Wordless Wednesday 88
Spotted at San Diego zoo, almost six years ago on a family trip.
Can you spot it? Now it’s there. Now, it’s not. Depends on the angle from which you view this gate. I thought it was quite interesting.
As an aside, let me ask you something that always bothers me whenever I visit a zoo. Do you love to see animals in a zoo? Or would you let them in the wild? Speaking for myself, captive animals do not make me happy. So, if they are kept in the open with ample space for them to wander about, it may not be that bad, right? Some zoos even help with conservation of extinct animals. San Diego Zoo does. But, I know many that don’t. Yes, it is a hot topic for discussion. Many of us have an opinion on this. What are your thoughts? Would love to know, if you care to share them, in the comments below. Thank you.
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29 Comments
Rachna Parmar
I could see the elephant. Very innovative. You make a valid point about zoos. I have taken the kids to BNP multiple times. And yes, I prefer that animals be let loose in their natural habitat.
Esha M Dutta
Thanks, Rachna. Glad you liked the picture. BNP has improved a lot now from what it used to be, no? We’ve been there too, with Arjyo, about 3 years back. Absolutely with you on the fact that animals must be let free. The National Parks are good that way, as they protect these animals and also ensure they don’t go extinct.
Shilpa Gupte
I would rather see the animals roaming free in the wild, at peace with themselves and the world. Not bothered by humans or the poachers and living happily. Ah, wishful thinking!
I don’t like the zoos for this main reason that the animals there–esp the ones in the cage–look so distressed, it makes me feel guilty as hell! That’s the reason, I leave my birdies free, as much as I can.
Esha M Dutta
Yes, I know what you mean, Shilpa. Humans (mostly poachers) are the biggest threat for animals all over the world. Caged animals make me feel claustrophobic and distressed. Love to see your birdies roam about the house all day. Makes so much of a difference from the sight of caged birds I see in so many homes.
Shubhra Rastogi
I could figure out the elephant but not any other animal. My daughter loves going to the zoo for the fact that she can see those animals which she has not. But maybe when she grows older she will outgrow this fact as well.
Esha M Dutta
Well done, Shubhra! I think there’s a baby elephant there as well which you perhaps couldn’t spot. Actually, most people couldn’t, so it’s okay. 🙂 Guess all kids love the zoo. My brother was crazy about it until he finished school and my son is no different. He loves animals but as he is growing up, he wants to see them free.
Handmade Jewelry Haven
PS…the original ‘caged’ zoo is now a public garden. A great place to have picnics, Some of the cages and pens are still there for people to see.
Esha M Dutta
Oh, that sounds like a good place for having a day out with the family. 🙂
Handmade Jewelry Haven
Of course, every zoo is different. I remember growing up in south Florida and the only zoo we had, the animals were in cages. Then when I was a teen (back in the 80’s), they built Metro Zoo. The animals have huge open spaces to roam. Of course this can be a detriment to the viewer as sometime the animals are too far away to appreciate. However they do have posted feeding times up close.
– Lisa
Esha M Dutta
I think these large open spaces are becoming a thing with many of the zoos we have recently visited. It’s great that kids get to feed the animals too although the flip side is sometimes you never get to see them at all as they are too far for the viewers to see them. Thank you for joining us this week. We look forward to seeing you at #ww again.
Robert M Goldstein
I’d rather see them in the wild. Zoo animals always look unhappy to me.
Esha M Dutta
I understand, Rob. I think some zoos and national parks are doing a great job of looking after these animals by providing them large open spaces to roam about freely like they would, in the wild. The sight of caged animals or birds is definitely not for me. I’d rather they roam freely any day. Thank you for joining us this week. We look forward to seeing you at #ww again.
Alana
Beautiful gate (I saw the elephant right away but you took this at the right angle). I grew up a couple of miles from a world famous zoo (the Bronx Zoo in NYC). I have mixed feelings too but I know zoos are instrumental in conservation and are, so to speak, a necessary evil at this point in time. They have improved tremendously from my childhood (I’m 65) in habitat and treatment.
Esha M Dutta
Thank you, Alana. I can see where you come from. I guess zoos are changing now from what they used to be even 20-30 years back, so I can say that’s a good sign for sure. Thank you for joining us for #ww this week, Alana.
CorinneRodrigues
I saw the elephant, but can’t figure out the other animal/s. I love how you linked this to perspectives.
I used to love visiting the zoo, but as an adult I’d much rather have animals in their natural habitat.
