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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Zoos are cruel....

197 replies

Ihateboris · Yesterday 07:28

And should be banned. It's just so sad seeing animals cooped up, just for the pleasure of selfish human beings.

OP posts:
rumred · Yesterday 07:32

Lots of people eat animals that have been brutalised. Zoos are part of this phenomenon of humans believing they are superior and can treat other species with cruelty.

Ihateboris · Yesterday 07:34

rumred · Yesterday 07:32

Lots of people eat animals that have been brutalised. Zoos are part of this phenomenon of humans believing they are superior and can treat other species with cruelty.

You put it more succinctly than I could. Thank you 😊

OP posts:
ShutupLwren · Yesterday 07:54

The idea of a zoo in it’s essence does seem cruel and not remotely in the animals interest, but don’t many zoos have breeding programs to try and stop species from going extinct?
I would love animals to be safer in their natural habitat. The idea of poachers and big game hunters killing these animals for monetary gain or a boosted ego makes me sick. I suppose being in a zoo brings an element of safety, but they should have that in the wild. Stupid selfish humans.

0livetree · Yesterday 08:11

I don’t like zoos and I also don’t like eating animals. Both are horrible things done by humans with the big egos who think they’re better than all the other species.

Ihatetomatoes · Yesterday 08:14

Without the breeding programmes of many zoos some animals would be extinct now.

ExtraOnions · Yesterday 08:16

A lot of Zoos play an important role in the conservation of endangered species. It would be lovely if no species was on the endangered list, but they are, and until that is fixed establishments that ensure those species survival continue to be needed.

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:17

Ihatetomatoes · Yesterday 08:14

Without the breeding programmes of many zoos some animals would be extinct now.

Why does that matter? Not why is it sad but why does it matter? Especially when you consider how much human beings have already fecked this world.

TeenToTwenties · Yesterday 08:18

Modern zoos are essential for conservation at the moment, breeding programmes, education, saviour populations etc.

Lomonald · Yesterday 08:18

Ihateboris · Yesterday 07:28

And should be banned. It's just so sad seeing animals cooped up, just for the pleasure of selfish human beings.

Would you let the animals die out before you close them ?

PrizedPickledPopcorn · Yesterday 08:19

Individual animals live longer in zoos because they get veterinary treatment, a good diet and are protected from predators. I would boycott the old fashioned zoos but support the modern ones where enrichment, environment and conservation are the focus.

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:20

TeenToTwenties · Yesterday 08:18

Modern zoos are essential for conservation at the moment, breeding programmes, education, saviour populations etc.

You think animals need more interference from human beings?

Chestecoffthatcarriedheroff · Yesterday 08:21

0livetree · Yesterday 08:11

I don’t like zoos and I also don’t like eating animals. Both are horrible things done by humans with the big egos who think they’re better than all the other species.

Couldn’t agree more! It’s absolutely barbaric what we do to animals - Those poor lovely cows that are mass bred and taken to slaughter to end up in a McDonalds or packet of beef jerky.

tanktopper · Yesterday 08:21

I agree. Having confined pets is cruel too. Often done in good faith, but ultimately entirely for the human and not with the best interests of the animal in mind.

1weekinjuy · Yesterday 08:22

Going by yesterday’s news…. Also ripe for insane psychopaths to hurt toddlers

Daisymae55 · Yesterday 08:22

The zoo near us has wonderful breeding programmes. Such programmes have reduced how endangered some animals are.

Some zoos are cruel. But there are plenty that are playing a vital role in conservation.

NotAnotherScarf · Yesterday 08:26

Thankfully, most of the zoos in the UK are going down the building bigger enclosures nearer the natural conditions for that animal. Bristol zoo moved out of the disgusting victorian display setting into a much larger space. But it allowed a polar bear to go mad and even the money house built in the 70s/80s was very stark and bare

6ate9 · Yesterday 08:27

Ihatetomatoes · Yesterday 08:14

Without the breeding programmes of many zoos some animals would be extinct now.

Does that matter? Humans can become extinct too!!!

Sunnyyetnotsunny · Yesterday 08:30

1weekinjuy · Yesterday 08:22

Going by yesterday’s news…. Also ripe for insane psychopaths to hurt toddlers

So are museums apparently.... 🤷

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:30

We don't need zoos or conservation projects. What we need is to reduce the human population massively and return the land we have stolen from other species so they can live their lives the way they were designed to. We also need to stop polluting their and our own environments.

TeenToTwenties · Yesterday 08:31

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:20

You think animals need more interference from human beings?

Er. Yes. They need positive help to mitigate the loss of their natural environment, poaching etc.

6ate9 · Yesterday 08:32

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:30

We don't need zoos or conservation projects. What we need is to reduce the human population massively and return the land we have stolen from other species so they can live their lives the way they were designed to. We also need to stop polluting their and our own environments.

Are you willing to die now to reduce human population?

Luddite26 · Yesterday 08:32

I have visited zoos a lot lately and they are not the places they were 20 years ago even. I never visited zoos with my own kids. I've never eaten meat. I abhor hunting especially big game hunting.. And the people who partake in it
In my opinion, and plenty will disagree,, zoos right now are not the worst things we humans inflict on animals. All the dreadful despairing problems on this planet I don't feel zoos are the worst thing if they are of a better standard than the roadside zoos or SeaWorld in the US. I am only speaking about modern zoos that educate and help breed animals. I have never watched a circus or an awful animal show since I was about 3 years old. I don't go abroad because of things like bullfighting or dancing bears for tourists. But my opinion has changed on zoos.

Luddite26 · Yesterday 08:33

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:30

We don't need zoos or conservation projects. What we need is to reduce the human population massively and return the land we have stolen from other species so they can live their lives the way they were designed to. We also need to stop polluting their and our own environments.

And this is going to happen really ? Any fake hope of this is out the window currently.

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:35

TeenToTwenties · Yesterday 08:31

Er. Yes. They need positive help to mitigate the loss of their natural environment, poaching etc.

That's not interfering though. That's a human stopping another human doing something. And the likely result is that you stop one poacher and another takes their place. You need to eliminate the need for people to poach.

TeenToTwenties · Yesterday 08:37

redboxer321 · Yesterday 08:35

That's not interfering though. That's a human stopping another human doing something. And the likely result is that you stop one poacher and another takes their place. You need to eliminate the need for people to poach.

Well probably. But in the meantime zoos are helpful.
Don't let ideal get in the way of doing something helpful.