animal treatment at AK

[Woody13]

There have been endangered animals who are no longer endangered due to these types of facilities.

Do you have an example?

 

[xfkirsten]

Three stories of currently successful reintroduction programs that I can think of right off the top of my head:
Red Wolf
California Condor
Arabian Oryx

These species aren't out of the woods yet - that takes time. But they now have a chance, thanks to the help of captive breeding programs.

EDIT: also see this link for a great overview!

 

[Woody13]

Three stories of currently successful reintroduction programs that I can think of right off the top of my head:
Red Wolf
California Condor
Arabian Oryx

These species aren't out of the woods yet - that takes time. But they now have a chance, thanks to the help of captive breeding programs.

EDIT: also see this link for a great overview!

I was involved in 2 of those programs. Captive breeding in zoos is a different matter.

 

[xfkirsten]

I was involved in 2 of those programs. Captive breeding in zoos is a different matter.

Some of those programs ARE done in zoos. For example, the California Condor breeding program is a big part of the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

 

[Woody13]

Some of those programs ARE done in zoos. For example, the California Condor breeding program is a big part of the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Loss of habitat is the problem. Very few species are willing to breed in captivity. Zoos are not the answer (but they would like us to believe that they are saving the universe).

Back to the original;

There have been endangered animals who are no longer endangered due to these types of facilities.

None have been given so far.

 

[xfkirsten]

I won't argue that loss of habitat is the problem. Unfortunately, I don't have enough faith left in humanity to believe that problem is going to be fixed soon enough to save these species.

Few species are willing to breed well in captivity, true. However, with research and experience, breeding programs are slowly becoming more successful. We won't succeed with all species, but at least we can save a few.

It's difficult, but what is the alternative to trying? Letting them go extinct in the wild? If that's what you think is best, then fine, that's your opinion. But I don't think humans are going to change their urban-spreading ways anytime soon. At least with zoos, we can keep species from going extinct until a more long-term solution can be found.

 

[Woody13]

It's difficult, but what is the alternative to trying? Letting them go extinct in the wild?

Preserve habitat. It can be done. Designate areas as National Parks and/or wildlife refuge areas. That's just one of many things that can be done to preserve habitat for wild creatures like you and me! :wave:

 

[xfkirsten]

Preserve habitat. It can be done. Designate areas as National Parks and/or wildlife refuge areas. That's just one of many things that can be done to preserve habitat for wild creatures like you and me! :wave:

I agree - preserving habitat is good! And that would be my first choice. However, completely relying on that to happen would be foolish. These days, it seems like humanity would rather push into all those areas and push people out.

Take the area I grew up in for example. When I moved in, it was a somewhat isolated suburban area, with huge areas of forest around. There were deer, black bears, and the occasional cougar. However, in the last 18 years, it has changed into a bustling suburban neighborhood. The deer have nearly disappeared. The bears seem to adapt okay - however the people do not. The residents who have moved in in recent years put up a fuss whenever they spot one, and immediately want it removed. To them, it's not the beauty of nature. To them, it's a "threat" - and honestly, in the 18 years I lived there, I never once heard of those bears causing injury to human or pet in our area. I can even remember a couple of instances where one sat calmly in our backyard all day long, just eating the berries while we sat and watched. But the residents throw up a fuss and want it removed - never mind who lived in that area first!

The point I'm making is this: it's not just about setting aside lands. To do that in this country, it essentially boils down to a vote (whether for a representative who takes such actions, or to create the area itself). And when people take the pushy attitude towards nature as they did in my neighborhood, you can see why it's attitudes that need to be helped before anything else. It's not as simple as it appears!

And what's one way to change people's attitudes? Personal experience - where the zoos come in. That's a situation where people are seeing the animals firsthand, in a situation that doesn't feel so threatening to them. It gives them a chance to admire the animals up close, and learn about them. I'd say that the Average Joe is a lot more likely to care about an issue such as habitat preservation if they've seen firsthand the kinds of amazing creatures that can inhabit those areas, as opposed to just hearing about it in some newspaper article or the like.

In the meantime, we have species that are on the brink of extinction now. Captive breeding can keep a species from going extinct until such time that humans can work out their urban sprawl issues!

 

[DisneyFreak529]

This is a little off topic, but I always felt like the lions were drugged.

How can you go on the ride and think that they are not drugged, you are so close to them if they wanted they could attack you easily.

Plus, they are always laying around and always sleeping. I have been on it 4x and they are always the same way. I been in the morning & in the afternoon and they are always sleeping!

I don't eat Beef or Pork, I'm not a Peta memeber. I do love Disney. You never know what happends behind closed doors. For all we know some of these animals might be over drugged.

 

[barnum42]

This is a little off topic, but I always felt like the lions were drugged.

How can you go on the ride and think that they are not drugged, you are so close to them if they wanted they could attack you easily.

Plus, they are always laying around and always sleeping. I have been on it 4x and they are always the same way. I been in the morning & in the afternoon and they are always sleeping!

Sounds like the natural behaviour of lions to me. They are incredibly lazy creatures that in the wild spend most of their time asleep (remember Hollywood movies make a complete mess of the true nature of these creatures)

The only time they would attack anything is when they need food or are preserving territory / mates.

Given they are well fed they have no reason to attack guests. Also there are barriers between the guests and the the lions - well concealed so you don't notice them.

