Petition to keep the Detroit Zoo open

[Deviated Angel]

Please go to this website and sign the petition to keep the zoo open

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/detzoo/

[kellygrrrrrl]

I am divided on this subject.....

I hate the idea of Zoo's because the animals should be in thier natural habitiat. For example: Polar Bears do not belong in 80-90 degree weather, and yeah, ok so they get a nice little air conditioned room with ice and fake snow breathing in Freon all day.......

And Elephants don't belong where it snows.....or tigers, or lions.....

HOWEVER...

I also understand that the animals are treated and cared for and fed and out of harms way etc......

BUT...the animals are stressed, you can tell...the elephants sway ....the gorilla's sit in one spot all day and pick at one spot on the ground......the animals are aggressive....or dormant.

My concern is, when they close down the zoo, where are they going to take these animals? The travel, and placement process can be extremely stressful for the animals, and cause permanent damage.

I am torn.....I hate the idea of zoo's, but I also hate the idea of poachers and hunters getting to them too....

What a rotten world.

[Msterbeau]

I am divided on this subject.....

I hate the idea of Zoo's because the animals should be in thier natural habitiat.  For example: Polar Bears do not belong in 80-90 degree weather, and yeah, ok so they get a nice little air conditioned room with ice and fake snow breathing in Freon all day.......

And Elephants don't belong where it snows.....or tigers, or lions.....

HOWEVER...

I also understand that the animals are treated and cared for and fed and out of harms way etc......

BUT...the animals are stressed, you can tell...the elephants sway ....the gorilla's sit in one spot all day and pick at one spot on the ground......the animals are aggressive....or dormant.

My concern is, when they close down the zoo, where are they going to take these animals?  The travel, and placement process can be extremely stressful for the animals, and cause permanent damage.

I am torn.....I hate the idea of zoo's, but I also hate the idea of poachers and hunters getting to them too....

What a rotten world.

I hear ya. For the animals, It's not all fun and games. They should at least be in something resembling their natural habitat with a reasonable amount of room to roam and play... and probably even hunt.

But... How do we, as humans begin to appreciate them if we can't see them up close? Zoos serve a noble purpose even if the means isn't in the animals best interest.

So... where's that petition... :fear

[phee]

I hear ya.  For the animals, It's not all fun and games.  They should at least be in something resembling their natural habitat with a reasonable amount of room to roam and play... and probably even hunt.

But...  How do we, as humans begin to appreciate them if we can't see them up close?  Zoos serve a noble  purpose even if the means isn't in the animals best interest.

So...  where's that petition...  :fear

The link at the top

[Onyx]

I really want to see the zoo stay open. The animals always looked well cared for when I've visited.

Animals in the wild aren't necessarily living well. Some starve. Some die horrible lingering deaths. I believe a zoo is a benefit to animals as a whole because most people won't care about something they never see.

A well run zoo is (was) a great asset to Detroit.

Sometimes it seems to me like the whole city's just going under. (Yeah, I know some of it already has, but I'm really shocked to see how bad things are getting).

[Msterbeau]

The link at the top

That was a rhetorical question, my friend. :laughing

[Slept with ghost]

see im with onyx on this one

just because that animals are not in theit natural habitat doesnt mean that they are unhappy

most of them are brought in at a very young age

so how could you miss something that you never knew?

plus the jungles'deserts'artic

all of these are really harsh places to live in

if i was an animal i wouldnt be upset if somebody was feeding me and i didnt have to hunt for food for myself

plus about the elephats swaying

would you if you weighed a ton?

now as far as the petetion goes

its not signatures that is going to keep the zoo open

thats a nice idea but it wont work

all thats going to keep it open is money and money has been misused and refused so now the zoo is closing

and unless something really big happens that all there is to it

[Guest Megalicious]

But...  How do we, as humans begin to appreciate them if we can't see them up close?  Zoos serve a noble  purpose even if the means isn't in the animals best interest.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So we should just ignore what is in the animals best interest, so we can better appreciate them?

