Zoos serve a valid purpose

Re "Where wild things shouldn't be" and "Nothing authentic about zoos" (Letters, Oct. 29): Zoo letters miss a major point in their assessment of the role that zoos play in modern society. Due to habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation along with pollution and climate change, the sad fact is that in our lifetimes 50 percent to 75 percent of all extant species will face two possible futures: captivity or extinction.

Captivity, while far from ideal, at least offers the opportunity for connection and a possibility of creating value. An inner-city kid may never have the ability to travel to the Bornean forest to observe animals in their native habitat, but seeing one in a well-designed, naturalistic enclosure may spark interest or allow value to be attached to the animals and their wild spaces.

True, zoos have a long way to go in improving the lives of their charges and in educating the public, but strides are certainly being made in this area. Modern husbandry techniques, new technology and improved veterinary care have allowed great advances in the ways animals are kept and displayed.

There is a movement of zoo directors, curators and keepers, working along with scientists, designers and naturalistic fabricators, to work hard to improve zoos for the animals and the public.

– Ben Aller, Sacramento

Zoos educate and perpetuate

Re "Where wild things shouldn't be" and "Nothing authentic about zoos" (Letters, Oct. 29): We would all like the animals left in the world to be safe and secure, but we all know this is not the case and it is getting increasingly difficult for a lot of species to survive. This is where most zoos come in, with trying to educate visitors and trying to increase populations of endangered species.

I don't see where the two letter-writers offered better ways to educate the public or help the animals in the wild. Have they ever been to the Sacramento Zoo and participated in the educational programs it has? Have they ever considered being a docent to help our children understand why it is so important to protect our wildlife?

– Diane Larrey, Elk Grove

Real world can be real trouble

Re "Where wild things shouldn't be" and "Nothing authentic about zoos" (Letters, Oct. 29): Who's to say the animals are so much better off in the wild? Do you watch the TV channel Animal Planet, where you'll see the dog-eat-dog existence of many creatures? Where you will see great numbers of animals (often babies and young ones) killed by predators? Where you will see animals of every size and breed dying for lack of food and/or water?

More than 200 zoos in America (including Sacramento) are part of, and accredited by, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which sets high standards and guidelines for its members in their care of animals – care that includes not only the basics of food, water, shelter and safety, but also mental and physical stimulation appropriate to each breed's capacity, age, etc.

It also controls population by limiting the breeding of each species to a limited number of zoos.

Finally, the Sacramento Zoo boasts a state-of-the-art, fully staffed hospital where its animals are provided treatment and care around the clock. The hospital also serves as a site of learning for student interns from UC Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine.

– Mercedes Slakey, Sacramento

Newspapers' watchdog role vital

These past few weeks we have seen original investigative reporting of scandalous and wasteful misdeeds in the University of California, Davis, violence reports; the Natomas development permit process (and efforts by Kevin Johnson et al to stop public disclosure); the excessive state vehicle purchases; the CalPERS-Apollo pipeline; and numerous others.

I thankfully salute The Bee reporters for showing us inarguably why and how dearly we need a free press. What else could ever make the so-called ordinary people learn about our failing democratic institutions?