I don't go to loads of zoos to take photos, I went to one in the UK, Chester Zoo, which is an amazing zoo, and does an amazing conservation and education, without them and a few other zoos the Przewalski Horse would be gone in Mongolia, they were involved in a breeding programme and reintroduced the horses back from near extinction, and even today there is less than 300 wild. There are a couple more in the UK that I think are great, and there is also a lot that need to improve. I regularly visited the North Carolina Zoo, the enclosures are massive, and on the whole I found it a good zoo, with great natural enclosures. There are many zoos that I find dreadful and would never pay to visit. Here I won't touch the local Zoo with a barge pole, too small, overcrowded, and does very little for conservation. I haven't been to a Zoo since early last year, and the wolves and wolfdogs I shoot are in a huge private sanctuary, and live as natural life a life as possible, with very little human contact, unless they seek it out, which most don't.

This isn't a zoo, it's a glorified farm, there are at least 300 hundred tigers, ranging from the babies to the adults, do you honestly think it is okay to take cubs from their mothers before they are weaned and sit all day in tiger nurseries, to have their pictures taken and be pawed and petted? Please take the time to research this place, and you will find that Tigers go missing, 100 live tigers were shipped from here to China, and then they disappeared.

http://www.videosurf.com/video/tiger...land-142216706

Crocodiles are farmed, the eggs kept in incubators, and then tourists pay to hatch a crocodile out. The majority, are then killed, to make crocodile head keyrings etc. Crocodiles are then in shows, pulled around by their tails all day, to perform by opening their mouths, by hitting their noses, or jaws

http://www.videosurf.com/video/srira...com-1251763538

Elephants are made to walk on tightropes, apes to be dressed up and pose with tourists. They have several Tiger shows a day were Tigers are made to perform, do you think it is natural for a Tiger to jump through fire? How do you think they learnt to do that, by clicker training them?
http://www.videosurf.com/evideo/2_xdnomxQGRI0


Animals becoming extinct isn't the world evolving all the time, often it is caused by man, his greed, his want for more land, him encroaching on the animals land, him polluting their food source, or poisoning , or wanting rid of the big predators from farmland.

I support conservation to keep certain animals alive in their own countries, and in an ideal world zoos wouldn't need to be used. I don't like zoos that have a collection of animals, I only support Zoos that breed endangered animals, and are very involved in conservation,reintroduction, and supporting wild animals in their own country and education.


I apologise to Goggs, my comments weren't really aimed at him, more at the tourist industry that allow this to continue.

I don't apologise for being passionate about animals and their welfare though.


Have sent Goggs an apology, I should of started a chat thread about the subject

Thank you for apologizing to Goggs, I felt your tone completely ruined his excitement of his pic.

As for zoos I would ban them all and there are many ''conservation'' ''zoo's'' that in fact should be banned as well because they are money making machines.

I believe all animals should be left in the wild and if they become extinct that is the way of the world.

I can never understand how people [not aiming this at anyone] feel very strongly about animal welfare but don't mind eating meat or wearing leather. It is like if they have been shot by one bullet or throat cut and they die in a couple of minutes it's ok.

I go to the Portland Zoo a lot. There's a big difference from a de-clawed animal behind bars and a zoo animal in a carefully built environment maintained by experts in animal behavior & handling. We de-claw our house cats, neuter them and their buddy doggie friends and keep them locked up in a house. I realize they are domesticated animals and for that reason shouldn't be allowed to roam free. Modern zoos are not circus carnival acts but sanctuaries for magnificent animals the public want to see. I see hundreds of parents with their kids in strollers at the zoo showing them real live animals, in excellent physical condition & away from poachers & trophy hunters in the wild. In a perfect world we'd bring tourists to the animals in the wild and hand each one a stick. That way only the strongest would survive.

Hi
I did not intend to upset you nice people with my image. I thought it was a great chance to get up close, and share the experience with you.
I am sorry if this has upset people.

I also have sent a message back to Moonie.

You havent upset anyone Goggs. Its just that people dont see the image in the same light as you do, looking at the bigger picture I mean.

You are absolutely entitled to take as many photos with that Tiger as you choose and post them anywhere too, its just that it affected the emotions of some that know what goes on behind the closed doors, as it were.. There was never any implication of you being wrong to post it at all.

You didn't upset me, and as Dawn said you have every right to post your pics wherever you wish, and with whatever content.

As said in the PM, it wasn't you I was raging about, but the whole industry, and with wonderful hindsight, I should of started a different chat thread My OH always says, the thing he loves most about me and drives him crazy at the same time, is my passion for things I feel strongly about. I don't always know when to zip it though