DEATH OF MORE THAN 30 ANIMALS IN INDIA
by BENGAL TIGER on 21 December 2000 @ 07:18 AM
About 36 animals have died in the past three months at the zoo in Thiruvanthapuram in India, ranked among the best in Asia. More than thirty deers have reported dead due to the contagious diseases and several are in critical condition.A leopard died on November 13th and a lion is on the verge of death.A rhinocerous,a bear and a few monkeys are also seriously ill.The zoo authorities are saying that they are ill equipped to handle the current situations. Moreover the zoo doctors have failed to diagnose the disease killing the animals ,or why some of them are refusing food.Contaminated food supplies,lack in care and carelessness among the zoo visitors have further worsened the situation.It is now clear that some animals have died due to the unscientific treatment rendered by the zoo authorities. Mrs Maneka Gandhi had visited the zoo after the incident .There was some improvement in the zoo's condition after her visit,but now it's back to square one.
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I am an anthropology student with a focus on Primatology (or will be in Sept) and I have a moral dilemma. As part of my studies I will have to do observational research at my local zoo. Personally, I am adamantly against any type of "zoo" other than sanctuaries that rehabilitate and only keep animals that absolutely cannot be returned to the wild under any circumstances. The kicker is, I will have to buy a visitors pass or something like that to do my studies... which will be financially contributing to the zoo. Unfortunately because of where I live, this is the only place within my province that even has primates so there is no other alternative.
The whole reason I am studying primates is to help in the struggle for their survival. Once I finish my studies I plan to continue to be a crusader for animal rights (only difference will be my credentials).
I'm sorta justifying it in my mind with the thought that this is the only path I can take to my final destination which has an overall good that outweighs the minor infraction. But at the same time it will be difficult for me to be around the prisoners at the zoo. I haven't stepped foot even near one since I was very little. Another thought is that if I'm volunteering then I can get inside information to back up why I am against these jails and ask whether or not the primates were captured from the wild or whether they were bred to be eternally incarcerated so children can pay to come and stare at them....
I'm not looking for an answer... I will have to find my own and make peace with it, but I'm curious to hear other enlightened spirits point of view... thanks so much!
Interesting little moral dilemma you have. I do agree with your views of animals being incarcerated for the sake of our entertainment and insatiable curiosity, but I also support zoos. My reason for doing so is the fact that these places, however unpleasant and unnatural to the animals, are the only places where they are assured the greatest chances of survival against extinction due to man's persistent hunting and 'gaming' habits. Even on sanctuaries and reserves the animals are vulnerable to poachers. It is sad but true; the same cages that keep the animals locked in also keep the killers locked out.Until/unless humans suddenly reverse their hunting practices and great monetary value is no longer placed on beautiful and rare furs and tusks and horns are no longer considered financially or medicinally valuable, the best suggestion that I can make is to be one of the few who really care and keep an eye out for possible abuses. (Reporting if the animals are neglected, not properly fed, groomed, or otherwise cared for, if they are being beaten or otherwise treated cruely....) On the bright side, many zoos are attempting to expand their acherage to allow more space for the animals and are also attempting to create more 'natural' surroundings for them as well.
Hi folks - yes I tend to agree with Frankie-many of the World's animal species are running directly into conflict with the demands of mankind. Regretably a lot of animal species will lose the fight to exist in the wild. Even species like elephants which require vast tracts of land given their normal behaviour, will find mankind an increasing problem. It seems that the zoos and wildlife parks need to follow the example set by many of the enlightened facilities around the World. In an ideal situation the need would not exist but given the burgeoning population of mankind & his excesses the wildlife is in a no-win situation. Regards, NZBobGreen
Hi NZBobGreen and others, I can understand the dilemna created by a zoo, and maybe some animals are not so happy there, others seem to be suffering less being in a cage : it is very difficult to see. In Antwerp, we have a wonderfull and large scale zoo and many species can be protected here and it is not just for the fun of some kids, but when I go there with my granddaughters, I try to bring them respect for nature and the fauna. Where can they see so much species in one area than here? But here in Belgium, we have to close many little zoos because of bad management. It seems to me that the apes are not quite happy here even in large scaled areas because they yell and become sometimes agressive, but the bears and the elephants seem to be adapted to the situation. We try to avoid cages and create the same environment as in nature but a zoo should be a temporary solution and the ideal (but at this moment utopical) situation is to bring those species back where they belong. The natural environment of the Panda bears is in fact vanishing because of the cutting (by China I think)of the bamboo areas were those bears find their basic food. Same situation in Central Africa were they cut forests and many species of apes have to leave those areas : they say that the Ebola virus is in fact the consequence of that policy and I consider it as "fight back" attitude of "Mother Nature" to warn the humans that they have to stop the destruction of nature. But are most humans listening to that warning : I doubt. We have to change the system and that is gonna take time : at this moment, a zoo is in some cases the only solution, but a large scaled education at school and later on is the first priority. Rob.(Antwerp-Belgium).
It is sad the way these animals are sometimes treated. It's as if the profit is more important than life. The well-being of the animals is totally disregarded for the purpose of human entertainment and convenience. If only these smaller zoos could expand and have adaquate room for their animals. If only the people who owned these zoos were educated to the needs of the animals and could offer sufficiant are. Obviously they should not be allowed to even have the animals in their care since they cannot properly care for them. Their eyes need to be opened to the problems which they themselves are causing.
"And I tell you one thing, if the primates that we came from had known that someday politicians would come out of the gene pool, they would have stayed up in the trees and written evolution of as a bad idea."
--Captain Sheridan, Babylon 5
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