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Scenes from the zoo
According to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), over 600 million visitors pass through the gates of over 1,300 zoological parks, reserves and aquariums worldwide every year. Springtime brings many new animals to these parks as well, as newborns. Collected here are some photographs from zoos and aquariums around the world from the past couple of months. Don't forget that 2009 has been designated as the "year of the gorilla" by the United Nations. (37 photos total)
In this photo provided by the San Francisco Zoo, a reticulated giraffe calf nuzzles Ron Amiot, an animal keeper at the San Francisco Zoo, Thursday, April 2, 2009 in San Francisco, Calif. The calf was born that morning at sun-up to Kristin. Giraffe females give birth standing up after the 14 to 15 month gestation period, with a six foot drop for the Calf's entrance into the world. (AP Photo/George Nikitin, San Francisco Zoo) #
Three Sumatran tiger cubs play in the tiger exhibit at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park on March 25, 2009. The trio, born on November 13, 2008, was only recently allowed in the big outdoor enclosure for public viewing. The Sumatran tiger is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN. Only between 300 and 400 Sumatran tigers are left in the wild on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, mostly in national parks. There are only 350 in managed care. (KEN BOHN/AFP/Getty Images) #
A baby kangaroo named Tijana peers from the incubator in its enclosure in Belgrade Zoo in Serbia on April 16, 2009. Her mother, after being scared by an emu, ran away and Tijana fell from her pouch. Now Tijana, who cannot survive outside a pouch, must stay in a special incubator, where the temperature remains a constant 35 degrees Celsius. Biologists have fashioned a set of canvas pouches for her, and she is fed every two hours with a special milk from US and Germany. (REUTERS/Ivan Milutinovic) #
A baby leopard sits in a basket on April 8, 2009 at the Hagenbeck zoo in Hamburg, northern Germany. The two North Chinese leopards (Panthera pardus japonensis) were born six weeks ago at the zoo. The North Chinese Leopard is an endangered species. No-one knows for sure how many North Chinese Leopards there are in the wild, which makes it difficult to protect them. There are only 100 in captivity, and new blood lines are needed in order to continue a healthy population of the cats. (ROLAND MAGUNIA/AFP/Getty Images) #
An employee of a mobile zoo throws meat to a lion and an Amur tiger on April 3, 2009. The meat was donated by locals in the town of Sosnovoborsk, northeast of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Some 30 animals from a mobile zoo were left in dire conditions, going without food and care for days, after the Russian migration service deported the zoo's Armenian owners from the country because of their expired visas, local media reported. The owners had taken their zoo, which included an Amur tiger, a lion, and a lynx, on tours around Russia and intended to spend the winter in the small Siberian town. (REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin) #
A young Asiatic brown bear squeezes its head under the bars of its four square meter mobile enclosure in the town of Sosnovoborsk, Russia on April 3, 2009. The bear is among some 30 animals left without food and care for days, after the Russian migration service deported the zoo's Armenian owners from the country because of their expired visas. (REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin) #
Cezar, a lion relocated from a Romanian zoo takes in his new surroundings at Lions Rock big cat sanctuary near Bethlehem in South Africa March 14, 2009. Cezar is one of a group of seven lions relocated from Austrian and Romanian zoos by international animal rights foundation Four Paws (Vier Pfoten). (REUTERS/Mike Hutchings) #
This April 8, 2009 Smithsonian National Zoo handout photo shows US actor Harrison Ford and fiance actress Calista Flockhart, along with her son Liam, as they get up-close to the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Nile hippopotamus, Happy. Ford fed the 5,000-pound hungry hippo while his soon-to-be family looked on with animal keeper Jay Tee Taylor. (JESSIE COHEN/AFP/Getty Images) #
A Harlequin frog is seen at the El Nispero Zoo in El Valle town, Panama April 16, 2009. More than 32 species of amphibians in danger of extinction are being held in captivity to protect them against the contamination of their environment and the Chytrid fungus that has killed a great percentage of amphibia worldwide, the Zoo revealed. (REUTERS/Alberto Lowe) #
Greg Clark of Wild at Heart shows one of the burrowing owls about to be released inside a temporary tent constructed near Kingman, Ariz. on Saturday March 14, 2009. An all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, started the process of relocating several displaced burrowing owls to their new home northeast of Kingman on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kingman Daily Miner, JC Amberlyn) #
