First point of this post: The above photo is from the picture essay posted a couple of days ago titled, "Misery and frustration of caged animals in the zoo" that were taken in 1968. The photo below is of Jersey's Jambo, as fine of a specimen of a bull gorilla as there was. A large percentage of the worlds population, doesn't know that the circus no longer has gorillas or Gargantuas. Can you imagine not only displaying, but featuring in your animal industry, an animal that has been maimed by the cruelty/ignorance of man? Pictures of Gargantua are normally referenced as the "good old days," or the "Golden Age," and followed by "it's too bad, it can't be the way it used to be, when it was really something." That may be taken out of context by a lot of people, who may not be familiar with our history, and how we have advanced. I have never met anyone in the zoo industry, who reference's old pictures of exhibit/cage practices of the past, as the "good old days," or that it would be better if it was still done that way. Nobody's history is bad, unlesss it is not understood, and we insist on staying at that point and not advancing.
Second point of this post: What does the circus industry project to the world, as a valid animal entity, when a Prince Albert, donates captive felines to the Born Free Foundation(as well as hippos and camels", because they "deserve to be free, and not in a cage, but instead back in their ancestoral home," and two weeks later, awards a feline act with a clown for performing in his Circus, and a year later in England a circus is attempting to discredit the validity of the Born Free Foundation, who say's captive performing animals, isn't right?????
Third point of this post: A life size statue of Jambo was erected by the Gorilla exhibit after he died. I referenced in a comment to Mary Ann, sometimes just a presence is all that is necessary to have respect. The statue had to be moved to a new location, because the young male gorillas in the clan(that's the new word, clan) were displaying to it. We have to assume that their reaction to the statue, was visual/size/shape, and is an inborn reaction. I don't think we should scoff at Dr. Pooles findings just yet. It is her way of addressing/demonstrating her findings, to solicit funds, that is suspect, not the findings themselves. In depth valid animal studies are scary for me, because I am afraid of what they may or may not discover. I am not going to disregard any of them, until all the facts are in, and agenda/bias addressed.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Has how we portray our industry, taken out of context, made the circus a "soft target?."
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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2 comments:
Wade, this is tough. I saw some pretty awful zoos in my childhood -- much worse than anything in the series from '68. The Hampton Park collection in Charleston SC and the original Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, NY immediately come to mind. But both cities have wonderful zoos today. I have a certain respect for the "old days" in zoos and circuses alike because much of the learning curve that makes us better animal managers now took place "then." That doesn't mean that Gorillas were ever a good fit on the circus anymore than Great White Sharks have been a good fit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, though both examples sold a lot of tickets. (Before somebody chimes in that elephants are no more suited for circus than gorillas, let me point out that elephants have been managed in domesticity for 5000 years. The situations are not the same.) As you have a large book collection Wade, maybe you have Lee Crandall's book on mammals. Look at some of the longevities Crandall cited in his day and compare them with what's commonly seen in zoos today. Hard no to respect how far we've come.
Ben after reading the book that i manage to get hold of you are right what a diffrence . In fact i visited some zoos in countrys and still remind me of the Good old days .CleanRaul
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