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Uakaris t1_iwwqkzj wrote

Reply to comment by Alarmed_Nebula3917 in Providence the giraffe arrives at Roger Williams Park Zoo by therealDrA

Their habitat is actually pretty thoughtfully designed. Their indoor space is temperature controlled and has a specialized rubber substrate on the floor, which is healthy for their feet. They get any care and medical attention that they need from their keepers nearly around the clock. These three giraffes are well loved and well cared for.

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Alarmed_Nebula3917 t1_iwwtumf wrote

I’m really not a crunchy animal activist type of person, but the last time I was at the zoo it occurred to me that it’s unnatural or even cruel for an animal to be extracted from its outside natural/intended setting, like I remember looking into the polar bear exibit and the bear looked sick and was frantically pacing back and forth the enclosure, it was almost identical to my dogs behavior in her last days before she was put down, so that good medical attention bs is really just for monetary gains so the animals can be on exhibit for longer and the zoo can get maximum usage from the animals, in nature the animals would isolate somewhere to die, but in the zoo they are going beyond their expiration dates in a place with poor quality of life for them

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therealDrA OP t1_iwxu0s5 wrote

They don't have polar bears at RWP Zoo.

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KyloRenCadetStimpy t1_iwxu94l wrote

The last one died in 2005. Now the eagle exhibit is there.

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therealDrA OP t1_iwxuszc wrote

Ah! Before I lived here. I wish they would adopt some more polar bears since they are so endangered with climate change.

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KyloRenCadetStimpy t1_iwxvq0m wrote

They definitely seem to be going more toward the "pull the kids in" philosophy these days and less toward education or hardcore conservation. Sure, I guess camel rides and feeding the giraffes are educational, and I can see why they're using those to boost revenue. Not sure what the zip line is teaching anyone. Can't say that I think the new rainforest building was worth it...although it sure comes in handy when you're visiting during the winter :-D

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spitechicken- t1_iwy4q4a wrote

There is an entire education department that does standards aligned conservation programming and probably reaches thousands of kids a year

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KyloRenCadetStimpy t1_iwy9wvw wrote

I'd be interested who they're reaching out to and how they're doing it. My son's in 8th grade, and I can't remember anything sent along to parents in Warwick. Any kind of thing like the Zoo Camp I've heard about directly from the Zoo...just like the yearly Zoobilee, sleepover events, October festivals, pumpkin event, etc...because when you're a member, they always want to remind you how to send them more money :-D

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therealDrA OP t1_iwxxwxe wrote

As you say, these things increase revenue which I trust allows for better care for the animals and improvements in zoo infrastructure which also benefits our animal friends. RWP Zoo just received I believe 5 million for improvements from the city of Providence. Serving the city and region by providing educational infotainment to children and adults creates goodwill resulting in additional tax supported funding which should further improve conditions for the animals. Some of the malcontents in this discussion just bitch about everything and fail to see the things that are going right and the improvements being made. I acknowledge shortcomings for RWP zoo, but the trends are positive. RWP in general is a treasure of lil Rhody.

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KyloRenCadetStimpy t1_iwyanci wrote

>. I acknowledge shortcomings for RWP zoo, but the trends are positive. RWP in general is a treasure of lil Rhody.

I actually worry a bit about the trends. The "new" Treehouse and kids play area was nice at the beginning, but now it feels more like just a waiting room for the pay rides. The new rainforest area is nice enough, although maybe a bit crowded.

It feels almost like they're idling...but of course that could be because of the whole COVID thing these past years. I'd hate for them to end up like they were in the 80's.

Of course, they're getting penguins back. I'm not happy that they traded off the seal exhibit for it, but maybe they'll knock it out of the park.

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KyloRenCadetStimpy t1_iwxtuvk wrote

>The Masai Giraffe population has declined by 49-51% in the past 30 years, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

And you can also add "avoiding being killed out directly and indirectly by asshole humans" on that list of "horrible" things they avoid in a zoo.

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Jeremys17 t1_iwxdjf3 wrote

As far as I know some zoos are a holding place to rehabilitate animals before being released back into the wild. And even if the living conditions are sub optimal I think it’s worth it for allowing children which is the primary target audience of zoos to go there and see them in real life and have a different respect and interest in them

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KyloRenCadetStimpy t1_iwxtit1 wrote

>it’s unnatural or even cruel for an animal to be extracted from its outside natural/intended setting

Yeah. Not having to worry about starving, or being eaten by predators. What a hell that must be.

> like I remember looking into the polar bear exibit and the bear looked sick and was frantically pacing back and forth the enclosure, it was almost identical to my dogs behavior in her last days before she was put down, so that good medical attention bs is really just for monetary gains so the animals can be on exhibit for longer and the zoo can get maximum usage from the animals

So...almost 20 years ago. Apparently, you really like the aged whine.

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