I remember zoos when I was a kid, and they were not much more than concrete floors and cages. Now, ours at least, is an award winning virtual habitat that conducts vital breeding programs. Just as an aside, I always wonder whether animals see the 'wild' in a different way to humans. I mean, in nature they have to avoid being eaten every minute of the day!!!!!

To me, if animals have to be kept they should be free roaming in parks, not zoo's.

From the title, I was expecting a photo of hookers & criminals, but this is a fine hairy camel portrait. I'm generally in agreement with Jeff about this one, though certainly there are some zoos that treat their animals better than others. But imagine that humans weren't the dominant species on the planet & that a higher species evolved & put us in cages. Would we be okay with that?

Ok for breeding programmes of endangered species.

I'm for the former rather than the latter, I despise Zoos, I think they rob animals of their natural habitat and place them in alien ones. If these creatures were meant to be here they would be indigenous to here, I don't agree with lions and camels etc roaming around in the UK, they are meant to be in their indigenous countries. And I would rather see a Big cat or any other animal in the environs of their own, not in a man made structure as a modern day PT Barnham exhibition, their(And the people that support zoos) defence is to say it is for the preservation of "Threatened" species, well that's a crock, because they are placing these animals under threat themselves by caging them up in the wrong environments. The way to avoid eradication of these animals is NOT to grab them and cage them, it's to better police what developers and greedy land owners/wankers are doing to their environment. We can see this argument going back centuries with all the "FAILED" attempts to save the giant panda, when all it takes is to butt out of where the panda lives and leave it be. Also natural selection is not our right to become involved in.

lovely characterful shot, a zoo like Marwell in Hants has a wonderful open feel and a good breeding and reintroduction prog ., on the other hand some of the more compact ones i have reservations about

What a lovely shot of this very hairy camel! I like zoos, when they are well done; where else would we be able to actually see these animals up close? Many of the animals in zoos have been found hurt in the wild, and while we could just leave them to die in the wild, we like to think we're helping by bringing them in and rehabilitating them and then using them in teaching programs to help their wild brethren. I know others don't agree, but we all have the right to our own opinions.

I dunno, did you ask the camel? I have to agree with Andrea about preserving species. Zoos can give people an appreciation for wildlife and perhaps generate more support for their natural habitat but even the best of them are prisons.

Great portret! I have mixed feelings, both sides have good arguments.

Looks like a cartoon character. Zoo are better now.

The worst Zoo I have seen in Dubai. He recalls the disastrous conditions in Battery cages for hens. IMMEDIATELY CLOSE! I agree with Jeff. Animals need exercise and space. Even dogs in a city apartment I feel sorry. Very selfish of the owners. GREAT PORTRAIT !!!

fantastic portrait! looks like he is in conversation with you g

nature is tough a tough place to be -- in a properly run zoo, the animals get medical attention, food, safety. There are worse places than zoos... I am thinking of what it takes to make a chicken sandwich for instance. We are on the top of the food chain, I'm thinking the real issue is that we are eating our planet and have no good checks on ourselves. Polar bears swim further and drown. Will there be any wildlife besides insects in 500 years? So to me, the value of a zoo is to show us who we share our planet with, and hopefully to send some guilt our way and make us stop and think. Excellent shot by-the-way, love the light.

I'm with the later, as long as they are run with respect for the animals first and foremost.. NOT as a profit making company, but as a conservation and education facility.. Leaving wildlife 'to it' in the wild will not work now as man does not give as shit for the world and would wipe them out very soon.. As its trying very hard to now.. Its my belief much as it goes against most peoples view, that the world should come first, and man, should be secondary.. If you kill the world, you WILL kill man.. Logical? Rob