Comments on: New Scientific Analysis Debunks Zoos’ Education Claims

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:51:34 +0000

I agree with Clare Butler. No, animals should not be kept in inadequate conditions. However, I believe that zoos serve a significant educational purpose. How many people have seen a lion in the wild? Most people cannot simply up and fly to Africa to see them. If you only see them on television, how can you really feel anything toward them?

“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Share my wildlife with me. Because humans want to save things that they love.” – Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter

By: T Main

T Main — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:49:45 +0000

I understand that IDA’s position is anti-captivity, but what does IDA think should be done with the animals currently in captivity? Many animals born in captivity lack the skills needed to survive in the wild (feeding/hunting methods, predator protection, etc.), preventing their release into wild environments. Is the quality of life so limited for captive animals that we should consider euthanasia?

By: Lori Marino

Lori Marino — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:43:13 +0000

You can find the entire congressional hearing on CSPAN here:

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/293204-1

By: Clare Butler

Clare Butler — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:07:57 +0000

While I agree that large animals like whales and elephants should not be kept at Zoos and aquariums merely for entertainment, I do not agree that zoos can not fulfill an educational role. I volunteered as a docent at our local zoo. In order to do this we took a 3 month very detailed class on all the animals held at the zoo and were tested on it. We also did programs as docents using small animals like snakes, hissing cockroaches and birds for schools, libraries, nursing homes etc in which we shared this information about the animals. There is also a summer camp where children learn in detail about the animals. Also, all the displays have educational material with them.
So to say the zoo study is biased is in inself a biased statement. We would have to know what the criteria of both studies were to compare them in order to say which was more accurate. Did they take a survey? How many people and who was part of the study?

By: The Discerning Brute » Blog Archive » Zoos are for Idiots, and Practical Balcombe

Mon, 03 May 2010 18:35:49 +0000

[...] a critique debunking a recent study conducted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Dr. Lori Marino, a neuroscientist and [...]

By: Jacob Dijkstra, M.D.

Jacob Dijkstra, M.D. — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:49:31 +0000

In Medicine, many studies have no credibiliy any longer because the authors have to disclose any financial conflict of interest. Most of them do have such conflicts. The study by AZA was obviously funded by AZA and consequently the authors cannot be taken seriously. On top of that, the AZA study was not peer-reviewed. The public is confused, but the majority does not care as long as they can take their kids out for the day, look at some pitiful animals in cages and finish the day with a double cheeseburger.

By: Nancy Fifer

Nancy Fifer — Sun, 02 May 2010 12:41:47 +0000

For years, I have been protesting the archaic idea of keeping animals in cages or compounds due to the arrogance of man. If kids need a viewing of animals, it should be in the animal’s own habitat. So much technology to pick from. KEEP WILD ANIMALS IN THE WILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: EPAR

EPAR — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:25:23 +0000

There is here nothing educational if humans look at elephants, lions , brown bears, polar bears etc. living in jail -zoo, because every of these species are part of many different biodiversities in different climate parts and it is unnormal keeping them in one place and their life is atypical in zoo-jails .That is only more one form of business for humans own advantage and form of cruelty to the animals .Also keeping these animals in zoo-jails is not a way for protection them from species extinction in the nature but just a way for trade with them for humans own advantage . We suggest all zoo-jails all over the world be closed and all `prisoners` be back to the nature – by putting them in sactuaries in necessary climate levels needly for every of species .

By: EPAR

EPAR — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:24:26 +0000

There is here nothing educational if humans look at elephants, lions , bown bears, polar bears etc. living in jail -zoo because every of these species are part of many different biodiversities in different climate parts and it is unnormal keeping them in one place and their life is atypical in zoo-jails .That is only more one form of business for humans own advantage and form of cruelty to the animals .Also keeping these animals in zoo-jails is not a way for protection them from species extinction in the nature but just a way for trade with them for humans own advantage . We suggest all zoo-jails all over the world be closed and all `prisoners` be back to the nature – by putting them in sactuaries in necessary climate levels needly for every of species .

By: Sini Keto

Sini Keto — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:24:16 +0000

Noted and sign !