Zoo .

A short article took my attention, and it did make my blood bubbling again.

The link goes to the news page of the Zoo in Wuppertal, where

a new polarbear did arrive

Appearantly the zoo is happy with it, a boy did come in and the mother of Wima now is transported to another zoo.  You can imagine next step, now those boy and girl (same age) are going to get friends.

I love to visit zoos, and the zoo in Wuppertal is a nice and modern one. But the place where the polar bears are captured is obviously out of date, originating in the early 70's or so, where it was the main purpose that the people could see the animals and nothing more. Also a small and very unfriendly place for any living to be, and sure for ice bears, who in the free nature walk many miles each day.

The modern art of Zoo-management has improved, and I think that many animals feel very at home there, even when there area is limited and when there are (too) many people watching them.  For example the area where the lions live in, in Wuppertal, is pretty good, they have a lot of space and can 'hide' for the curious visitors if they want.
Polar bears are a threathened specimen, and every newborn is a main attraction. 
The high 'hugability' is for many people enough to compensate the bad circumstances that the animals are kept in. 
As for a financial investment, the park has to live and manage anyway, it  might be a good move. But for the animals itselves it is questionable, if not unacceptable.  How long are we going to continue the exploitation of animals?  How much can we believe the policy of the Zoos in caring and showing the animals in their natural habitat, when the background is just a money making business?

On the sideline, I want to say something in advantage of this policy.  People are going to those attractions. New, rare, baby animals, they are hits and they bring a lot money.  As long as we humans continue in supporting this, also visiting the zoos when there is a new or newborn animal in this category,  that long the zoo's will not stop their animal unfriendly attitude, wrapped in nice messages as 'we research to save the animal brand for later generations'
Let us start to keep this kind of news out of publicity. When we dont see the messages at tv and internet, less people will be aware, so the 'urge'  for the animal-holders will be less.  And further let us continue to protest against these tortures.  We  are the voice for the animals.