Nations celebrate the World Animal Day every October 4 of each year; the feast day of St Francis of Assisi. Catholics believe that St Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment. In an article in Wikipedia, the World Animal Day has started in a convention of ecologist in Florence Italy. The event aims to celebrate all forms of animal life and perhaps to campaign against animal cruelty.
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| Image: Panda Enclosure from Wikipedia |
Often, when we hear of animals, we remember zoological gardens or parks. It’s where we can see and observe wild animals up close. “The oldest known zoological collection was revealed during excavations at Hierakonpolis, Egypt in 2009, of a ca. 3500 B.C. menagerie” (Wikipedia).
Wiki also says that historical greats like King Solomon of Israel, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Alexander the Great have had collections of exotic animals.
Animal rights advocates like the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) rally against Zoo’s. They argue that breeding and keeping these animals in captivity deprive them of normal life, which is a form of cruelty.
On one hand, I agree that those animals in zoo’s probably do not like their situation; living behind bars. They are wild animals that are supposed to be in the wild. On the other hand, I think (as long as they treat animals well in terms of medical attention and food supply) zoo’s help people especially children know more about animals in real time and experience. Pictures are good but nothing beats the real thing. I think if keeping animals in captivity is entirely wrong, then we should give up all our dogs and cats too. People should not have pets at all.
I believe that people have a right to take care of animals too. Again, I’m saying this on the premise that they are treating those animals humanely.
Happy World Animals’ Day to all animal lovers out there!
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