General Chat

Thank-you Rox... But I now have to get off my soap box, because I could go on with a passion on this subject.. When I think of the sights we have all seen (animal cruelty!) it physically hurts me. Have given my opinon, and will always stick to it.. LOL! Maz x :O)

Maz, well said!!

Horrific - only took my g.children to non-animal circuses. Ann

A very big YES! x

I have mixed feeling over circus and zoos. But this thread has broken my dream.The Circus came to town last night. Not a wild animal in sight except few cowboys and indians on horses, some clowns and acrobats. All arrived in the car park of a nearby pub. It was very colourful. Don't know what made me dream about that. Not a thought about them till then. Germaine x

I still have my opinion that zoo's are far to small for wild animals... Yes I am aware that successful breeding is taking place in many zoo's, and yes I believe that many of the zoo's truly love and nuture the animals they keep. What I am saying is that in my opinion, a wild animal should not be put in a pit all day to be admired by the general public, and then when they have had their 'day out', the animal is then led back to the 'cage/shed' whatever you want to call it, and kept there until the next days visitors! Conservation parks however, (like Aspinals) dont do this to their animals.. These animals are given hundreds of acres, to roam and live as naturally as possible. These places have successful breeding programmes, all without having to cage the animals. Just stop and think for one moment... You have the area of where you live... your house and your garden... (not the road you live in) just house and garden... Imagine NEVER EVER leaving that area! Imagine, that where ever you go in that very small area, people are allowed to come into your space and watch you.. watch your offspring, makes noises that you have never heard before. That is what it is like for those animals kept in zoo's... A very small area, always on display, and noises that would never be found in their natural habitat! I rest my case! LOL! Maz x

I've always hated circuses. My Mother used to insist on dragging me to see them when I was little. I used to be frightened by the clowns and felt sorry for the animals. I've never taken my son to see one and I'd never go again myself. I think it's barbaric to make wild animals do tricks to entertain people, as once they've done it, most of the animals have a miserable life in tiny cages. Domesticated animals, such as dogs or horses, I see differently. If their natural behaviour can be trained using humane methods, then I see nothing wrong in using their talents as enterainment, so long as the animals are properly treated when not performing. What about flea circuses? I don't think I'd like to see one of those, in case they escaped! CB >|<

I'm with you Jane, it's all very well spouting off against Zoo's but if it wasn't for the breeding programmes in the best run Zoo's many species would be extinct. Of course in a perfect world all animals would run free but this is far from a perfect world & people would do far more for them if they made positive contributions to support the well run places & close down those that are not good. Vivienne PS It took me so long to write that it now sounds out of context & Elaine put it so much better than me.

Oh and Elaine!! I am looking at the bigger picture, thats my point!!!lol

Elaine, you do enjoy a fight dont you!!?lol im sorry my dear but i will not rise to the bait!!!!

I respect your opinions roxanne, but maybe the bigger picture should be looked at How can you say you are right?...how can I say Im right? No ones right.,,,no ones wrong Oh and I will enjoy my day, and will think of you every time I look at a poor animal in such distressing surroundings today Elaine x Bye !

elaine, you have your opinions, thats your right, but please dont try and tell me what I know to be right, enjoy your day out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roxanne If you would never visit a zoo, how can you comment on what good they do....or in your opinion dont ? Im talking about good zoos here, not the kind which are cruel to their animals. I am against the zoos in some foreign countries who are cruel to their animals....(who are then rescued by British zoo's and wildlife parks...) PS my kids know that wild animals come from different parts of the country., Education is down to the parents to let their kids know this. And also there is info at the zoo about each animals natural habitat etc. Elaine x (off to colchester zoo right now)

There needs to be more secure and monitered 'ANIMAL SANCTURIES' in their own enviroment, zoos are not natural for wild animals, it doesnt matter what their breeding programes are like, its unnatural!! they are still in confined spaces, its a very selfish way of dealing with the problem, we are killing off everything, I for one would never visit a Zoo, I find it too distressing, some children will grow up thinking that this is where wild animals naturally live, this is not right,and nothing will change my opinion on this, with respect.

