zoos are cruel and should be abolished.as should dolphins and whales kept in captivity.
They're an unfortunate necessity for conservation in my opinion and most zoos do a great job of treating the animals well and giving people the rare opportunity to see and appreciate them. Cynical as it might be, the tragic story of Knut's life has done a lot to raise awareness about the polar bears dwindling numbers. Knut was hand-reared, it was never going to end well.
However I do always feel a tinge of guilt and sadness whenever I see any animals in captivity. I think Chris Packham summed it up quite well...
"The wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham acknowledges that a polar bear in captivity loses the ability to relate to bears in the wild. And he believes that if wild polar bears die out there is no point keeping some alive in zoos.
But he argues that zoos have a crucial advocacy role for animals in the wild. And if a zoo is treating the bear well - as he believes Berlin Zoo was with Knut - then keeping some in captivity is a price worth paying.
"We don't need many polar bears in captivity. But sacrificing those animals is justified as they become ambassadors for their species, striking awe into the hearts of humans. We don't want bears and tigers to go extinct."
The immediacy of zoo animals will always wow children and adults in a way that television documentaries cannot, he says.
"I can still remember aged 12 going to the zoo and seeing a tiger for the first time. I could barely speak I was so in awe of the animal."
That has benefits not just for raising awareness about wild polar bears but for dramatising the issue of climate change. Many people might find it hard to visualise abstract notions such as a two degree temperature rise in 50 years' time. But the polar bear losing the ice it relies on for hunting seals, is a story that we can all understand, he says.
"The long-term prognosis is tough for polar bears. So I'd argue that if Knut attracted a million people to see him and they were impressed by what they saw that is the most important role that a zoo can play."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12805534
