When I was a kid, I loved going to zoos and other wildlife parks so that I could see animals like killer whales and tigers that I would probably never get to see in the wild. But as I grew older, I learned about how these animals can be mistreated in captivity or are not there for the welfare of the animal. This led me to abandon zoos and wildlife parks as a symbolic protest against such possible cruelty.

However, recently I have found myself questioning my reasons for the boycott. I learned that there are some zoos and wildlife parks like the Alameda Park Zoo in Alamogordo, New Mexico that are specifically created to care for wild animals that could no longer survive in the wild. With this type of habitat, the public can learn about the animals or more importantly learn about the hardships of many wild animals as they try to survive in ever increasing human overpopulation. These types of parks are beneficial and needed for animal welfare and education.

But what about zoos that acquire wild animals strictly for show? To take a wild animal out of its natural habitat is cruel. Animals do not exist for human enjoyment despite being well cared for in many zoos and wildlife parks. The reason is freedom. Imagine if you were suddenly plucked out of your home and placed in an environment that only allowed you to walk a short distance and it's the same short distance everyday. Imagine never being allowed to do what you normally do on a daily basis. And imagine having to live that way for the rest of your life possibly with a complete stranger. Sounds like prison doesn't it? You would probably find this a very difficult if not impossible way to live. Well, how can we expect to do this to wild animals and not expect trauma and repercussions? No matter how natural an enclosure may be for the wild animal, it is no match for home.

When I visited the Clovis Zoo in New Mexico several years ago, I saw a wolf living in a chain link enclosure. What really opened my eyes to how wrong this is was the fact that the wolf had worn a ring in the dirt inside the enclosure. It was the only place he could roam and did so everyday. Is this cruel? I believe it is. In an effort to educate the public about the need for protecting wolves, the zoo was essentially doing the opposite.

If you decide to visit a zoo or wildlife park, please consider the zoo's purpose. Is it there to rehabilitate and care for animals that could not survive in the wild or is it a place of animal exhibitionism? There are many other ways to learn about wild animals that caging them for human enjoyment makes no real sense and is in fact cruel.