Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Another Breakdown in Communication.

Zoocheck Canada

Here's a bunch I'm not sure about. Click on the logo for their website.

For more than 20 years, Zoocheck has been a leading voice for the protection of wild animals. We are the only Canadian organization with a specific focus on captive wild animal issues and problems.

I can certainly get behind any group that wishes to prevent animal abuse in zoos and circuses. That goes without saying. But I tried to find out whether they are opposed to zoos entirely and I'm not sure that I received an specific answer to my inquiry. Here's what I got:

Zoocheck Canada is generally opposed to the keeping of wildlife in captivity for entertainment, recreation, tourism and commercial purposes, or for personal amusement. We are not opposed to legitimate sanctuaries, retirement centers, specialist facilities or conservation breeding centers. In all cases, the biological/behavioural needs of the animals must be placed as the highest priority.

So...is that a yes or a no? I believe it's a yes. But I think that a zoo (a well-maintained one) can have an educational benefit that a circus won't have. And a circus can still function with clowns, acrobats and a fat bearded chick, so there's no real need for animals in captivity. I'm not sure I'm on board with these folks.

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