Esha M Dutta
Well, I guess most of us couldn’t spot the baby elephant as well, that’s there in that frame. I know what you mean, Corinne. I guess as we grow older these thoughts about freedom dawn on us. My son loved the zoos for as long as I can remember (and still does) but it’s only now when he sees them caged or fenced up in small compact spaces, that he talks of wanting to release them.
Rajlakshmi
It’s so creative isn’t it 😁 must be fun to jump around and see from different angles.
I too have linked today, but I didn’t stop with just one picture 🙈
Esha M Dutta
Thank you so much for joining us this #ww, Rajlakshmi. Just a gate, I know, but it is creatively designed, isn’t it? You see it from different angles and it looks very different. If you visit the West Coast (of the USA), don’t ever miss San Diego and the zoo! 🙂
Anamika Agnihotri
This is amazing. It took a second or two to see the elephant in the gate. As a grown up, frankly speaking, I did not think about the animals kept in captivity but I agree reading your views. Yet, with declining wilderness and the threat of extinction, the wild is not safe out there in the wilderness. Strangely, D does not like zoos and I thought all children do.
Esha M Dutta
Well said, Anamika. I agree we don’t often think of the animals in the cage unless we imagine ourselves in place of the animals and wonder how we would feel holed up in a tiny space for spectators to come and see us round the clock and enjoy the sight. But then, zoos are changing and these days there are some zoos who are also involved in the conservation of animals with dwindling numbers and ensuring the protection of wildlife that faces threats from humans in their natural habitat. In that sense, zoos are probably better and safer to be in for these animals. So happy to see you join us this #ww, Anamika. Look forward to seeing more from you in the coming weeks. 🙂
BellyBytes
What a cool idea. I love visiting zoos and even though animal activists would like to set the animals free, I think zoos should be encouraged. Especially zoos that actually look after the animals. I loved this funky gate . What a unique way of attracting young minds and stimulating them ….
Esha M Dutta
Yes, agree zoos should be encouraged, Sunita. Especially the ones that are doing some really good conservation work to ensure the safety and also reducing the rate of poaching these animals in their natural habitat. My son was crazy about this zoo but I remember I was no less. It is a massive, very well organised zoo that is a must-visit for young families and kids.
Modern Gypsy
That’s such a cool gate!! On the subject of zoos, I quite agree with you – I would prefer that animals could roam freely in the wild than be held in captivity for our amusement. However, the other side of this is the fact that their natural habitats are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Without zoos that work to conserve animals that are in danger of extinction, a number of them would just die out. In an ideal world, we would do more to conserve our forests and to grow more forests. But in this less than ideal world, large “forest-like” enclosures are better than putting animals in small cages. Just my 2 cents. 🙂
Esha M Dutta
I totally agree, Shinjini. Zoos are doing a great job of protecting these animals and a number of them also encourage visitors to adopt animals that are then looked after. We found San Diego zoo was doing a very good job of protecting those animals with rapidly dwindling numbers and ensuring that they had some very robust programmes going to continue the task of protecting these animals for the next 10-15 years. The National Parks are the forest-like enclosures as you say, who also do a great job of looking after animals. We live close to the Bannerghata National Park and often visit the place when a friend or family come visiting. A lot more needs to be done though!
Sanch @ Sanch Writes
Haha…that’s awesome! I could see the elephant straight away and a moose maybe? I know Taronga Zoo in Sydney does do a lot of good work and while I understand about animals needing to be in their natural environments, we could stretch that to us having pets as well. As long as they aren’t necessarily ‘caged’ in the true sense, I guess it works
Esha M Dutta
So glad you liked it, Sanch. Yes, zoos are changing from what they used to be years ago. They no longer display animals merely for the sake of providing pleasure alone. It is also about conservation and restoring them back to safer spaces where they can roam around without fear of being killed and away from poachers. Thanks for stopping by, Sanch. How about joining us for #ww sometime? 🙂
Patrick Weseman
I am torn about zoo’s but I think that they do a great job in research and in conservation of different animals. I know that the Oakland Zoo does it, so I am favor of that. Anytime that we can have a species then it is a good thing.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Esha M Dutta
Thanks for joining us this week for #ww, Patrick and sharing your thoughts on this post. I cannot disagree with you on this. Zoos do a lot of good work too, as most of them are opting for open spaces to house the animals to let them roam around freely. But, there are plenty of caged birds in people’s homes that I still see around, which rather saddens me! If I had my way, I’d let them free.