North, a Little Penguin, is pushed into the sea by veterinarian Amy Twentyman of the Taronga Zoo at North Curl Curl beach in Sydney, Australia on March 20, 2009. The zoo released back into the ocean two adult Little Penguins after they had rested and been cared for at Taronga's Wildlife hospital. (REUTERS/Daniel Munoz) #
An adult Little Penguin named North returns to the sea following a period of care at Taronga Zoo's Wildlife Hospital, at North Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club on March 20, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. North and South, a pair of Little Penguins, were found at different beaches by members of the public, one on Christmas Day at Terrigal and the other two months later at Cronulla. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) #
A Yellow Mongoose is anesthetized before undergoing a health check in London Zoo's veterinary surgery on March 11, 2009 in London, England. The first part of the procedure checks the animals ears, eyes, teeth, feet and its gender. The small mammal which originates from southern Africa is one of three from Marwell Zoo, which will make up part of a new Animal Adventure exhibit to be opened on April 3, 2009 at the park. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #
The eyes of a dominant male western lowland gorilla stare at a visitor at the primate sanctuary run by the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund in Mefou National Park, just outside the capital Yaounde, March 21, 2009. The United Nations has designated 2009 as the year of the gorilla and has launched efforts across Africa to preserve the endangered species found in central African nations including Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. (REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly) #
With facecloth on head, male Baikal Seal Billy performs "a dip in a hot spring" as he holds a sake bottle in a basin with flipper at a pool in the Hakone-en aquarium in Hakone, west of Tokyo, Tuesday, March 17, 2009. It took three months for six-year-old Billy to master this performance, a traditional Japanese style of soaking in a hot spring. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye) #
Pagi, right, a female Bornean sun bear cub whose name means "morning" in a Malayan dialect, licks her brother, Palu, who is named after a valley in Borneo, as they made their public debut at the San Diego Zoo on Monday, March 16, 2009. The twins are only the third Bornean sun bear litter to be born in North America, all of which have occurred at the San Diego Zoo, where researchers are studying reproductive biology and maternal care of the sun bear. (AP Photo/San Diego Zoo, Tammy Spratt) #
Five-day-old elephant Ko Raya looks out of her enclosure beside her mother, 22-year-old Asian elephant Pang Pha, as the pair were presented to the public at Berlin's Zoologischer Garten zoo March 20, 2009. Ko Raya was born at the zoo and is Pang Pha's third offspring. (STEFFI LOOS/AFP/Getty Images) #
More links and information
Boston.com Natural World slideshows - Part of our Green Living section (left column)
WAZA - World Association of Zoos
2009 Year of the Gorilla - Offical site
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Some nice pics, Definitely sending to my wife! She loves the giraffes!
zoos are not prisons. Some are better some are worse. For a herd animal or a grazing animal they are probably more content in a good zoo than they are in the wild. Many carnivors seem trapped in zoos and its not so simple to gauge their contentment... I would say that a zoo is a good life comparitievly for a male lion, but worse for a female lion.
I've never seen a bear in a zoo that looked content... maybe that's true of all animals who search for their food rather than graze or hunt...
zume
Well I guess one more comment for #158--you heartless a-hole. To say that animals don't feel is just ignorant and plain stupid. Because they can't verbally communicate like we can doesn't mean they don't feel. Unfortunately, there are times we need to intervene for their survivial. You've certainly given an insight into the kind of person you are--pretty non-emotional and somewhat cold. What a sad existence.
@ 176 "Poor animals.... People must stop exposing animals in the zoo! Even you're taking good care about it, it is still not free. Everybody who came on this Earth was born free and should be free."
Go read the argument in Life of Pi (towards the beginning) as to why keeping animals in zoos is not "taking away their freedom", then come here and make arguments based on logic, not on emotional appeal.
Fotos maravilhosas, impregnadas de sentimentos que os 'ditos ' humanos devem cultivar dentro de si e para os seus.
Èçóìèòåëüíî! AMAZING!
supers photos!!!
Zoos are prisons for the innocent animals. Shut them down and release the prisoners and the workers can find something productive to do such as teach or help wounded animals. This is barbarism.
