My last visit to a Zoo during this lifetime
This was my second visit to a zoo in Mexico. First one happened was back in Guadalajara. After this visit I’m sure it was also the last one. No matter what they say to justify the existence of zoos I still find them depressive and sad.
From this day on if I want to see a gorilla, elephant or deadly snake, I will do it in the wild face to face.
What do you think about zoos?
Info for those who want to visit the zoo in Mexico city:
It’s free of charge unless you want to see butterflies and reptiles. McDonald’s has the only public toilets. It’s close to the metro stop named Auditorio. While you are in the neighborhood check out the modern art museum or the anthropology museum.
Reader Comments
Here’s my two cents since you asked. Whether or not we’re free, we love freedom (right?) And so to me anyway, seeing animals in captivity is really rough, because I empathize with them, knowing that they too would like to roam free and they don’t get to do that. Mostly I feel this way about animals that like hunt and/or otherwise travel long distances, like elephants, bears, giraffes, and all kinds of cats, like tigers, leopards, panthers.
One of my more vivid travel memories (from Beijing, for what it’s worth) is of a black panther in the local zoo dashing about in a 4m x 4m cell. There’s no uplifting angle in this story unfortunately. The panther ran around in a circle like a dog chasing its tail over and over again, at great speed. I’m not usually emotional when it comes that stuff (being as I can also appreciate the preservation argument, like in the case of snow leopards (?) or panda bears), but this was a beautiful animal, and I couldn’t help but stare, sort of panicky inside. It was so obvious the panther really didn’t belong there, and you could easily tell the conditions were really subpar. I can’t explain it, but it made me feel anxious. I guess it speaks volumes that I still remember that moment ten or so years hence.
Anyway, with my panther story told, I can say I agree with how you felt, 100%. Zoos should be for wildlife preservation purposes only, not for entertainment. That’s what television, hiking, and travel is for.
Hassua, keskusteltiin tästä juuri eilen Hannan kanssa (ehdotti et mentäis Korkeasaareen). Totesin että ne on paikkoina surullisia, ahdistavia ja turhia, että mun puolesta eläinkantojen siellä vois antaa hiljalleen hiipua pois ja lopettaa tarhaus. On tietty näkökantoja puolesta, niin kuin nyt uhanalaisten lajien säilyttäminen, mutta kai niille voi järjestää omat “turvakotinsa” (oho, täähä tulikin jo edellisessä kommentissa ilmi). Yleensäkin minkä hyvänsä olennon häkittäminen, osoittelu ja jatkuva tarkkailu tuntuu, noh, ei-hyvältä.
On sinuu ikävä. Tuu mun luo kylään sit Lahteen ku palaat (mahtaa tuntua houkuttelevalta tarjoukselta kaikkien eksoottisten paikkojen rinnalla).