In Reply to: JBR - 04/08 to 22/08 - Part Two posted by to_bali_we_go on Friday, 27. August 2010 at 09:00 Bali Time:
I have never been to the safari park but I have read a lot of good posts about it.
Nevertheless, I do have my reservations on how some of the animals are treated. For instance, the fact that people can have photo's taken with some of them, makes me believe that these animals must get some sedation, to keep them relaxed.
This is something that really bothers me a lot and I would never go for having these photo's taken, just for my pleasure. But I don't know any of this from experience, my thoughts come from my rational thinking.
Your report on that male lion only confirms my thoughts on not always the right treatment of captured animals. Although I do realize that animal parks like these (in Indo)have to rely on the amount of money they are able to generate from commercial exploitation, I believe that, as long as people are willing to accomodate tourists for money, animals will be exploited.
That's why you still can find people with chained monkeys, boxed up snakes, sedated lion cubs etc.
This has to end and we should all feel responsible to end it. Go visit these parks, but refuse to take these kind of photo's, because they look nice in your album. Tell and teach your kids why.
Long story, but coming from the heart. We are responsible for their and our future and a lot of little things, eventually make up in a big way.