to take kids to the zoo?

[paperdress]

I remember feeling stridently opposed to animals in captivity as an earnest teen, then spent a few decades not really giving zoos a second thought but now i find myself considering a b'day visit to the zoo for DC.
Part of me feels the same as i did all those years ago; a bit queasy and outraged at wild animals in small enclosures and away from their natural habitat. But part of me sees zoos as part of the DC's storybook/telly landscape, a normal and ok thing for kids to engage with.
What to do?

[Bunbaker]

Longleat is ace. I fulfilled a lifelong amibtion to go there last year. It was brilliant.

[mrsjay]

I really like Longleat and i do love going on the boat to see nico bless him he is ancient and really grumpy

[MigGril]

I do think it depends on the Zoo a lot, although I know a lot of people who love Colchester Zoo. I can't stand it and will never go there again. Yes a lot of there enclosure are lovely and big with the exception of the Lions which is just tiny for the size of the Animal's and if you have ever been to somewhere like Longleat then you will understand what I mean. Never ever again will we go.

On the other hand the closer zoo to us is Banham zoo, it's smaller as in less animals but all there animals have bigger enclosures and feel's much nicer.

[Bunbaker]

"We imprison animals in small enclosures, for our entertainment."

When was the last time you visited a zoo? These small enclosures aren't so small any more. I agree that safari parks are the way forward though.

[Grennie]

We don't create nature. We imprison animals in small enclosures, for our entertainment.

If you must, go to a safari park rather than a zoo. The animals have much more space for natural behaviour.

[Bunbaker]

"I think zoos are extremely cruel."

All zoos? Nature is cruel as well.

[Grennie]

I would not take them. I think zoos are extremely cruel.

[mrsjay]

ah ok just read something I am sorry i am really bad at links that they can have snakes camels and zebras in circuses in the uk so animals with hooves and scales by the look of things, it is a BBC news article

[mrsjay]

as if 9stepaway* i have crisps in my keyboard had bother with my caps for a few days

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

mrsjay oooh I thought you were SHOUTING at me then.... got all nervous

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Yes, I am. It shocked me too. We would have gone but obviously as soon as we realised there would be animals we didn't.

I wonder if there's some loophole, like the animals can't perform but they can appear.

[Strumpetron]

Are you in England? I thought it was made illegal before last year. That's so sad :(

[HorryIsUpduffed]

There was an animal circus in our town just last year. It was very odd driving to the supermarket past grazing zebras

[mrsjay]

iT is nice that people are more informed these days I can remember back in the 70s 80s seeing animals on street corners to get your picture taken with i am sure i have a picture with me and a baby monkey ,

[Strumpetron]

The sheer amount of messages Bluewater received restored my faith in mankind

[mrsjay]

same person and racoon*

[mrsjay]

oh I saw that and i am sure that racoon was on BGT didnt get through mind but i am positive it is the same person, I am glad folk are reporting it and not being entertained

[mrsjay]

I thought so strumperton although some of the rest of the world still have the poor creatures performing

[Strumpetron]

It's been all over my Facebook (I friended RSPCA) that people are boycotting Bluewater Shopping Mall because they had a show with a raccoon riding a bike. What dickweed actually thought an act like that would go down well?!!

[Strumpetron]

Animals in circuses has indeed been made illegal yayyy.

[mrsjay]

oh sorry caps locked

[mrsjay]

I AGREE WITH YOU STEPAWAY BUT I DO THINK THERE IS A PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR ZOOS, I WOULD NEVER GO TO A CIRCUS WITH ANIMALS EVER, I DONT THINK THEY ARE ALLOWED IN THE UK ANYMORE ?

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

mrsjay tbh I just wish that zoos, animal circus etc had never existed in the first place then we wouldn't need to rehome / rescue animals.

[Uppermid]

I don't think London zoo is that big, it's a long time since I've been but the animals really didn't seem to have much space at all. I much prefer the 2 aspinell zoos, howletts and port lympne

[Bunbaker]

I haven't been there since the giraffes arrived. D'oh!