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Ive read recently that animals do indeed get bored. The article stated that an animal that moves back and forth repeating the same movements is exhibiting boredom. Ive noticed this with Polar Bears as well. At the Baltimore Zoo, we had a bear named Magnum, and he would walk to the edge of the rock, stop, lower his head and swing his body a certain way, turn walk back to the opposite side, and repeat the process again. I watched him do this about 20 times one day. Fortunately, zoo keepers have become much more aware of this, and are designing enclosures that take into consideration the need for animals to have some type of activity. The zoos today, are for the most part designed with the animals needs in mind. Most of the displays are larger and as much as possible mimic the animals natural environment. Many are also designed to allow the animals a place where they can get away from the noise and gazing of people. Of course many people arent necessarily happy with this as they believe the whole purpose of going to the zoo is to see the animals. However, when I recall the old days where going to the zoo meant seeing animals caged with a concrete floor, no trees, toys, or other distractions, nothing for them to do but walk back and forth and wait for dinner, its a small price to pay I believe, for being more considerate of the needs of an animal that is meant to be free, but will never know that freedom. Ive often thought that between the choice of spending a lifetime in jail, or death, I would chose the latter. The animals that provide entertainment for us dont have this choice. |
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