We took the kids to Melbourne Zoo, which is OK if in parts too old-fashioned (but the Australian-animals section is fine). I find zoo animals kind of depressing so I usually don’t take pictures. But there was an attractive red-headed black duck swimming in murky water with its baby chicks—a volunteer I think, not a zoo animal—and they were too cute to resist.
Are zoos ethical? I think on balance yes, my revulsion is aesthetic not moral.
Comment feed for ongoing:
From: Michael Strasser (Jan 07 2007, at 22:13)
The ‘duck’ looks like a Dusky Moorhen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusky_Moorhen).
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From: Paul Clapham (Jan 07 2007, at 22:42)
That's a Dusky Moorhen (a sort of coot).
http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=195
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From: Steven Citron-Pousty (Jan 07 2007, at 22:55)
I think those are not visitors but are "exhibits"- I think those are common moorhens which have not been found down Aussie way since the last ice age
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Moorhen
http://www.moorhen.demon.co.uk/moorhen0.htm
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From: Anthony B. Coates (Jan 08 2007, at 02:52)
Duck? I think it's probably a dusky moorhen (see, for example
http://peonyden.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_archive.html
). Cheers, Tony.
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