Home Is Where the Heart Is

Home, sweet home. There’s no place like home. Home is where the heart is. There are so many sayings that describe the place we come to know and love so well in our lifetime. We usually don’t think about how our feelings for our homes would change if we were forced to stay in one home for the rest of our lives. Apparently, animals have no choice but to feel that way. From zoos to aquariums, we see animals entertaining us from one side of a fence or glass wall.

I have always enjoyed going to places like the Little Rock Zoo or SeaWorld. Nevertheless, I often wonder what those animals feel like when they see us walking freely and they are confined to one space. In 2010, Tilikum, an orca (killer whale) from SeaWorld killed its trainer. An autopsy showed that it was more out of rebellion than curiosity. Tilikum was kept in a water tank with several other orcas, resulting in conflict. The other whales would bully Tilikum. This is probably what led to his violence.

I believe animals can be held in captive institutions as long as proper measures are taken. If the animal is not being fed, watered, or accompanied properly, then that is where the line is drawn. Another angle to the capture of animals is that if a wild bear is captured while it is minding its own business, then that is wrong. Animals were put in the wild for a reason. If God wanted them to be in a zoo, He would have put them there. However, there is a circumstance where capturing an animal is more excusable. If there is a bear whose paw is badly injured, then that bear should be helped and nurtured back to health. If the bear would not do well in the wild even after being healed, then by all means, keep and take care of it. If animals are taken in for medical reasons or raised in captivity, then obviously they should be kept there safely to prevent getting hurt in the wild.

In our own Little Rock Zoo, two new elephants have been welcomed. They are Sophie, age 44, and Babe, age 38. They were rescued from harsh conditions in the Ringling Circus and are now living an enjoyable life in the zoo. They are being well fed, well housed, and definitely receiving love from not only the caretakers, but also the public.

Often times, we associate the word “captivity” with the word “abuse”. However, if animals need care, sanctuaries and other man-made habitats will gladly give it to them. If it is an appropriate time for release, they will be trained for the wild, and put into the hands of Mother Nature.

What are your thoughts? Should humans keep to themselves when it comes to animal matters? Or do you see captivity as a positive gesture? Please tell me your thoughts via email. Thank you for reading.