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Where did we lose our sympathy for living creatures? How could we possibly think that displaying animals in cages in unnatural environments – mostly for entertainment purposes – is fair and decent?
Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain "collections" of interesting "items" rather than protective natural living environments. Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals in cages – bored, crowded, lonely, and far from their natural homes.
Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species, but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals' natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Most zoo enclosures or cages are quite small, and most labels only mention the species' name, diet, and natural mountains. The animals' normal behavior is seldom observed because zoos rarely take care of the animals' natural needs.
The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise. This results in abnormal and self-destructive behavior. A worldwide study of zoos conducted by the Born Free Foundation revealed that this kind of behavior is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study found that elephants spend 22 percent of their time engaging in abnormal behaviors, such as repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of distress.
Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding of endangered tigers, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their release to the wild. Zoo officials talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species becoming extinct or no longer exist. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. How many contests have we seen to name baby animals? A lot!
Ultimately, we will save endangered species only if we save their natural living environment and put an end to the reasons people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to preserve animals' natural living place.
What is the cue you can take from the author?
It seems that ever since fashion models in Japan started revealing their love for their dogs in magazines and on television, the meaning of "man's best friend" has taken a new turn. Dogs have almost become a must for young people trying to lead a trendy life. One women's magazine even wrote in a recent issue featuring dog accessories (饰物): The cute combination of a collar and a silver necklace is something we must imitate!
Dog lovers have long considered their dogs as equals, but recent trends show that, at times, dogs are more equal than humans. Raincoats and sweaters for dogs, pet hotels, and colorful collars are nothing new. But the notable feature among dogs in Japan is the brand fashion. There are Burberry's dog skirts and scarves and Kate Spade's dog carriers, and Gucci's flying plates for dogs have proven so popular that they are now out of stock.
We have more in common with our best friends than just luxury goods, though. Many people take their dogs' mental and physical well-being seriously, and manufacturers have been ready to meet this new demand. There are also soaps and shampoos for dogs. Classes offered by community centers that teach owners how to cook and knit (编织) for their dogs also have been gaining attention recently.
Toy manufacturers will market a device that recognizes, analyzes, and categorizes dog's voice according to "levels of emotion." Consisting of a tiny microphone that hangs around the neck of the animal and a display that can be monitored, the device allows owners to identify how their dog is feeling from a selection of six different emotions.
Attitudes toward dogs have definitely changed in the past decade or so. Biscuits and cakes from the bakery are all made from vegetable-based ingredients, and are free of salt, sugar, and chemical substances. To help meet the needs of people, an increasing number of cafes and restaurants have been allowing dogs to walk into their places. People used to think that dogs should be kept outside, but today many look at them as part of their families, or even partners.
Why does the author say that the meaning of "man's best friend" has taken a new turn?