To wonder why older kids never go to the zoo?

No zoo is providing excellent animal welfare if they keep larger or migratory species in captivity. But their clever message makes you think they are.

My kids know that zoos keep wild animals, who would rather be free in their own habitats, captive for the entertainment of the public. As a result they think zoos are sad places. Zoos push conservation messages, because they have to do some conservation to be licensed, however it's not nearly enough and some species, eg polar bears, elephants and big cats, should never be in zoos as it's not possible to meet their needs in captivity. It helps that their mum is a wildlife specialist who teaches them that wild animals should be conserved in the wild rather than in cages...

My older kids still love the zoo. I'm an adult, and I still love the zoo! Well, it depends hugely on the zoo tbh, I'm thinking of Whipsnade, which is awesome, especially in terms of animal welfare - I never feel guilty looking at any of their animals.

We enjoy a visit to the zoo and/or safari Park. It is artificial seeing animals constrained or birds in cages or fish in aquaria.

I also think it's rubbish having people go visit 'in the wild' it's just as artificial and even more damaging to the wildlife.

If we can't accept zoos or parks then we need to let the animals go extinct as so many have already.

😂

Zoos and animals for entertainment are cruel and a lot of kids grow up and realise that.

I don't overly like London Zoo as las time it felt the animal enclosures were too small for them.

On the other hand... we live near Yorkshire Wildlife park. Many of the enclosures are massive. Plus we know the background of some of the animals, like the Ukrainian lions.

Because you went a month ago and a month before that. And a month before that.

"Look, it's that warthog again!"

I take my 6th formers on a zoo trip every year, most have a great education programme for those studying biology or ecology. I was worried about the uptake initially, but they all loved the idea of a day out at the zoo.
Recently I took my own DS15 and a couple of his friends to Chester for a day out, I jokingly laughed and said "we could go to the zoo" but they jumped on it and we had a great day.
I suppose the only thing for me is it can be really expensive, but I agree it would be great for more older kids to go.
(sorry I didn't mean to copy the original OPs post in here!)

My children have an issue with all zoos. They find the concept of an older generation of having animals on show as unfair.

They really were upset at seeing what should be wild animals in enclosures. So we never go to a zoo because I respect their views.

Because animals are beautiful, interesting, graceful. Keeper talks are interesting and informative. Because in a good zoo they are enriched in open enclosures and are not 'bored animals in cages'.

Why would older kids want to walk round all day and look at bored animals in cages?

Not sure about others but one of my 15 year olds still loves the zoo. Her twin sister isn't really as keen. My 13, 9 and 6 year olds all also like it there and would never pass up a trip. It's shocking your 8 year old was the oldest child because their school does a Zoo trip when the kids are about 9/10 and everyone goes and enjoys.

But doesn't help with breeding.

Why not, with membership?

ONCE? A? MONTH? WTF?

Mine are 11 and 14 and still enjoy a zoo.

The main zoo we go to is Jersey, set up by Gerald Durrell.

Ok so maybe my family is just weird but we liked going to Tring to see the Rothschild Collection.

Or, The Dead Zoo as my kids call it 😬🤦🏻‍♀️

It's a bit old and motheaten in places, and some of the expressions on the animals are interesting to say the least, but you can stand right next to the exhibits and see them close up.

Also the NHM in London has lots of animal exhibits and models where you can get a sense of the wonder of the natural world.

I think that museums combined with the amazing wildlife film footage we have now, gives a much better experience without seeing live animals in cages.

Unless you yourself would be happy to spend your life caged just in case a disaster wiped out humans, you shouldn’t speak for the animals really.

There are some good zoos, but far from all.

My teens still enjoy a zoo trip once in a while. My 16 year old has asked for aquarium tickets for xmas.

Sounds like a lot of the children on here need to be taught about the benefits of good zoos, the conservation work they do, the education and research, the breeding and release, the holding of saviour collections (might not be the right name, where a disaster somewhere could wipe out a species so have some in captivity as backup).

I can’t speak for other kids but mine are 9 and 12 and whilst they love animals, they are very much into outings where they can be physical and interact and get involved in activities. They are not so much into things where they are just going round looking at stuff. So they would choose eg Go Ape over a zoo.

They did love going to a place with loads of goats recently but that’s because they could pet and feed the goats not just look at them over a fence.

We had memberships at the local zoo until youngest DC went to school, DD was 9. They were both past it, but loved it until that point.

Last year, my child told me that he doesn't like zoos as it's not nice for the animals to be kept in captivity.

Yes, my dd was the same. The zoo was one of her favourite places to go but as she got older her opinions changed and now I can't imagine for a moment her going to a zoo. They are a bit sad once you become aware.

I think a lot of younger children want to work with animals but they start to develop more varied interests as they grow up. It's like wanting to be a footballer.