Shanghai Zoo Part 1: Dogs festering in filthy cages

Are you people who live in Shanghai and make comments on this article actually going to do anything or just philosophize on the internet about zoos, or whether eating meat is good or bad or whether you like PETA.. Why dont you actually do something about this zoo.!!!

Yes, I saw this place the last time I was at the zoo. It's kind of hidden away at the back, and doesn't seem to get many visitors.

It was a big shock to see, and not the place any right-minded parent would want to take their children. The animals are in a dreadful state. The smell, as mentioned, is horrible.

I really don't see why they have such a place in a so-called modern-thinking zoo. Through-out the zoo are bits and pieces on animal conservation and how much they have spent upgrading the cages etc etc. It just seems very much out of place.

Scenes like this truly break my heart. I hope publicizing this will effect some relief for these poor dogs. As someone else stated, surely the exposure of the upcoming Expo will result in something being done to make life better for these animals.

Blazes, you are right on the plant to meat production ratio. In the USA it takes ten pounds of grain to 'produce' one pound of meat. Not to mention all the anti-biotics the animals are fed to compensate for horrific conditions.

Also, the leading cause of southern hemisphere deforestisation is beef for export.

I'm not a member or supporter of PETA, Robert.

Animal products are far more resource-intensive than plant products. A great deal of energy, water and land is devoted to producing cheap meat, dairy and eggs. If people would eat plants directly, instead of force-feeding them to animals and then harvesting the animals' secretions and flesh, it would be a big step toward solving the global hunger problem.

A mediocre writer once said "It never ceases to alarm me how disconnected I’ve become from the core parts of my inborn being."

One way to get back in touch with your "inborn being" might be to embrace compassion for animals and your fellow humans, and to live your ideals by refusing to consume animal products.

^Dude, did you copy and paste that from your PETA manual? Bravo! Ingrid Newkirk would be proud.

In any case, let's not talk about all the soybeans produced to make nasty tofu and focus on the issue at hand: the adorable Great Dane we need to get into Esther's loving home!

Andy raises solid points about habitat protection. Sadly, much of the slash-and-burn destruction of the rainforest is done to produce soybeans to feed livestock for the wealthy of the world.

When will we understand that this is a human rights issue as well as an animal rights issue? Each time we consume animal products, we show that we approve of worsening global warming, destroying the efficacy of our antibiotics and causing unnecessary suffering.

Veganism is an ethical responsibility for anyone who claims to love animals, the environment, or our fellow humans.

I agree, Christine -- with enough funding and care, zoos can be an educational and healthy haven for animals and the people who like them. The San Diego Zoo also comes to mind.

Unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case with this zoo...

...can I PLEASE adopt the Great Dane?

Zoos in general are a horrific throwback to more barbaric times and should be gone. I'm sure if we search the site here we can find the story about the Nanhui wildlife park's animal olympic event that ended up being cancelled due to controversy.

By the way, where's Robert Schrader with some bile on how this writer is a whinging hypocrite?

Good work, Christine.

Now now, Andy. Robert may not like PETA, but that doesn't mean he doesn't believe in humane treatment of animals (see all his tiger posts). Lots of people believe in animal protection and heck, even become vegans over it, while disliking PETA.

As for zoos in general, my personal belief is that - in many nations, and under strict regulations - the pros outweigh the cons. Biologists and Zoologists are given quick access to learn more about animals; similarly, children are given access they otherwise wouldn't have to foster a love and compassion for creatures from all over the world. The San Francisco Zoo and Bronx Zoo also have programs that actually end up bringing attention to and protecting animals out in the wild.

UNFORTUNATELY none of this applies to zoos in China, which are generally shameful shameful things. I've never been to a zoo or animal park here that hasn't made me downright disgusted.

Read Robert's work here in general. He's a pantomime villain.

The best way to help animals is to not destroy their natural environment. The best way to see or study animals is in their natural environment. People who like animals should not be comfortable with zoos that teach us it's ok to take free-spiriting living things and contain them for own our uses. It's part of an ideology that leads to environmental abuses and cruelty to animals.

I have been to 'open parks' that were based around rescue and clean up work, and with protecting endangered species - and thought they did excellent work. But the fact remains is that WE are the main reason they need rescuing and the ultimate goal is to not destroy the environment, at which point there won't need to be any rescue centres like that.

if we really care about the planet we have to follow these threads to their logical conclusions. Especially with madness like Obama's recent off-shore drilling order coming from the world's leading role-model on how to be progressive.

Well, it's certainly nice to know I'm being thought of in an article that has nothing to do with me! As Elaine echoed, the reason I hate PETA is BECAUSE I love animals, not the other way around - I was "one of you" for two years, if you'll remember. In any case, how about we focus our energy on publicizing the atrocities wrought onto these animals and not shit talking other human beings? I understand PETA doesn't consider us to be animals and all, but come on...

"In any case, how about we focus our energy on publicizing the atrocities wrought onto these animals and not shit talking other human beings?"

That's exactly what you should have done the first time around. Instead you wrote sarcastic dismissals of efforts to video atrocities and bring them to public attention.

So as an independent animal lover - where do you stand on zoos?

If only all zoos could be like the Singapore Zoo, the only one I've visited where I haven't cringed. Lush, spacious, landscaped enclosures, an 'open zoo' concept where most animals are separated from visitors by a wet/dry moat. But then, how many zoos have their funding?

Anyway, thanks Andy!

Than u Elaine I contacted PETA organize protest

This is absolutely horrendous. Is there anything that can be done to help these poor dogs? For one thing, the government can't possibly want 7 million Expo visitors, plus their esteemed foreign guests, to see this, can they?

so much corruption in these zoos..Will anyone do anything to change this appalling situation .Protest during Expo?

so much corruption in these zoos.yes, very much, but how much corruption in Peking Olimpic game? how much corruption in expro shanghai? Why west world give us the fucking olimpic game and fucking expro??

Can you focus on the article which is about this zoo and the bad conditions. You wanna talk about other things ? go find another website that fits your complaints.