Also, I believe they have two pairs of lions that alternate the days they are on-stage.

 

[peter11435]

but they, like so many other activist groups, don't look at the bigger picture

or the truth.

 

[peter11435]

Don't feel too good. Disney has a rather poor record dealing with it's animals. They are getting better, but only because of public attention. It wasn't too long ago that Disney regularly killed black vultures, sea gulls and other "non-wanted" birds. They got caught and they most likely won't risk the adverse publicity again.

However, you've got to keep a sharp eye on them!

To my knowedge that was back in he lat 80's long before AK. I think Disney's attitude towards animals has changes greatly since then.

 

[bgraham34]

People eating tasty animals? :lookaroun

Yes I am a member of that. mmm mmm good.

 

[Shaman]

Any time you have animals in confinement you are going to get opposition from someone. I understand the argument against fencing in wild animals but I also understand that zoos and conservation efforts are necessary in today's world.

Unfortunately thre are a lot of radical groups out there that only succeed in irritating people to the point of indifference when a more legitimate issue needs to be addressed. It's a shame.

My thoughts exactly! I'm assuming, since we're talking Disney, that the facilities at AK are much better than most zoos in the country and the world. You don't have to look farther than the rare healthy elephant births at their facilities...that alone has to be a testament to that kind of treatment these animals get.

I'm sure worse things happen at zoos all over, and those bits don't get the attention from the media...but since this is Disney, any little mistake made gets placed under the spotlight...Thus, I think Disney would work harder to make sure NOTHING goes wrong with the care offered to the animals and/or their safety.

I'm all for animal rights, but I haven't seen any evidence that shows Disney is intentionally mistreating its animals for profits. In some cases these animals are better off at AK than anywhere else.

Just my opinion.

 

[Erika]

This is a little off topic, but I always felt like the lions were drugged.

How can you go on the ride and think that they are not drugged, you are so close to them if they wanted they could attack you easily.

Plus, they are always laying around and always sleeping. I have been on it 4x and they are always the same way. I been in the morning & in the afternoon and they are always sleeping!

I don't eat Beef or Pork, I'm not a Peta memeber. I do love Disney. You never know what happends behind closed doors. For all we know some of these animals might be over drugged.

I assume you don't have any cats? Sleeping all day is kind of what they do. Nighttime, I am sure, is a different matter.

 

[peter11435]

This is a little off topic, but I always felt like the lions were drugged.

How can you go on the ride and think that they are not drugged, you are so close to them if they wanted they could attack you easily.

Plus, they are always laying around and always sleeping. I have been on it 4x and they are always the same way. I been in the morning & in the afternoon and they are always sleeping!

I don't eat Beef or Pork, I'm not a Peta memeber. I do love Disney. You never know what happends behind closed doors. For all we know some of these animals might be over drugged.

Lions sleep like 22 hours a day. That is why they are always sleeping at AK. Additionaly they could not attack you easily. The fact that you think they could shows just how good of a job WDI did with the facility.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Take it with a grain of salt...the organization along with PETA consider any animals not in the wild as being mistreated. I occasionally have fish die in my aquarium...does that mean I am abusive/mistreating of the aquarium. Plus, if you put the Disney name in the story, you get more press. :brick:

 

[wannab@dis]

This is a little off topic, but I always felt like the lions were drugged.

How can you go on the ride and think that they are not drugged, you are so close to them if they wanted they could attack you easily.

Plus, they are always laying around and always sleeping. I have been on it 4x and they are always the same way. I been in the morning & in the afternoon and they are always sleeping!

I don't eat Beef or Pork, I'm not a Peta memeber. I do love Disney. You never know what happends behind closed doors. For all we know some of these animals might be over drugged.

This is a good example of why AK is necessary. The experience they had at AK led them to question something and hopefully they learn a little about lions. As they have already been told in above posts, a sleeping lion is very natural.

 

[Mystic]

I've been on the Backstage Safari at DAK and from everything I saw the animals are treating very well there. Also if Disney were mistreating their animals do you really think they would willing take guests backstage where any and all evidence of the mistreatment would be seen? In my opinion Disney takes exceptional care of their animals and nothing will change my mind.

 

[Mystic]

This is a little off topic, but I always felt like the lions were drugged.

How can you go on the ride and think that they are not drugged, you are so close to them if they wanted they could attack you easily.

Plus, they are always laying around and always sleeping. I have been on it 4x and they are always the same way. I been in the morning & in the afternoon and they are always sleeping!

I don't eat Beef or Pork, I'm not a Peta memeber. I do love Disney. You never know what happends behind closed doors. For all we know some of these animals might be over drugged.

First off, the lions are not drugged. Like Erica said, Lions are CATS and cats tend to sleep most of the day, at least mine does.

As for the lions attacking you that is next to impossible given the concrete moat that surrounds their area, protecting both you and the other animals that the lions might prey on. In fact Disney had trouble keeping the male lion OUT of the moat because he liked to sleep in it so they gave him things to do up on the rocks and now he's quite happy to be up there. I've been on the safari numerous times and not everytime are the lions sleeping.

If you think the lions or any of the other animals are drugged, why don't you spend the $65 and take the Backstage Safari of the Animal Kingdom and learn about how they treat and care for the animals. You might just learn something or get a new appreciation for an animal you never had before.