UO - 6.29

mcvgal · June 2017

I love the activity on the board this week. Let's keep it going. My UO I don't think kids should have so many extracurricular activities. I think kids should have time to get bored and then figure out their own creative outlets.

mrsrep123 · June 2017

Unfortunately, I dont have an UO, but wanted to say I agree with loving all of the activity this week, prior to today, that is.

psherman42wwsa · June 2017

I can't think of one either, I'm too exhausted to use my brain today

mrsrep123 · June 2017

I'm back, but it's more of a question because I'm a Libra and see both sides to this issue.

Zoos: support or boycott?

Jens_Hoes · June 2017

@mrsrep123 I'm so torn. I like zoos for going with children but I dislike the idea of them. The movie blackfish really opened my eyes. I think I approve as long as it's a sanctuary and for the purpose of saving and rehabilitating the animals

mcvgal · June 2017

I don't like the idea of the animals being caged up but like @Jens_Hoes mentioned, I think they are good for kids, as a learning opportunity.

chailife34 · June 2017

+1 good for kids, great if it's an animal sanctuary and rescue. Habe you seen Finding Dory? All the feels.

My UO is probably a FFFC but I am loving all the extra time now that I'm not pumping or breast feeding and my baby is well fed and happy and healthy. Yes, breast is best, but so is a rested happy mama. Formula is not the devil I once thought

redheeler · June 2017

Probably mine for today is that the movie Blackfish is a bunch of absolute bullshit, most of the "professionals" that provided testimonies never worked with the Orcas, never viewed a training session and were fired, they all had ulterior motives.

Zoo's - Most Zoo's in the western world are fine, it's the ones, usually in Asian countries thy starve the animals and chain them up for photos with tourists etc that I have a problem with. 9/10 the zoo's in Europe, The US and Australia are all well cared for animals that are provided enough entertsinment and enrichment, the majority of animals are all bred in captivity and then sent to other zoos so it's not like they're pulling the animals out of their natural environment and caging them anymore.

I see modern zoo's as no worse than owning a cat, dog, horse, bird etc Most domestic dogs are treated worse than zoo animals.

eta: too tired, can't spell

mrsrep123 · June 2017

@chailife34 cheers to the extra time

kns1988 · June 2017

I think zoos are okay if the animals are being well cared for, but I went to a reputable zoo in the US and saw a polar bear freaking out. It looked so neurotic that it kind of turned me off of zoos. Maybe it was a mating dance or something, but it looked really sad.

It's hard coming up with a UO that hasn't been said in the past 9+ months! Let's see... one associated to my daily life is that I don't think parents should be in contact with their kids at summer camp aside from letters. Give them some independence! No emails, no phone calls. Your kid is fine without you.

ETA: we actually don't allow phone calls, but parents try.

redheeler · June 2017

@kns1988 I think that's fair, I mean how many kids do you have there? 20? 50? If you allow every kid to talk to their parent every day, you wouldn't have time to do anything else

kns1988 · June 2017

PartiallyDomesticated said:

@kns1988 I think that's fair, I mean how many kids do you have there? 20? 50? If you allow every kid to talk to their parent every day, you wouldn't have time to do anything else

Sometimes we have over 100!

OmegaRose3 · June 2017

I think I echo what most of you are saying on zoos, as far as the animal care is up to par, it's an awesome experience for children to see wildlife they would probably never encounter otherwise.

+1 on not calling home from camp. I remember going to summer camp as a child and it did make it easier to adjust...if only my mother had remembered to feed our pet fish that year it would have gone perfectly.

I too am having a hard time coming up with a UO, but here's my try: I don't think fast food/frozen food is the devil. I wish I could get DD to eat better, but after just turning 2 and being super petite, something is better than nothing. We can duke it out about vegetables when she can understand me better.

MoshiMoshi7 · June 2017

I think zoos are actually a positive thing if they are accredited because they are where most of the efforts and funding for conservation come from. If you go to aza.org, it explains it a lot better than I can. That being said, I do understand the sadness in seeing a wild animal caged. It can feel like they need more, even if the reality is that they're perfectly happy.

starphish18 · June 2017

Since I'm a zoologist and worked as a zookeeper for several years, I have to weigh in on the zoo thing. If a zoo is accredited, I'm very pro. In the US, most zoos are AZA accredited, which means they're held to specific, high standards. The exhibits are properly sized and animals are fed appropriately, all animals receive enrichment (things like training or puzzle boxes for extra mental stimulation), and the zoo participates in SSPs (Species Survival Plans). So, zoos actually contribute to repopulating species in the wild that are in trouble. They also provide education. When children and adults go to zoos and can actually see these animals that they may never have a chance to see in the wild, they learn about them and are much more likely to advocate for the species. Also, many zoos animals were bred in captivity or are injured, so they're not being plucked from the wild for our enjoyment. Zoos do so much good that many people are unaware of. I think the biggest complaint I hear about zoos is that the animals look sad or shouldn't be caged. Well, that's really applying human emotions and thinking to animals. If you see a wolf pacing, that's because they walk miles every day, so they're just getting their exercise. It doesn't mean they're sad or anxious. That being said, there are zoos that are not accredited, so I can't speak to their practices. Many sanctuaries actually fall under this category...they're not being held accountable, and animals are not always in the best conditions there. If they're rehabilitating animals to reintroduce them into the wild, that's one thing...but some sanctuaries act more as a circus act (just about showing off their animals for profit), and I don't care for that.

NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot · June 2017

@PartiallyDomesticated If you think Blackfish is BS, what are your thoughts on Seaworld's orca program? Are you ok with the wild whales caught and held in captivity? Are you ok with the whales bred for captive purposes? And what about their shortened lifespan? How do you justify them being held there?

I think accredited zoos are great. But I can't justify orcas at sea world. I was lucky to see orcas in the wild, including the orca, Granny, that was ancient (something like 100?) and that is presumed to have died last year. It was an awesome experience. I don't need to see them perform tricks for humans. Much like I don't go to circuses with performing animals.

mrsrep123 · June 2017

Thanks for weighing in @starphish18, especially since it's your expertise.

redheeler · July 2017

@NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot
for starters, the lifespan of wild orcas is claimed in Blackfish as 100yrs plus, whereas the NOAA states the average for males is 30yrs and females is 50 with both capable of reaching 60-90. One orca that reached over 100yrs old is hardly the norm.

I also never did say that I was ok with what sea world does, just that the Blackfish documentary is bullshit and badly done. All it is there to do is invoke an emotional response with very little actual fact, once you start looking into it, the whole film comes undone very quickly.

I am am ok with the orca shows at SeaWorld, I am also ok with captive breeding programs as well as the rehabilitation programs which may or may not result in the animal returning to the wild. I would much rather see an Orca in a more natural enclosure simply for the majestic creatures they are, but they are intelligent and the tricks etc can be a good way to stimulate them mentally while in captivity.

I am am also perfectly ok with circuses. In Australia at least, many of the animals are up to 10th generation of captive breeding, they are under strict guidelines with their animals for enclosure and transport, the animals are well cared for and there's very little difference between them and a domestic dog being taught tricks. The trainers care for their animals a lot, and the animals are obviously happy.

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UO - 6.29

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