Went to the Oakland Zoo today. kinda like going to the mall, instead of people watching it’s animal watching, which is basically animal watching (unless you don’t believe in evolution). But a friend was telling me about a movement that is trying to prevent zoos from restocking their aging animals. Belief is that it is bad for any animal to not be in its natural environment. ( wonder if any of those folk have pets?) But I am sure it sucks to be in the zoo as opposed to the real world. So what is the function of a zoo? Prevention of species depletion, showcasing animals to create empathy in a mostly urban human population, spectacle? so are these people, who are against zoos, doing much to prevent loss of habitat, to prevent species from dying out, to create sympathy for wild animals, in a manner to replace the function of zoos.
Or are zoos just such a horrible place? If they are horrible, but the end result is good-sympathy, awareness etc- is it okay to then sacrifice the few for the many?
Or is that rather Machiavellian(sp?)?