For my Hawken Project I am working at the Naples Zoo in
Florida. I am looking at the effects of whether or not it is beneficial or not
to have animals locked up in a zoo. I am a huge animal advocate myself and have
mixed feelings about going to the zoo. On one hand, I love seeing all the
amazing animals I would not normally get to see there. On the other hand, I hate seeing them
locked up like that and not being able to run free. It is important for people
to be informed of these animals and to see them up close, but does having them
stripped of their environment worth it?
Well that is what I will be discovering
over the next couple weeks by working in different departments of the zoo. Some
of which include: commissary, enrichment, and education. By working in these
areas I am hoping I will be able to answer this nagging question and inform
others as all because I know I am not the only one who is troubled by this as
well. So I hope I will be able to keep everybody updated with my experiences
and feelings about this subject and I cannot wait to hear your feelings as
well!
Hi Liz! I love this idea for a project! This is such and intriguing question. I personally have this same debate with myself when the little kid in me gets so excited to see these amazing, beautiful animals but I then feel guilt when I realize the environment they are forced to live in. It isn't where they belong. I've watched so many documentaries in which they talk about how irritable the animals can be and how they end up harming the zoo keepers, who them retaliate. I think it is immensely important to look at those situations and think about the cause of the animals anger. It is plain to see that they are frustrated being pent up in the tiny glass containers when they are built to be roaming free. I'm really interested to see what you find and what reactions you have to what you see! Xoxo
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