Moral Dilemma

I have a bit of a dilemma. I love photographing wildlife but I don't get as much opportunity to go out into nature and photograph as I'd like. Sure, I spend my vacations in Canada and Africa shooting wildlife but this is just a week or two a year. Round here we simply don't have as much opportunity to go out on a weekend and shoot.

So that starts me thinking about going to the zoo and photographing the animals there so I can improve my technique (because god knows I need it). But the problem is, I am morally against zoos. I hate seeing animals caged up and have always felt deeply upset after visiting zoos to the point that I no longer want to support them with my money.

Does anyone else have the same problem with seeing wild animals kept in cages?

Shoot Micro, they are all around your own house & free (but you are the one in the cages )

zoos are much better in the modern era.
The people who run them aren't in the 1800's anymore and want the animals to have fulfilled lives.

If the zoo you visit is mistreating or inhumain then at least you have documentary evidence to cause an online storm.

Though I dont think the zoo will allow you to erect a hide in the lion enclosure so you can wait for the money shot!

Are you morally against the work that zoos do to help breed endangered species to re-introduce the animals back in to the wild too...?

Unfortunately only the minority of zoos do any really significant work ok helping endangered species. I'd prefer that this work was also done in or near their natural habitat. There's a lot of good work done that way.

Owain Glyndwr wrote in post #15112094
Unfortunately only the minority of zoos do any really significant work ok helping endangered species. I'd prefer that this work was also done in or near their natural habitat. There's a lot of good work done that way.

Really? I think you'd be surprised at how many do just what you're saying doesn't happen...

Let's keep in mind that the great numerical majority of zoos are small mom & pop operations that couldn't possibly afford an endangered species. They are just struggling to survive, financially. Conditions at these types of zoos are often sub-par for the inhabitants (I have seen this first hand at numerous tiny rural zoos).

I doubt that these zoos employ highly credentialed biologists on a full time basis, to observe and study the endangered species. Heck, these zoos rarely even have endangered species.

Of course, there are exceptions - some of these mom & pop zoos do a great job of caring for their residents.

There are a few zoos that are bigger, well known, and well kept. These are the zoos that most people think of when they think "zoo". And these are the zoos that actually do a lot of meaningful work with endangered species.

Owain Glyndwr wrote in post #15111931
Does anyone else have the same problem with seeing wild animals kept in cages?

I do,,, I would rather see a dead Lion than one sleeping on a rock all day in a zoo for the rest of it's life.

Hardrock40 wrote in post #15116013
I do,,, I would rather see a dead Lion than one sleeping on a rock all day in a zoo for the rest of it's life.

Strangely enough, 9/10 big cats, when asked to express a preference, said that they'd much prefer to live in a nice, large, enclosure - with loads of free food; rather than starving to death on the african plains.

hollis_f wrote in post #15116378
Strangely enough, 9/10 big cats, when asked to express a preference, said that they'd much prefer to live in a nice, large, enclosure - with loads of free food; rather than starving to death on the african plains.

what about a small cage barely big enough to swing a cat?

hollis_f wrote in post #15116378
Strangely enough, 9/10 big cats, when asked to express a preference, said that they'd much prefer to live in a nice, large, enclosure - with loads of free food; rather than starving to death on the African plains.

The 9 big cats that said this were brain washed by zoo keepers.

Besides that, I think they use parental controls on the Cat's Internet service where they can't research what a cat supposed to be.

Owain Glyndwr wrote in post #15116423
what about a small cage barely big enough to swing a cat?

It sounds like you have a moral dilemma against illegal "zoos", not legit real zoos... It's obvious you have made up your mind based on 1 or 2 "zoos" you may have visited in your lifetime and this thread has nothing to do with photography.

ewheeler20 wrote in post #15116911
It sounds like you have a moral dilemma against illegal "zoos", not legit real zoos... It's obvious you have made up your mind based on 1 or 2 "zoos" you may have visited in your lifetime and this thread has nothing to do with photography.

yeah cos you know everything about my life, don't you.

just fyi, i formed my opinions having visited, amongst others, the following zoos:

London Zoo
West Midlands Safari Park
Longleat Safari Park
Edinburgh Zoo
Chester Zoo
Hannover Zoo
Tierpark Berlin
Bochum Zoo
Cologne Zoo
Tierpark Hellabrunn, Munich
Tierwelt Heberstein, near Graz
San Diego Zoo

Perhaps you could tell me which of these are "illegal".

Owain Glyndwr wrote in post #15116971
just fyi, i formed my opinions having visited, amongst ...
Perhaps you could tell me which of these are "illegal".

The one that made you start this thread

If you do not like zoos, dont go to them. It is pretty simple.

If you like photographing wildlife you can try taking up macro photography, bird watching, or start looking up local parks and areas were there may be wild life at that you can get to with a reasonable drive, then make that a weekend affair.