Requisite Zoo Pics - Lion and a Gorilla

[Scottes]

Beautiful animals. But unbelievably lazy. I waited 20 minutes (shooting sparrows) until one of the two males bothered to move. Beautiful animals.
http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Lion_4111.jpg

This guy looks like he has a lot to say. I'm not so sure he's pleased with his surroundings.
http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Gorilla_4157.jpg

Zoos are great - where else can you see such animals from all over the world? But there's a dark side to them that I can't ignore. In ways I'm bothered about the captivity and the removal of the animals from their homes. It hurts. But other times I know that the study of the animals does a world of good, and that some species live on simply because of zoos. And I think they do a good job of teaching people about animals, especially the rare and endangered ones. I hope we learn something.

[boomer1959]

:( Poor things must be bored out of their skulls. :D Nice shots though.

[PacAce]

I know what you mean about he caged animals, Scott. If they're going to be kept in captivity, I'd prefer to see them in the "reservations" where the animals are allowed to roam free like the one in San Diego and the Disney Animal Kingdom. The drawback to us photographers is that it's more of a challenge to get their pictures but at least the animal are more active and look almost as they would in the wild.

It's been a while since I've been to a zoo where the animals are still kept in small cages but it really is heartbreaking to see them in those little cages.

Although your subjects really didn't look very enthusiastic about havig their pictures taken, they still came out darn good. The lion looks like it's still half asleep. :lol:

[Scottes]

If they're going to be kept in captivity, I'd prefer to see them in the "reservations" where the animals are allowed to roam free like the one in San Diego and the Disney Animal Kingdom.

Yes, definitely. I wish there was something like that anywhere around me. Closest thing I've ever heard of is a wolf preserve in New Jersey. Big fences but at least they get to roam a bit.

It's been a while since I've been to a zoo where the animals are still kept in small cages but it really is heartbreaking to see them in those little cages.

The cages weren't really that small. The lions barely could have broken into a run, but the gorilla enclosure was really quite large and had an indoor and outdoor section.

Still though, I'd much rather see them on some type of large preserve like you said.

[JZaun]

Nice pic's but I agree with you Scottes,, I just can't stand to see caged animals...so sad,, Usually they look so depressed I have to leave :(

JZ