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?

[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

[Grennie]

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

[Bunbaker]

"I think zoos are extremely cruel."

All zoos? Nature is cruel as well.

[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]

"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.

[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.

[mrsjay]

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

[Bunbaker]

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