My grandkids and their parents are going to the zoo today. I used to love to go to the zoo. Animals in one form or another are my thing. If I hadn't been a teacher/ librarian I would have been a veterinarian. When I discovered that vets mostly dealt with sick animals I decided on the teaching thing, but years have told me that there were other things I could have done to apply my love of animals.
I like to observe animal behavior and how interesting the different shapes and sizes, purposes and activities of various animals. But, despite my love of animals, I have never lost sight of the fact that they are animals. There is is difference between the rights of animals and the rights and responsibilities of people. That is why I could easily accompany my cats to the vet on their last journeys, shed a tear or two, but not really grieve for them. I don't support treating humans the same way. We don't get to pick when the end comes for us.
I have been to zoos all over the world, in Japan, in Hawaii, in England, in California, in the Midwest, and places in between. I like the idea of zoos so that we all don't have to put on safari gear to see an elephant. If I had never seen an elephant, I really might not care whether there was conservation efforts to save them. When I took a cruise to Alaska and went on an excursion to see whales I realized that wild whales who are chased all over the place to be seen by tourists are really not much better off than zoo animals.
My knee bothers me too much to walk around the zoo all day these days. If I get a knee replacement, maybe that will change. Here in St Louis we have a very nice zoo. And it is free. So, maybe someday I will go to the zoo again like I did back in the olden days of youth.