About Zoos

The last ones of last week's pictures haven't yet found their way here, so with no new material I publish them now. They were taken in the way from Rovaniemi to Helsinki, most in the Ranua Arctic Zoo park.

For a long time I've had an internal fight about my opinion about zoo parks: I enjoy watching and photographing animals there too much considering that my own ideology doesn't allow keeping wild animals in cages. Of course keeping injured or endangered species for their protection is acceptable, but how can you really tell if this baby moose's parents really died in an accident. Especially, when zoos are as made for business as any theme- or amusement parks. In Finland at least the things are not that bad as they could be, but I've seen some horrible examples in Russia and Chile.

I feel pity and anger especially when I see birds being kept in cages. What would it feel like, when your own element is taken from you? Birds are symbols of freedom and flying, you shouldn't put something like that in a space with four walls and a roof. I bet it would be indescribable to paralyze or loose the ability to talk, and not many would keep their minds clear and sane if they had to spend the rest of their lives in the same apartment, with no exits and not even to have the power to decide who's there with them. No matter how awesome the apartment would be, it would still drive you crazy.
I believe and I've seen some good cases also, where they take good care of the animals and try to create their natural environment. But it still doesn't compare with life in freedom - at least for me it wouldn't. So I always leave a zoo with mixed thoughts and slightly sad feelings, even though I had enjoyed the visit.

Because of today's theme, I'll add a couple of photos of the zoo of Helsinki from february (the last four). They also happen to be ones of the first pictures taken with this camera!

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