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When you were younger, did you enjoy visits to zoos, aquariums and circuses? Or as an adult, have you even taken your children to such places?

11 Comments

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Yes- been to all 3 as a child.

Yes- taken my son to the first 2.

My daughter is 3 months old so I haven't taken her anywhere yet..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I went a few times, and enjoyed because I like nature and animals.

And for the same reason, as I grew older, I came to think wild animals belong in the wild, not in cages.

I haven't been to a zoo or aquarium in close to 10 years.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

In Japan, I refuse to pay money to "zoos". They have no idea what they are doing in terms of animal welfare and stress-free habitat creation (bears, lions etc in concrete pits etc). Horrible.

In the US and Europe, sure, I love to visit zoos.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Hated the circus as a child, still do. Liked the zoo as a kid, but I would be very choosy as to which zoo I would visit now, most are awful.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

if I had my children in the future, I would take them to the zoo or aquarium. Having them look at other creatures there gives children more curiousities than watch the digital devices.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Love zoos.

But the only reason I'd take a child to a zoo in Japan is educate them on animal cruelty

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I went to a zoo in Eastern Europe as a teenager, and was so traumatized by the sight of a black cat pacing from end to end of its concrete cage (roughly twice the length of the cat itself), that I have never forgotten the image of it, and have always hated zoos and aquariums. There is nothing good about them. If you're going to protect animals, then that should be the focus, not entertainment disguised as education.

I live near a zoo here, and used to go there, as it has a lovely botanical gardens and a lake with boats, but I found it hard to justify supporting it financially, as the cages are concrete, and the animals are kept in shoddy condition. Cuteness sells, so money is spent on the cute animals, but not on the others. They are cruel places, and signs of emotional and physical trauma are easy to see.

Circuses? No need at all for them to use animals. There is enough evidence of cruelty in training, to know we should ban the lot.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Zoos are sad, and some zoos in Japan are particularly sad. I for the most part don't like them, unless the zoo is focusing particularly on conservation. That said, I still take my kids periodically, or let them go on class trips to the zoo. They are kids, and they like zoos. When I go with them though, I make sure to talk about the good parts of zoos and the bad parts of zoos so they can enjoy going to the zoo, but also grow up with an understanding of what ethical ... zooery? should be.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Zoos... Yes I'll visit sometimes. I wouldn't say I particularly like them because I'm with most of you in that animals should be in their own habitat or as close as possible. If it's for conservation then that's awesome but if not then it's really sad.

Circuses... I haven't been to a circus that used animals for a couple of decades... But shows like Cirque can be very entertaining... Costumes, sets, imagination and skill... I'll go to a show like that anytime I get a chance.

Aquariums... Sometimes... But as with zoos I think the conservation thing should be the primary focus.

If my money helps in conservation or to build a better zoo or aquarium for the animals then I'm happy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I went to all as a kid, now as an adult I only enjoy some aquariums I know of that don't have large mammals. Maybe it's prejudice on my part but it seems fish are a bit like insects, not really aware of how big/small a tank is.

But zoos depress me with animals pacing around worn paths in their enclosures. A possible exception is Woodland Park zoo in Seattle, many enclosures are so large you might not get to see the animals at all, or just as tiny specks far away on a hillside. But that's not every enclosure and there are still pacing animals there too.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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