AR-News: (US TX) Opinion: Bless the beasts? If only we could

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

If a zoo cannot protect both its animals and its visitors, it should be 
closed down. Dallas has had a terrible record of dealing with domesticated 
creatures like dogs and cats and maintaining inferior animal shelters. Now it has 
demonstrated its inability to handle wild animals as well.
A zoo should be a place of education, protection and sensitivity between 
humans and their closely related animal friends. Go to a zoo for education and 
enlightenment. Go to Six Flags Over Texas for entertainment. Parents should 
instruct their young to empathize with zoo animals.
I am convinced that we are still only seconds away from putting lions and 
tigers into a coliseum-like setting and pitting them against humans in the style 
of ancient Rome. Bullfighting still is carried on in various countries today. 
(In Spain, they may not be willing to stand up to terrorists, but they can be 
very macho against a deliberately incapacitated bull in a ring.)
We must learn to respect and care for all animals rather than use them for 
our entertainment, whether in a zoo, a circus or a bull arena -- or a rodeo.
The Dallas Zoo tragedy can be used to debate the value of zoos. It can be 
used to discuss how patrons relate to animals. It can be used to promote zoo 
safety, both for patrons and animal captives.
A wonderful and popular gorilla is dead, and some humans have been injured 
and terribly frightened. We should not return to the old King Kong 
representation; instead, try to visualize a young gorilla being lovingly held and cuddled 
by a Fort Worth Zoo worker.




full story:

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/8241424.htm 
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