You Just Gotta Love Cats

[CHF]

So handsome and dignified.

[klondike]

They are magnificent creatures and endangered. They may well survive in zoos but they are no place for them really imo. There was a place we used to take the children regularly (probably Drayton Manor) and I remember feeling really sorry for one there. Every time we went it spent the whole time just pacing up and down it's enclosure.

I think it was there where we learned not to rush to see when the lions started roaring.  It was just rumpy pumpy time. No love they aren't fighting they are just playing.... 

[Scrumpy]

Zoos are cruel.. Caged animals !!
Some are lonely.. They need to roam.. and run.. feel the wind..

[klondike]

A lot of different animals in zoos can be seen doing the repetitive pacing around the perimeter of their enclosures. Squirrels do but of course they run along rather than pace. That's even in pretty large enclosures where there has been an attempt to make them "interesting " for the animals.

[Mups]

I am not sure many English Zoo's keep these animals in cages anymore, do they?   I thought most were now in safari park type surroundings?

I think anything kept in a small cage,  even a budgie,  must be doomed a life of mental torture.
Must be like us kept in solitary confinement for life.

[klondike]

Maybe they don't now. It has been years since I've been to a zoo although we did take a grandson to Wipsnade about 10 or12 years ago.

[Mups]

Klondie,  did you ever know of  Wellingborough Zoo?   
It opened in the late 1940's I think,   but got shut down in 1970 because the RSPCA reported animal welfare issues.
I never did go there and see it though.

[muddy]

I think that zoos do have a place especially now improved open zoos
If not for zoos many species that had gone extinct in the wild through hunting or habitat destruction have been saved and reintroduced to the wild .

One of these is Przewalski's horse which was at one time was down to 34 animals all in zoos.
These have been successfully reintroduced and have been a leading factor in the re growth of deserts in China which had been advancing at a frightening rate .
This is a fascinating documentary

?


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Przewalski%27s_horse

[CHF]

Zoos are cruel.. Caged animals !!
Some are lonely.. They need to roam.. and run.. feel the wind..

I totally agree, it's cruel to keep them caged and should be outlawed.

[klondike]

Klondie,  did you ever know of  Wellingborough Zoo? 
It opened in the late 1940's I think,  but got shut down in 1970 because the RSPCA reported animal welfare issues.
I never did go there and see it though.

Yes took the children there several times. There was another small one that was shut down Twycross. Their claim to fame was being the home of the PG Tips chimps. I think they lived in with the owners of the place.

[Mups]

Yes took the children there several times. There was another small one that was shut down Twycross. Their claim to fame was being the home of the PG Tips chimps. I think they lived in with the owners of the place.

I've never been to Twycross either.    Yes, I remember those PG chimps on telly.  
I only live about 5 miles from Wellingborough,  but I never went to their zoo.   
I had heard whispers it wasn't very nice,  then next thing was, it was closed down.

[klondike]

It was pretty dingy from what I recall but it was also close and there was a fair chance that we could make it there and back without whatever banger I was driving at the time needing roadside repairs. We'd probably go two or three times a year.

One attraction at Wellingborough zoo that amused mine at the time was the monkey or chimp that clung to the front of its cage making a racket until it had attracted a good audience then peed on those close enough.

Ah happy days and simple pleasures.