"[P]lease remember that I am a living, breathing creature. I can feel
pain, anger, joy, and sorrow. There are things that please me and
things that scare me. I may be looking at you from the other side of
the fence, but my job is to help you understand things, and I deserve
your respect no matter my size, shape, or place in the world."
It's not that (most of these) people are malicious. Some are, but flat-out sadists are too few and too far-between to cause too much trouble. Instead, it's just that a lot of people don't know or understand that our animals, from the great apes and bears to the frogs and fishes, are living creatures with feelings. They deserve to be treated with compassion and respect, just as we would treat another person. After dealing with a particular trying person (banging on the glass, chasing the free-roaming peafowl, feeding the bears), I just hold my head and wish I could think of a way to make some of these people understand.
I came across this piece recently and absolutely loved it. It sums up what I wish I could convey to many visitors. It says what needs to be said without being sharp, or angry, or hostile - though sometimes every keeper feels that way towards misbehaving visitors. Instead, it speaks plainly and honestly about how (we think) our animals feel, and how they should be treated.
If you enjoy it, check out the rest of the author's blog here - I have, and found it to be very interesting with lots of great photographs. Enjoy!
Juvenile Masai giraffe, Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, FL. Copyright Audrey R. Smith 2013.
From the Perspective of Captive Wildlife: A Zoo Animal's Plea
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