Can you zoochatters, explain why do we love animals, ok this is forum primarly for wild (zoo) animals and their conservation, so why do we love zoo animals, can you explain? I would list some reasons for me: I am attracted to their exotic appearance I love they to be secure, why? Trough wild animals, you connect to particular cultural or geographical region in the world, wich is exotic to you. I love seeing them secure and in big numbers in zoos, also in the wilderness. I love tropical animals shapes, I love venomous snakes because of their mostly colourfull body and because they are dangerous? I feel passionate about them, I don't like they to (not do'') suffer What else?
If we're talking about zoo animals specifically... It's pretty cool when an exhibit lets you get right up close to animal without any danger. Get inches away from a tiger or a chimp without getting your head ripped off. Also, I can't afford to travel, so it's cool to see animals I otherwise have zero chance of seeing.
Even If you can afford to travel on many places world wide, TheMightyOrca, you will not see every animal that you can see in zoos, plus animals in zoos can be seen when we want, many times, but average person may travel to Borneo for example, once or twice in his entire life, and once or twice to Mexico for example.
Well, I'm a lifelong animal lover who doesn't like to fly so my travel is limited. Definitely not able to visit Africa because of the length of flight. Zoos allow me to see a wide variety of different wild animals and sometimes fairly close to them. Twice I have been close enough to touch a Cheetah and I've heard several purr. I've also been chuffed at and have engaged in a game of 'chase', for lack of a better description, with a tiger. You just can't beat experiences like that if, say, your hobby is train spotting, you know? Hahaha
My interest in zoos and wild animals is mainly for photography. When I first got into photography in the late 1980's some friends invited me to photograph a meet and greet with a koala for one of them at the Los Angeles Zoo. Afterwards I walked around on my own and got interested photographing two sparring tigers. That began my love affair with zoo photography and also with wild cats.
