But neither is the judge who decided the lawsuit against the Los Angeles Zoo and its elephant exhibit last week.
Yes, that
judge heard the evidence presented and made a decision--one that didn’t close
the zoo exhibit down but was still critical.
It told the zoo keepers to keep the elephants exercised and the ground
they walk on tilled, both of which I understand are already done. Also, they’re ordered not to do things like
prod with electric shocks or bull hooks--which they weren’t doing in the first
place. So why criticize?
The current
zoo exhibit is new and large, and it was intended to take the elephants’ needs
into consideration--maybe even more than the patrons’ wishes, since they can’t
always observe the animals. I found it impressive.
Would it be
better to have elephants, and other wild animals, roaming wild and free and
unharmed in their original habitats?
Well, sure, if those original habitats were still in the conditions they
were before people interfered. But
that’s not reality. And, yes, there are
elephant sanctuaries, including here in the U.S.
Zoos at
least teach people what wild animals look like and encourage their
preservation, particularly those whose species are endangered. Today’s zoos are most often also involved
with how best to provide homes for those animals in the best realistically
possible environments, considering that they do have to have some kind of
enclosure for their own, and for observers’, safety.
I spoke
recently with a representative of the L.A. Zoo who is also a friend. She described how sad the legal opinion left
the people who work so hard to try to take the best possible care of those
elephants. The criticisms in it seemed
excessive and untrue.
But that
opinion now exists. So, still, does the
elephant exhibit. Neither is perfect,
perhaps, but at least the zoo can continue taking care of the elephants, and I
find that worthwhile. And
appropriate. I plan to visit them again
soon.
7 comments:
I love the zoo and go there quite often. And I agree with you completely.
It's such a fun place, Janie. We've had a membership since our kids were young, and they're adults now.
Zoos have come a long way.
That's for sure, Mollie. Now there are mostly habitats instead of cages.
I'm glad to hear things were not as awful for the elephants in the LA Zoo as the judge's decision made it seem. I love zoos, the modern ones anyway, that attempt to give the animals some approximation of their home environment.
It's sad that the judge's opinion seemed to be publicized even more than the zoo's response, Monica. I love most current zoos, too. They are fun and instructive to visit.
As long as the animals have enough room and their area resembles their natural habitat, I'm okay with zoos.
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