I vote for a baby ducky themed big picture.
meravigliose in particolare la 21
I agree with 149, the leopard does look scared. I disagree with the fact that the photographers are gathering around the poor animal. If you are taking a picture, you should at least respect the animal's space. Back off, people!!!
Magnificent photos!
The captions for photos #29 and #30 employ the possessive "it's" when they should just be "its."
In photo 15 and 16 I was expecting to see some of those official also.
These photos make me sad. All these beautiful animals who can never live free in their natural habitat.
This is so sad, animals should be free, however I suppose this is the way the world is going, man is so selfish that he has to take away natural habitat and imprison nature. It will be an incredibly sad day when you will only be able to see these beautiful creatures in these disgusting prisons.
Anthropocentrism...look it up kids (i hope your kids) and change this world gone efficient.
these are cool
sería más lindo verlos en libertad
Baikal Seal is the best
you are an idiot if you think a zoo or wildlife park is a prison for an endangered animal. would you prefer for them to be hunted, starved, or pushed off their land, because that's the reality. animals like big cats and others can often only make a comeback as a species through protective care.
IMAGINE YOURSELF LIVING IN A CAGE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
NOW IMAGINE YOURSELF RUNNIG FREE AND WILD IN THE FIELD!
Which one would you pick? Come on people if these animals could only speak I think they would be saying "what gives you the right to rule how we live?" 'PLEASE JUST LEAVE US ALONE" Lets find it in our hearts to not let it be about the money all the time. We need to stand up for these beautiful helpless creatures, only we together can make the difference. Animals cant speak so please let us do it for them, they need us NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!HELP!! Thank you.
hermosas fotografias :)
Zoos suck. An animal nightmare. Fools.
Great pictures but the animals would be better free!
Good pictures they show the side of animals that are usally looked over and it brings to mind the endangered animals that need special care.
The first pic is the CUTTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it is a geat collection of pictures it shows what some animals go through in zoos and how they are treated it show s the true beauty of the wild animals
love the polar bares huging ^.^
The pictures are so awsome because i liked the way the animals have facial expressions
the polar bear was the best
I found the pictures to be very entertaining
These we're awesome because I liked them very much.
Me parecen hermosísimas, si los animales alcanzan esa ternura, los humanos podemos hacerlo más aún con todos nuestros sere queridos..
Yes, let the animals go and give them their freedom - their freedom to go extinct.
If you think that zoos are only bad and have absolutely no value - you really have no clue. Zoos are essential for preserving breeding populations of many endangered species. Grow up and stop being so naive.
Sometimes animals have more love for their young than humans, which we can see from these photos. Keeping an animal captive is so sad , but many of them would never make it on their own out there. Lets learn from these animals about love! Its so obvoius if an animal can show such love for each other we humans can too. Its called compassion for each other and your neighbor and fellow man! Have a good day brothers and sisters of the human race
I never imagined a hippopotamus teeth like that.(Picture 19)
STUPID CAPTIVITYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS MEAN!!!!!!!
Soooooooooooooooooooo Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute~~
freddom for all animals. jail for hunters. put Men in the zoo to. I would like to see tham
Mario Rocha
Disturbing, but great photos!...ARF ARF
Pic 16th. Please tell me, something was done for the animals of that zoo...Very sad to see them in that state.
its lovely...keep up the work
To Alan (Post #158), you might want to consider that humans are nothing more than another form of animal on this planet.
And animals certainly DO feel sadness. Maybe not in "human" terms, but they do none the less.
I have raised raccoons, foxes, crows, squirrels, hawks, and more that "humans" caused their problems by shooting their mothers or running over them with our fancy cars. Animals can show more love and affection than you will ever possibly know.
I would trade 90% of the humans that I know for my animal friends. They don't try and stab me in the back for their own self centered interests.
I have had raccoons actually put themselves between me and someone they didn't know because they were trying to protect me.
You should visit a rehabber and take a good long look at what animals are really like. You might be very surprised.
Allah akbar !
It sucks what we all do as a world population, but some of zoos and habitats, not all do help the population of animals. So stop being all high and mighty, and stop talking like an ass and praise the ones that are helping.
it seems like a lot of these pictures so animals in pain and hurt....why hasn't anyone done something to help them?!
I agree....wild animals belong in the wild unless they are wounded or old that they wouldnt be able to survive in the wild any longer.
