Zoo

Most people look at modern metro zoos as penultimate institutions of ethical care for exotic animals.

But one watch of this documentary shows that this isn't necessarily the case.

30 years on from the making of this film, looking back at the conditions in which many animals are kept, is horrific.

And some of the trainers (particularly the female elephant trainer), are no better than what you would find at a travelling circus.

To think that a zoo would use a hook to force animals to perform ridiculous stunts is offensive, if not wholly disgusting.

This film, particularly, focuses on the Miami Zoo.

So perhaps such a complaint doesn't apply to all zoos (and certainly doesn't apply to all care givers)...but it definitely applies here in this context.

Up front, things don't look so bad.

But Wiseman grants us a look behind the scenes, with his privileged access.

Where conditions don't much better than the roadside zoos we've all grown to despise.

Entire families of chimpanzees are hosed down while confined in small cages, with barren cement floors.

A caiman gets so depressed, it's lost weight, and refuses to move...until it's wrangled like it was a cattle.

A mother gator is smacked on the head with a rake, so that keepers can dig up her eggs.

It takes an inexperienced keep several whacks with a crowbar...just to knock out a bunny.

And an entire gang of keepers to forcibly hold down a poor, terrified wolf, just to give him a shot.

But there's nothing more sad than to watch an elderly rhino mother, who was forcibly bred, give birth to a stillborn child.

Which we then watch being sliced up in a necropsy.

Some truly disturbing stuff.

And keep in mind these keepers and trainers have zero training in how to work with these animals...they are just thrown into the job...and expected to learn on the fly.

So, even if they mean well...it does not mean they are not responsible for further traumatizing these poor souls.

Sure...it allows people who would not, otherwise, have the means to experience these glories of nature, to witness them first hand.

But at what cost?

Our humanity?

To satiate our curiosity?

I have no doubt 99% of the people working with these animals mean well.

But this exposes zoos for what they truly are...a disgusting practice.

We need to move past the point of this reprehensiveness, and act to protect then environments in which these grand creatures live and dwell.

Because if our only excuse to justify their existence is to keep animals at risk, as a result of habitat loss, alive.

That is simply abhorrent.

We must do better, as a species, to prevent this...for the sake of those with whom we share this Earth.

Because these animals deserve better than this.

And we CAN do better.

Pairs well with Primate and Meat.

7.5 out of 10.

This documentary is interesting because it does not focus just on animals on cages but it also gives the point of view of the staff that are dedicated in keeping the animals with good health. there is no dialog in the movie but it is not necessary because the images that we see in this film are more than enough to understand what is going on in the film. this documentary shows very interesting situations that happen inside a zoo that we as visitors from the zoo are not allowed to see when we visit the zoo. we can see surgical procedures and even the procedure of an autopsy of a baby rhino. not forgetting we can see when the zoo keepers feed the animals.