To wonder why older kids never go to the zoo?

I think I was 12 the last time I went to a zoo. That was La Palmyre Zoo, Charente-Maritime. France. Used to go to Twycross Zoo, at least once a year until then. Been to animal adventure places such as Busch Gardens, Florida aged 16.

No idea why parents decided to stop

Well it isn't natural but if it wasn't for zoos we wouldn't be seeing some of these animals at all because they would be extinct. I think we have come a long way since the zoos in the 19th and early 20th century.

I think you are wrong that older dc don't go to the zoo. They do.

However, for most families, going to the zoo costs an arm and a leg, so it a treat that might happen once a year. As children get older, there are more alternative "expensive day out" idea that they might choose instead.

I don't see a problem with conservation and breeding programmes to help species that we have caused to be nearly extinct.

For anyone on a low income. It was only £15 for us with these tickets.

https://www.whipsnadezoo.org/plan-your-visit/whipsnade-zoo-tickets/universal-credit-tickets

I went on a Year 8 trip to London Zoo a few years ago and most of them were taking selfies in front of the vending machines. They weren’t interested in the animals at all.

In what universe is asking "what do you think" hostile?

My older children find it boring. Animals looking sad and cold in bare cages.

It's very exciting for a 3 year old to witness a lion, older kids know it's not natural to see them there

In the wild they would not survive; that is the circle of life. Because of human intervention they are put down or go to a sanctuary (if they are 'lucky').

If they go to a zoo then their miserable fate is sealed.

Fair enough, we can agree to disagree.

I'm disgusted by our greedy wants in that we see an animal in the wild and want to kill it or put it in captivity. Whatever we see, we want to have. That is how we end up with environmental problems that we didn't have before (example, Japanese knotweed imported to be decorative).

If we weren't so thick we would stop doing that because however 'cute' pandas are (as another example), they don't thrive here in their glow-painted enclosures with dirty, stagnant water. When they die long before their time we do 'heart emojis' and take to social media to proclaim that we loved them more than anybody else. Ugh.

What the hell are giraffes and lions doing here? Elephants and Rhinos? They must suffer ever day. Ditto the chimpanzees/monkeys/orangutans... where is their quality of life? Snuffed out because we want them here.

We covet and we consume. Rinse and repeat. No thought for the species of anything, flora or fauna.

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.

Expense maybe - my 13yo son would love to go to the zoo all the time, in fact I asked my mum to get him a London Zoo membership as a present but then we found under 16s can't visit without an adult, which I thought was ridiculous personally (OK, I get not allowing under 12s maybe, but older kids ought to be able to go), and it wasn't much good as a present if we had to spend £40 a time for an adult to accompany him.

they do? i took my kids 13 12 10 and 7 last month, we go once a year.

What?!?

What are your thoughts in regard to disabled animals who couldn’t survive in the wild? Birds with broken wings that healed incorrectly, et cetera.

If animals become extinct in their own habitat that isn't a disaster.

I would disagree.

It is so expensive! The only reason mine went to Whipsnade last year because I managed to the cheap UC tickets for it.

No, they don't. There are no 'good' zoos. The animals in their 'care' are not indigenous and weren't brought here for 'safeguarding'. That's a complete sop.

This giraffe was healthy and whilst that zoo didn't want him, another zoo did, but he was killed anyway. Lots of parents and kids seem to enjoy watching that.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26098935

If animals become extinct in their own habitat that isn't a disaster. If all of the impotent navel-gazing could be directed to looking after and protecting animals in their own habitat, from poachers/game seekers, etc. then you might have a point.

Zoos can play a part in protecting some species who may be at risk of extinction, however the number of animals who are actually released from wildlife captivity back to the wild is miniscule.

But would zoos survive without the other animals there too to encourage visitors? If not what would happen to the critically endangered ones?
Also, is 'the wild' yet safe enough in lots of situations to release back into? Is the land protected from development, are poachers able to be kept out etc etc?

Conservation within their own habitats is much better, in collaboration with education and human wildlife coexistence projects.

Agree. However how do you conserve an environment that has a volcano, or one where there is a civil war etc?

Zoos cannot replicate the multi-faceted aspects of a natural environment. For example, ability to choose a mate, search for food, selection of environment, rather than having these aspects artificially decided and provided. It's about quality of life. Living longer doesn't mean that the animal is having their needs met, equally breeding is rarely a sign of good animal welfare. It's much much more complicated than I can explain here obviously. Zoos can play a part in protecting some species who may be at risk of extinction, however the number of animals who are actually released from wildlife captivity back to the wild is miniscule. Conservation within their own habitats is much better, in collaboration with education and human wildlife coexistence projects.

I'm a bit uncomfortable with animals in cages, but a good zoo is a treasure. I love them, being able to see the animals, find out about them. I remember the first time I saw the Okapi at London zoo. I never knew such a thing existed. I was about 40.

I'm a wildlife scientist. The wild is always better.

Not sure I follow you.
Zoos do repopulation for release.
And hold saviour (terminology?) populations.

Zoos and conservation in the wild are what I believe we need right now.

I disagree. Life in the wild is brutal. There are pros (and cons) to living in a safe, comfortable, enriching environment - medical and dental care, no malnutrition, no poachers, no dying a slow and painful death (and animals often live far longer in captivity).

I do recognise that some animals are absolutely not suited to living in captivity, polar bears being the most obvious example.

I don't agree with zoos.
Yes, they are vital to the conservation and saving species that face extinction in the wild.
But it's sad to see wild animals penned up in cages and enclosures.

I’m 29 and love the zoo, I also love a good aquarium 😍