This topic left me thinking deep about zoos and wild animals, especially with the fresh memories I had of visiting a zoo at the beginning of this year.
While I watched some guys play table tennis at Lufasi Nature Park very close to my house sometimes ago, these men were arguing about exploitation of wild animals for human entertainment. One of them said that animals are animals and are not human beings, so allow these people to make their money. The other guy said, Put your shoes in the legs of these animals and see how it feels. Can't you see how malnourished they look? And they paused their tennis game and kept talking about these wild animals under human captivity with poor management.
I actually went with my kids to take a stroll at the nature park because the environment is usually calm, and they have a children's playground and a zoo section too, though not large like we saw at Omu Resort. But I love watching tennis, so I didn't hesitate to stop by and watch those men play before heading down to other sections of the park. Even though I didn't join in with their discussion, some of their statements got me thinking until I visited Omu Resort again, explored the zoo section, and then reflected on the discussion by those guys at Lufasi Nature Park.
Take a close look at these lions above that I captured at Omu Resort in their zoo section. You will notice that the lions look underfed, especially the females. Despite the high gate fee these guys charge for one to have access to the zoo, still, they don't feed the animals well. That's where it clearly looks like the wild animals are being exploited for human entertainment and selfish human motives.
The people in charge care more about the visitors and their experiences and how they will revisit again for more profit in their pockets rather than the welfare of the animals under captivity in the zoo. For some animals too, the environment they are being kept in at the zoo is not too friendly to them due to climate change; some of them lack the kind of natural habitat they should thrive better with, but this factor is always overlooked.
Truth be told, wild animals prefer freedom; sometimes they react to the human approach, just the way one of the lions wanted to eat Princess Busayo raw during our visit to Omu Resort...lol.
That being said, I wouldn't overlook the benefit of the zoo to humans. Lots of wild animals we read about in books can be seen live over there for educational purposes. Most schools, too, take their students to the zoo to learn and appreciate wildlife.
Researchers also explore the zoo for more discoveries.
Most people, including me, visit the zoo for recreational activities and all sorts of entertainment to unwind and be happy.
Overall, I think that animals would be better off in the wild if these zoos continued to be managed poorly, but in a case where their natural habits are considered by those in charge of their welfare, then it's fine to cage them at the zoo as humans continue to benefit through knowledge and entertainment. I would also say that not all zoos are the same; some do care for these animals, but I haven't seen one in my part of the world anyway, but it will make more sense if all the zoos have a great standard for these wild animals to thrive better.
This is my response to the #HiveLearners community contest on the topic titled, ALL ABOUT THE ZOO.
All images are mine!!