Excellent pictures!!!! You made my day :)
Eeek. . . the photos are great, but many of these comments are scary stupid. Way to go, Internet!
these are really cute pics! i love the bear cubs! i set them as my background!!!
pictures were cute, but the ones of the lions and bear in the moblie zoo.
cool,adorable,and cruel
Perfeitas! :D
Great photos!
Hey, Kim 184, those were ARMENIAN baddies - NOT American. Hit the books.
Yeah, Alan is a dweeb - prolly his parents never let him have a pet.
Kurt 158 - nice summary, but still short. 'Animals make no emotional connections.' WRONG. There are too many stories - anecdotal, yes - about animals that have cared for other animals and for humans to simply say 'they're animals, we're better.' Animals exhibit a very pragmatic logic - far harsher than even Domestic Conservatives - but that is way different from declaring they don't attach or relate to individual humans. If they don't like YOU, maybe there is a reason.
And to all who say 'the animals are outside the cages' - Right on. Rarely will an animal kill another for fun or sport - with warring humans it is the norm.
If God did give man dominion over the planet, we have failed miserably in our stewardship. 'Dominion' does not mean 'to plunder' or 'exploit', ideally it would mean 'to rule intelligently'
But intelligence and man ... whole 'nother issue.
Walk in Beauty
WOW! GOD MADE SUCH BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS.
I LIKE THE BABY PICS =)
I am 75 years old and have been going to zoos all my life. I love them. I see them as places for much loved animals whose habitat has been destroyed by us (humans). For those that are not I try to remember that many of them will be killed as food by other animals. Yes, they would be better off free. I'd be better off if I had a $1million...but I don't...and neither do they have the freedom they once had. If the zoo is a good one (like San Diego) the animals are wonderfully well cared for and protected. Zoos also give our children places to see animals they would never otherwise encounter and they get an education they would otherwise never have. For instance, and this is about an aquarium, not a zoo, I once saw "Eugenia" a dugong in the SF Aquarium. I have never forgotten her. My children were brought up to appreciate and enjoy zoos and aquariums and to understand why they exist. I only hope those who go now are educating their children in the same manner.
it was a joy to see all the pictures of GODS making all of them for our pleasure
What incredible photos. These creatures of God are so precious. The thought of extinction of any of our wild animals causes such sadness. Thank you for the opportunity to see these animals which I never would have been able to see live.
We are so privileged to have them sharing this Good Earth with us.
really nice pic and u-nick pic
super :o) very nice
wow
Mind Blowing and Heart Warming...!
that is sad why the heck would u keep animals in a zoo?? ya i dont think u want to be in a zoo.. all locked up and stuff
las persona que tienen a esos pobres animales enjaulados se merecen unn gran castigo,,,,,,,,,,,,ellos no se dan cuenta que estos animalitos tienen que vivir en su ecosistema???????? ellos tienen que ser libres o nos gustaria a los humanos estar enjaulados y que nos miren todo el dia?????'' piensenlo.
i love your animals. Thanks for showing us the photos, Rosa (3 yrs)
A majority of modern Zoos are actually very worthwhile organisations. These Zoos' objectives and missions are around animal conservation and breeding programmes to help ensure the viability and sustainability of species in the wild. They are also some of the strongest advocates for environmental conservation and are some of the most pragmatic in delivering programmes in partnership with Governements to protect disappearing habitat.
If you don't believe it, check out some of these Zoo's websites for more info. Though its not ideal, these Zoos actually help to ensure the populations in the wild.
they are mean people to do that to animals. i hate them.
These pictures are cute. Im glad you put them on the website so people will see how animals are pretty smart. Im an animal lover so thats why I posted this coment.
they are really cute animals. preserve them
The pictures were amazing!! I, too, was saddened to see the animals in that mob ile zoo. I hope someone has taken steps to care for them. I as a human am very ashamed for the way we treat the animals of this planet. I think that animals are very much more humane than "humans" in the way they care for their young. Maybe some day (soon) we will "wake up" and start to take care of this earth and the animals therein.
