In a weird way this is funny. I don't think he looks anything like a real gorilla. Would you have been fooled?
http://www.rippa.com/category/other-ripp...406050022/
It is serious for the man who was shot. He was seriously overdosed.
Why wouldn't they send a memo to let other people know they are doing this drill?
Yes, a tragic oversight - and something that a big organisation like a zoo should have as a standard precaution. But I'm not a fan of zoos, anyway, I'm afraid....
He won't be doing that again that's for sure!
I'm with Peter, zoos are basically animal prisons. Suggestions that zoos have an educational element don't wash with me. Many people have been 'educated' and inspired to enter the worlds of conservation and animal welfare by the wonderful work of Attenborough, Cousteau and others, who observed animals where they belong - in their natural habitat in the wild.
It was a serious lack of communication between departments. They are lucky it was a dart gun and not a real gun.
I guess I still support the work that big zoos do because they are doing some serious conservation work. They have been able to return animals to the wild. They have been able to return whole species to the wild. There is a long list of species that were brought back from extinction by the work of zoos.
Of course I am not talking about little zoos full of caged animals. I am talking about organizations that have more going on in the non public areas that they do in the display areas. We have a whole Vancouver Island Marmot section that will never be open to public viewing. Because of the work that Toronto Zoo has done there are still Marmots . They have increased their numbers and returned some to their natural habitat. If only we could stop clear cutting of forests the Marmots would be okay on their own.
I agree with you, Catherine. Zoos have their place but they must be managed very carefully and should be for the benefit of the animals not the people.
When it comes to zoos, I am in the same frame of mind as our dear Knight, and LPC. I know that for certain endangered species they need sanctuary sometimes, but animal reserves and animal sanctuaries are better than zoos.
I hope the man will be ok. You are right Catherine,someone should have given a warning that this was about to happen.
I still can't believe that anyone mistook the guy for a real gorilla. He just doesn't look the part.
Zoos need to be properly licenced and regulated, but they can do a lot of good. Sanctuaries are good and necessary, but zoos have a place. Some of the animals they work with are too close to extinction to survive even in a sanctuary. They require more intensive care and an organized breeding program to prevent inbreeding in a small gene pool. Zoo are part of that plan.
I wish all animals could run free, but that is no longer possible. So we have to settle with second best, good care and protection.
I am sure there is truth in what you say, but I also know zoo keepers who are good people who are patient with the public and want to help people to learn.
I think it is a hazard of working with the public(in any job) that you start to judge them. The public is sometimes very hard to deal with.