The Lions of Lake Manyara

I really hope they keep the homey feel of
the zoo. I went to Binder Park, for the first time, last week with 4 toddlers & they couldn't pick out the animals from the habitat. They loved John Ball last summer & I look forward to going with them again. I love John Ball Zoo!

Unless there is a breeding program going on within the zoo facility,to serve a scientfic purpose such as saving a species or studying a species for future care of wildlife in the wild, these animals should not be there. There was a time when a "zoo" was a beneficial thing so we could learn about wildlife. Nowadays, with all our technology and communication abilities - we should not be caging wild animals for the sake of people gawking.

kclh_thunk wrote:

Unless there is a breeding program going on within the zoo facility,to serve a scientfic purpose such as saving a species or studying a species for future care of wildlife in the wild, these animals should not be there. There was a time when a "zoo" was a beneficial thing so we could learn about wildlife. Nowadays, with all our technology and communication abilities - we should not be caging wild animals for the sake of people gawking.

Don't go then! my kids are there Gawking today:)

Me thinks these are Muslim Lions, their names sound Muslim.

They were probably placed in the zoo by Obama's 'Robots of Death' to convert all the Christian animals to Islam.

(OK..OK I am done)

Jamie B wrote:

<quoted text>Don't go then! my kids are there Gawking today:)

Chill out person! I was simply offering an opinion, an educated opinion, a friendly food for thought! Good grief! Warm cup of milk, Xanax anyone?

kclh_thunk wrote:

Unless there is a breeding program going on within the zoo facility,to serve a scientfic purpose such as saving a species or studying a species for future care of wildlife in the wild, these animals should not be there. There was a time when a "zoo" was a beneficial thing so we could learn about wildlife. Nowadays, with all our technology and communication abilities - we should not be caging wild animals for the sake of people gawking.

I agree. I am sure no matter how nice they make the zoo, the wild is much nicer for the animals I am sure. Zoos make me sick personally. Poor animals pacing back and forth or hiding. Owls in small cages they can't even fly around in. Anomals should be enjoyed in their natural habitats. That's one of the things National Geographic does best.

I can agree to a point of not caging animals in zoo but then again watching on tv, the internet or even just reading about still doesn't give you the same expierence as actually seeing them in person. A visit to the zoo sure can do alot for a young mind to shape it into respecting the awesomeness of mother nature. I do think JBZ is getting better at giving the animals a close to home place to live and yet allowing us to see them in a more realistic setting.

They are beautiful and I hope teaches us all that we have a place in the circle of life and once that link is gone everything changes.

I can't wait to see the changes this year and the years to come.

oops! animals not anomals. stupid fingers ;-)

kclh_thunk wrote:

<quoted text>
Chill out person! I was simply offering an opinion, an educated opinion, a friendly food for thought! Good grief! Warm cup of milk, Xanax anyone?

I could have left out the "!" but watching animals on t.v. or the internet is boring. And some places as you said the zoos are the only thing between living and extingtion for some species.

Jamie B wrote:

<quoted text>Don't go then! my kids are there Gawking today:)

Totally agree:) My kids love the zoo. We love animals and nature so much in my family. I can't stand it when the 'anti-zoo' people start their crying about letting the animals be free. It's a ZOO for petes sake,they are regulated, the animals are well taken care of, get over it.

Glad to see that they want to make improvements to John Ball Zoo, it has such good potential to be so much more. I went to Binder Zoo last summer and was impressed with all the different animals and exhibits they have, nice if John Ball could be similar, much closer to get to from Jenison than Binder. I like teaching my children about animals and love to see them enjoying nature up close.

Kate wrote:

Glad to see that they want to make improvements to John Ball Zoo, it has such good potential to be so much more. I went to Binder Zoo last summer and was impressed with all the different animals and exhibits they have, nice if John Ball could be similar, much closer to get to from Jenison than Binder. I like teaching my children about animals and love to see them enjoying nature up close.

We have been wanting to make a trip to Binder Zoo. I have heard nice things about it, but it is a bit far to drive. I also enjoy teaching my children about animals and giving them an up front view of how they 'live'. You can't get much closer, unless you actually travel to where these animals live. That is why zoos are such a great teaching tool for our children....well I guess for us adults too:)

To all of you who are against zoo's!!!!

If you go to John Ball Zoo you will read that the animals that they get are only rescued ones that are unable to live in a regular enviroment. They are ones that have been nursed back to health but unable to thrive in a natural enviroment anymore. So you might think this is cruel but in reality it is saving this animals life.

I can hear the lions from my house in the morning! Along with Zues the rooster and other creatures.

Talk about about close and personal.

I will go to the zoo this year, as I haven't been there in quite some time. I've always thought that Binder Park was better, but I'll go check out John Ball at least once again. The lion exhibit looked nice on the morning news.

kclh_thunk wrote:

Unless there is a breeding program going on within the zoo facility,to serve a scientfic purpose such as saving a species or studying a species for future care of wildlife in the wild, these animals should not be there. There was a time when a "zoo" was a beneficial thing so we could learn about wildlife. Nowadays, with all our technology and communication abilities - we should not be caging wild animals for the sake of people gawking.

And just to be sure, your home is free of dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish and any captive bugs... right?

baseball wrote:

<quoted text>
Totally agree:) My kids love the zoo. We love animals and nature so much in my family. I can't stand it when the 'anti-zoo' people start their crying about letting the animals be free. It's a ZOO for petes sake,they are regulated, the animals are well taken care of, get over it.

I'm all about letting the animals free... in the homes of the people who want them freed. Does it occur to any of you that these animals were captive bred and couldn't survive in the wild if they wanted to?

Cheryl wrote:

To all of you who are against zoo's!!!!
If you go to John Ball Zoo you will read that the animals that they get are only rescued ones that are unable to live in a regular enviroment. They are ones that have been nursed back to health but unable to thrive in a natural enviroment anymore. So you might think this is cruel but in reality it is saving this animals life.

I was not aware of that. That is good info, thank you.

Hypocrites wrote:

<quoted text>
And just to be sure, your home is free of dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish and any captive bugs... right?

My home is home to four children who were not wanted by their own biological mother, a 14-year-old cat my neighbor did not want, and a dog who needed a home. They are free to come and go in and out as they please and they are domesticated, as many people pointed out these lions are too. Good gosh, people, I'm not sitting on a high horse here, just saying that we should keep thinking on these things. Do you all just like to fight, or can we have a good conversation without high blood pressure, sheeesh.

Oh, and I do have a captive bug, cuz he is too stupid to go out the door I tried to let him out, lol. But now he is on the list to get squashed so with fly swatter in hand, he'll be captive here not much longer.