Some of the pictures are got wrenching. I hope now that they are brought to "OUR" attention,that that has been something done.
yeah right, I love all animals too, but I like to see 'em on TV, how they are running, hunting and playing in there natural habitat. An hell no, I do not fell sad when I see pictures like 15 & 16, I feel more than sorry for these poor animals and especially I feel so angry for people that support such things as mobile zoos or a circus that sports animals. We should be ashamed as human beings.
I'm glad though there is pictures like this that show these miserable things.
I like this website a lot. Thanks for doing this!
My grandchildren are going to love these photos....as I did!
baby elephant is adorable, every thing in there is adorable and my sister and I were saying awww the ENTIRE WAY THROUGH!!!
Amazing pics! I love all animals but the young Chinese leopard in the basket took my breath away. It is behaving like a child thrilled with all the attention he is getting. Damn good pictures, I daresay. Truly made my day. Please send me more - if you have them.
You people and your self-rightousness piss me off. This talk about how awful it is to keep animals in zoos is ridiculous. It's not the f-ing circus. Zoos are lightyears beyond what they used to be and getting better all the time.
What you fail to realize the most is that zoos (and the people that work there) do more for the well-being and preservation of the animals that ARE in the wild than any of you ever have or ever will. So unless you're out there chaining yourself to a tree to protect the baboons or helping prosecute poachers I suggest you shut your mouths.
i like it so much
Thank you for reminding me that there are people and organizations dedicated to preserving our global wildlife. To those of you who are whining about animals in captivity--perhaps you should do your homework to learn about your much romanticized "life in the wild"--a wilderness where life is terribly cruel, violent and short. Animals in reputable facilities live longer, healthier, happier lives than their counterparts in the wild.
i love it
so cute!!
@jay wicked
if you stop to think about it, people live in very poor conditions in those areas.
in general
you protest against zoos and stuff, but eat chicken or pork or whatever, and throw out the leftover.
think
Uh.... yes, animals have feelings.. But we may not be interpreting them correctly just by looking at pictures. How many times have you looked at a picture of yourself saying: ok I look upset here, I look tired, I look sad, when in fact you were maybe just frowning because of the sun, had your eyes half-closed when the picture was taken or whatever. Let's no say: they look sad . We don't know what they are feeling. Animals have facial expressions, but they are not as precise as humans', and we too often tend to see them as sad or bored.This is projection.
that is so cool
Eu sou Brasileira. Tenho 59 anos.
Meu neto Grabriel , de 4 anos, adora animais, por isto na pesquisa chegamos até este blog.
Amamos as fotos. Parabéns.
Evane Becler
amazing shots, but way too sad...to look at the faces of those in captivity without a choice...common.
do i feel bad for those who cannot afford to take a trip to see them in the wild?
NO.
Its so cute i love animals!
SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they are so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i hate they are in cages it just piss me the f*ck off
that was cooooool! i love animals!!!!!!!!!!!
very gud excellant display very informative edu cational and thanks
its a great collection
i really impressed and appreciated you for yhe natural art
Wow...just...wow. It's unbelieveable the number of people that ascribe human emotions to animals. Animals are not capeable of hate, love or any other emotion other then those that physically mainfest themselves...IE hunger, fear (self preservation)
To the many that think we are just "destroying" this world with our mere presence, please kill yourself. One less human would save the world from destruction after all...right?
awesome photography!! the depth of the photographs is superb. wish i could get some photography tips from you!
response to #227 "Baikal Seal is the best"
What is so great about seeing an intelligent being being made to imitate human behavior just for a few "aww"'s?!!! It's an outrage that the Japanese are STILL disrespecting and exploiting ALL natures gifts.
Zoos should be replaced with reserves. Large fenced off acres, not iron barred concrete stages.
We need to preserve what's left while we replace what we've destroyed.
what wonderful photos-I just loved them and love all animals alike wild and domestic :-)
I, too, am concerned about these animals that were forced to go without food and water in Russia. Where they taken care of or just left to starve to death.
Please say that those animals in Russia were taken care of. That was just terrible. Please e-mail me the answer. Thank you
Os animais criados pos nosso Deus são diversamente lindos, mas o mais lindo e perfeito é o ser humano!
I hate how animals r in captivity. but sometimes it helps them like the baby kangaroo.
Most of the pictures are clear as if you were right there. I love all of the animals and am very thankful that my grandchildren can get close enough to learn to respect and appreciate all of them. I really enjoyed this site.