In an ideal world, all wild animals would stay wild....and die in the wild But many of these animals in their natural habitat are killed by the people living alongside them through fear, or mainly greed for ivory, fur etc. Wild animals steal and kill their livestock so are shot. If we emptied all the zoos in the world and let the animals back in their natural habitat, many would die and species would die out. Many animals in zoos are the offspring of zoo animals going back generations. So releasing them into the wild often would mean certain death. There are not enough wildlife 'Safari' parks to accomodate all those animals in zoos. Colchester zoo, as some other zoos mainly take in animals from other zoos or rescued animals, they rarely take in an animal straight from its natural habitat. However they are very conservation minded, this is from their website. Copyright colchester zoo. Colchester Zoo has announced plans to create a wildlife reserve in South Africa. Negotiations are currently underway to purchase three adjacent cattle farms in an area of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa. The land which covers more than 20,000 acres will cost more than £1 million. Once the cattle have gone to other farms a huge perimeter fence will be constructed and it will be possible to rehabilitate the land with wildlife including rhinos, giraffes and kudus as well as 3 types of small antelope; bushboks, oribis and duikers. Long term it is possible that cheetah and wild dog will be introduced to the reserve due to their critical conservation status. A research programme will be initiated to determine the species currently within the park as well as to monitor the impact of the new species that are introduced. It is also likely that some of Colchester Zoo?s keeping staff will go out to train at the reserve to give them knowledge of the wild species that they care for at the zoo. In addition, an education programme will be set up to keep Colchester Zoo?s visitors and school children informed about the project. It is also hoped that the local Zulu communities will gain from the development creating employment for the construction of a road, the perimeter fence and sewage and water systems. In addition, the local communities will be assessed to see if the reserve needs to become involved in creating more facilities for the villagers. It is likely that it will take 3 to 4 years for the project to be fully up and running but it is the start of the realisation of a dream that has been many years in the planning. To enable us to create this reserve we have formed a sister company - Colchester Zoo South Africa PTY Ltd. As far as we know this will be a first for the UK to have a zoo that owns land in Africa and is therefore directly involved in saving wildlife.

Close down the Zoos? OK Where are rescued and traumatised primates going,if not to somewhere like 'Monkey World' and once there ,are they not going to be allowed to breed? How unnatural. Many of these animals were smuggled out as babies after the mother had been shot and now couldn't survive in the wild. The people there have just been to Asia to help and advise in setting up reserves (similar to a National Park) Secondly who is helping to save the habitat of the Orang Utang Which the locals are destroying for crop cultivation.No one, and a few locals there are having to rescue survivors with no financial help, except from your despised Zoos Nuff said (I've probably said too much anyway) Jane

I hate Circuses that use Animals - they are not put on this earth purely for our entertainment. However, I am not opposed to Zoos as such. I have been to many Zoos and Safari Parks that are brilliant and clearly have Animal Welfare at their heart. However, there are still many that keep Animals in tiny enclosures which is wrong. I agree with the comment about Safari Parks - I do hate to see Big Cats caged particularly. I do also agree that Animals should ideally be kept in their natural habitat and do feel that more should be done to keep them in the wild, but sadly we do not live in an ideal world and at least the really good Zoos and Safari Parks keep many species from becoming extinct. Some Zoos have really good, successful breeding programmes - this wouldn't happen if the Animals weren't happy. Glad to see the Spanish are finally loosing their appetite for Bull Fighting - I do think tourism has helped that. I went to Portugal a couple of years ago and the Reps told us that the only people who go to see the Bull Fights now are the Germans! Kaye x

Elaine, i have to say I wont be happy until all 'Animal Circus' and 'Zoos' are closed, wild animals are just that WILD!! If we wish to see them we should visit them in their natural habitat not enclosed!! we have alot to answer for, we are destroying their natural habitat daily, something that i feel very strongly about, Penguins in Florida??????????

Well, whilst down in Cornwall last week I took my son to the Moscow State Circus ......... NO ANIMALS. Brilliant night ! Weird, just 5 minutes ago I was watching Gerry Cottrell on 'Flog It' BBC2 and found out he own Moscow state Circus .... and now this thread comes up... Am I missing something here or is someone upstairs trying to get a message through to me ??? I saw a documentory a few years ago now - filmed secretly at a travelling circus. The animals were badly treated, neglected and starved to make them do the tricks they needed to learn. Heart Breaking to see what goes on behind the scenes away from public eye. Its a shame that todays children will probably not see a seal with a ball on its nose, or an elephant climbing up another elephants back etc etc, but to be quite honest I would rather see animals in a zoo rather than a circus .... but I don't really trust zoo's that much either. Elaine :-)

LOL. Sorry Roxanne I didn't mean that to be quite so long, that's the second thread I have rambled on a bit too much in the past couple of days. You can see some things do set me off, don't they? Thanks for putting the thread up it gave me another chance to mention Born Free Foundation ;-))) Pat x