I just as humans we have this odd desire to control everything. especially animals. lets catch them put them in a cage; or, oh look how cute that weasel is! hey, lets catch it breed it and call it a "ferret". And then of course there is the circus.....and my recent favorite are the new designer breeds of dogs, "labradoodle" "puggle" ugh......and they sell for 1500 bucks!! all they are are mutts with cute names, but people breed because they want money. its a shame that they probably could have adopted a mutt from local shelter, but instead the humans have a fancy "breed" of dog, and the little guy in the shelter was euthanized. okay, whew....i guess i needed to vent! Namaste'

lari the reason many of the animals in the zoo that are endangered (including this gorilla) is that they simply aren't safe in the wild due to poaching.

Whenever animals are used for profit, their needs will always be sacrificed before a profit is. that's simply a rule of economics. I hope we clse all zoos that hold wild animals in them. We don't need them anymore.

Actually that's not entirely true. There is no need for zoos in this day and age. Animals do far better in sanctuaries which are purpose built for breed and release programs. Zoos are horrible and there is no respect for the animals. Imagine you had to sit behind glass being stared at and have lights flashing in your eyes all day every day? I bet you wouldn't do too well.

The public being complacent about sentient beings and all other forms of wildlife being kept in small cages to be gawked at by humans, in completely unnatural habitats is not teaching anyone to respect anything. All it does is reinforce the arrogant idea that the human race is somehow superior to all other living beings on this planet and entitled to kidnapping and detaining any living creature with impunity at any time. Perhaps you would endorse the idea of bringing back human zoos as well? Yes. This was a thing. And not all that long ago either, the last one finally shutting down in the 1950's (if you don't count Germany's attempt in 2006 to showcase a similarly disgusting display of elitism) Google it. Sanctuaries and protected wildlife reserves are far more humane. What is the point of saving a species from extinction if the only survivors remain captive prisoners, forced to procreate by means of artificial insemination in a micro sized artificial environment?

I think that zoos should be larger. I understand if they don't have enough money, but they should at least try

The Vancouver Aquarium is home only to rescued animals and is responsible for rehabilitation or else becomes permanent home to those deemed "un-releasable" for health reasons.