It was so interesting to read an article about the dilemma of zoos. I was totally riveted! Zoos have always made me mostly uncomfortable and a little confused, so it was so interesting to learn why I've always had those conflicted feelings. Mastery vs. harmony, othering vs. connection, and exploitation vs idealism. There are so many factors influencing our actions and perceptions at play in an environment like that, it is truly hard to discern which types of encounters are the least of two evils. My visceral and previously uninformed opinion was that even though zoos are horrible things for the animals, and even though I hate hearing how people talk about the animals when they're looking at them, it still seems important to have the opportunity to really see them. If you could never see a tiger, you would never know how truly amazing they are...you'd only have your stuffed toy image to cling to. But now, having more of the nuances explained of what we are really learning from these manufactured environments, I'm not sure how to proceed. I do know that I'm very impressed by the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA. It is an animal rescue and rehabilitation center with an educational component. They really emphasize that it is a hospital (because it is) and give a very realistic understanding of what's going on with those animals. I think they may have got it right. I feel like I could go on for hours on this topic! Great article!
P.S. Yes, I have had this song stuck in my head for days.
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