It has been many years since I have been to the National Zoo. Much has changed, not just in the exhibits, but also how I think and feel about things such as zoos. There are several aspects I find undividedly positive. One is that the placement of such amazing creatures within the reach of so many people gives them a chance they would otherwise almost definitely never have to appreciate more of the wonders of the natural world. Such visibility also provides a way to raise funds and gain support for important projects such as studying, breeding, and re-introducing endangered species.
This aside, it was still quite painful to see creatures, especially the more intelligent ones, confined in such a small, unnatural area. They will live out their lives behind fences and walls, unable to fully live according to their abilities. And this saddens me deeply. It was difficult to think through and explain what about it bothered me at the time, but it was an undeniable sensation. Before long, I simply wasn’t able to stand it any longer, and we had to leave.
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