Reply - Zoo exchange program

[Guest guest]

Dear Azam,

Thanks a ton for providing us information regarding the

Animal exchange plan of Guwahati Zoo. It is a matter of great concern as such

exchange programmes or rather I should say

 

zoo swaps are not good for the animals. Every creature is fit for a

certain type of environment and transporting it to an alien place is

just not ethical.

I often visit Jaipur Zoo and can't stop feeling bad for the poor

animals who have no escape from shouting kids and pebble throwing

crowds. There is a Grizzly bear too in a cage. In a city like

Jaipur where temperature is as high as 48 degrees in summers,

Grizzly bears have a horrible time. And there is not even enough

water for them to swim and cool them off. And it is not the only

example, every zoo has many exotic animals from all around the globe

to attract more and more people. And all the zoos are more or less

the same, in short all are living hells for the poor animals.

Firstly, it is in-humane to keep animals in confined places like

zoos. On top of it depriving a creature from its native environment

is even worse.

Animals should be kept in wild life sanctuaries and National parks

where they get freedom to move under the trees and feel the

sunshine. And atleast we should not transport them to areas which

are not suitable for their health and well being.

Orang utans, Binturongs or Asian bear cat and clouded leopards all

belong to South Asian rain forests and bringing them to a shabby zoo

of East India makes no sense and is rather cruel.

I must say that no matter how well you keep the animals in a zoo it

would still not be healthy and happy. In fact mostly all zoos are in

a very bad shape with improper facilities, stuffed small cages and

lack of water. Rather than importing animals for the zoos we should

look after the well being of ones who are already suffering in these

death traps. And make a proper plan to release and rehabilitate the

existing zoo creatures in wild life sanctuaries and National parks.

I think people who are really willing to see animals will be more

than happy to see these creatures in their natural habitat.

We must stop such activities involving wild life swapping as this

will lead to more wild life trading and in the end animals will only

be seen in the zoos not in the forests.

Kind regards,

Eti