Once Upon a Zoo

There are,of course,several arguments in favour of zoos. The most important: they serve as the final repository of beleaguered species those on the brink of extinction. Through captive breeding programmes and re-introduction into forests,wild stocks can be replenished. Thats the guiding philosophy behind many modern zoos: Gerald Durrells zoo in New Jersey,and the San Diego zoo for example. And they have succeeded in their mission they have rehabilitated endangered animals back (like the golden lion tamarin) into the wild. The big caveat,of course,is that there must still be a wild to repatriate these creatures into: you cant send them back to a real estate development or open cast mine where their original homes might have once been. Perhaps,the wilds need more protection than their denizens.

Zoos are vital for education and for showing the public the vast diversity of species. Agreed,a visit to a zoo is better,perhaps,than merely watching a wildlife programme on television especially for children because they see,hear and smell the real,live beastie in the flesh and blood. But this needs to be tempered with the information that zoos are not the natural habitats of animals no matter how much some enclosures are made to resemble them (which is laudable,but still not the same). And,most of all,it needs to be drilled into visitors (with a cane preferably), especially macho young men,that zoos are not places where you show off your courage by poking the animals in the eye with sticks or offering them shards of glass to eat,or even leaping,howling and scratching like them. (All zoos should mandatorily keep an empty cage for such specimens.) Yes,for impressionable young minds,zoos can,with a nudge in the right direction,spark a lifelong interest in animals or birds and conservation,which is perhaps the best thing they can do.

The major argument against zoos is,of course,that the animals are not free. They are not free to roam,to hunt,woo or choose or fight for their mates,and many die of sheer boredom. Well,the zookeepers will counter: how free are you? Youre trapped in your crummy job and life,arent you? You cant just drop everything and up and away. Well,you can,but you cant. As for hunting,well,zoo animals get served. The more progressive zoos have elaborate menus with vitamins and minerals accounted for and calories counted. The animals dont have to risk life and limb hunting,besides who wants to make the effort when you can just lie back and scratch your bulging belly even as the crowd hoots outside? And if youre not feeling well,the vet will see you. No such perks in the wild its a jungle out there. As for romance,well the zoo guys will arrange that too. Agreed,the partner they choose may be a doofus,but still… And agreed,you might have to do it (like two desperate tigers in the Singapore zoo,I once saw) in full public view,which is pathetic but still. Bored? Well,if youre a killer whale,you can jump up and kiss a bimbo wholl toss you a sardine; and if youre a macaw,you can learn to ride a bicycle,which is so useful in the Amazonian rain forest; and if youre a chimp,you can have a mad tea party and throw banana peels at the public.

So stop running up and down that damn cage all the time,will ya? Are you nuts or what?

Ranjit Lal is an author,environmentalist and bird watcher. In this column,he reflects on the eccentricities and absurdities of nature