do hope the "zoos are cruel" children don't have pets... the welfare standards at the zoo are probably a lot higher!

They do because they understand the difference between domestic and wild animals 🤦‍♀️

Beezknees · 17/11/2024 16:19

16yo DS loves the zoo, but he loves animals and wants to a vet.

SALaw · 17/11/2024 16:12

My 15 year old was at the zoo on a school trip 2 weeks ago learning about evolution and they all had a brilliant time.

raspberryberet7 · 17/11/2024 16:10

Maybe once they are old enough to realise the animals are being kept in captivity as nothing more than money making commodities the attraction wears off

Tiredalwaystired · 17/11/2024 15:44

StMarie4me · 17/11/2024 12:08

My DGD 12-18 love the zoo. And wildlife parks. But they don't spend 100% of their spare time online watching Tik tok so there's that.

That’s an unnecessarily judgy comment!

Just because a teen doesn’t want to go to a zoo doesn’t mean they don’t do other stuff! Maybe sports games or escape rooms or ice skating gives them a bit more joy at that age?

TheSoapyFrog · 17/11/2024 15:23

DS10 doesn't mind them every so often, but he's a very active child and would far rather play football or something with his mates.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 17/11/2024 15:10

Smashingwatermelons · 17/11/2024 10:43

The last time we went to the zoo it made us feel sad to see the animals locked up, dcs were 12&14. I don’t enjoy going to zoos at all, even the safari parks where the animals have a bit more space.
I can’t get past the idea that surely those giraffes would prefer to be in their natural habitat instead of being in an enclosure in the UK.

I took my boys to the zoo 20yrs ago. I felt pretty sad about intelligent animals, ie monkeys being in cages. Never been back since. Even alleged safari parks have limited space for them.
Miserable, depressing places

TheFormidableMrsC · 17/11/2024 15:09

My young teen loves the zoo and we go several times a year.