Animals in the wild aren't necessarily living well.  Some starve.  Some die horrible lingering deaths. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Its called Natural Selection.

see im with onyx on this one

just because that animals are not in theit natural habitat doesnt mean that they are unhappy

plus about the elephats swaying

would you if you weighed a ton?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Im sorry you feel that way .. but it seems to me ... by the elephants condition in ZOOS ALL AROUND AMERICA , lack of their natural habitat is not only making them unhappy but more importantly UNHEALTHY

[sass_in_the_pants]

I am divided on this subject.....

I hate the idea of Zoo's because the animals should be in thier natural habitiat.  For example: Polar Bears do not belong in 80-90 degree weather, and yeah, ok so they get a nice little air conditioned room with ice and fake snow breathing in Freon all day.......

And Elephants don't belong where it snows.....or tigers, or lions.....

HOWEVER...

I also understand that the animals are treated and cared for and fed and out of harms way etc......

BUT...the animals are stressed, you can tell...the elephants sway ....the gorilla's sit in one spot all day and pick at one spot on the ground......the animals are aggressive....or dormant.

My concern is, when they close down the zoo, where are they going to take these animals?  The travel, and placement process can be extremely stressful for the animals, and cause permanent damage.

I am torn.....I hate the idea of zoo's, but I also hate the idea of poachers and hunters getting to them too....

What a rotten world.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you ever watched Discovery Channel? Have you ever watched one lion hold down a zebra while the other one disembowels the still-kicking animal? You could also watch a capybara being pulled down and drowned by an anaconda. Or you could watch how the polar bears will shred a seal when it comes up for air. These are all of the wonderful things that would await any animal so blessed to live in their natural habitat. Yes, in the zoo the polar bears have fake ice. In the wild, they face shrinking habitat and starvation. Nature is merciless. But you knew all that.

Here is what you might not know, though. Many of the animals in the Detroit zoo are injured or otherwise unable to be placed in the wild. The lions, for example, were kept as exotic pets in a crack house in Detroit. The eagles - one flew into a power line and the other was shot. Prezawlski's horse, which is one of the rarest species in the world, has an injury, too. All of these animals would have quickly become prey in the wild. At least in a zoo they can live out their natural lives, they can be observed for further study and perhaps even their DNA can live on.

And, as you said, in the wild, these animals are often poached and hunted - the gorillas hands would have been turned into ashtrays, the rhinos would have been killed and their horns ground to a fine powder to make Chinese herbal infertility drugs. The zoo is working to preserve these species with the hope that one day, their offspring can be used for repopulation.

Speaking of repopulation, the zoo is also currently actively engaged in repopulating some of their species. They breed the Panamanian Golden Dart Frog and release them back into the wild (In nature, the eggs stand a poor chance of survival).

In the case of the elephants being transported to the sanctuary, that was a choice made by the zoo director, and it was purely in the best interest of the elephants. I can assure you that regular zoo patrons, zoo employees, and zoo volunteers are all working to ensure the best conditions for each and every animal. After all, it is in the best interest of the zoo, its guests and the animals themselves if the animals are healthy and happy.

[holliwood66]

I go to the Toledo zoo more often but have done past b-days at the Detroit zoo as well *wry grin*.

They do contribute to research and conservation, and the employees are good caring people for the most part. Ah Detroit and it's corrupt administrators/money woes.

[Wounds Within]

As I stated in another thread:

There is going to be a "PUBLIC" conferance next Wednesday on the 13th floor of the City Council Building in Detroit where you can express your concerns in front of the council and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. This is the only chance the public will have to speak directly to the City Council and the Mayor on this hot issue.

You do not have to be a Detroit resident to attend this meeting, they are welcomeing people from the entire metro area to take part and voice their thoughts.

The official council vote will be held the following Friday and will determine the fate of the Detroit Zoo.

[Soulrev]

I don't live in Detroit, I've never even been to the Zoo there. But I signed the petition because I know if it were my home town I wouldn't want something like that taken out of it either, they're great for kids and people of all ages.