Hello from Sweden!

Hello from Sweden!
22-08-2008

Hello!

I found this fantastic site a couple of weeks ago and have since then spent many, many hours browsing through the forums and gallery.

So I may as well join, right?! Here is a presentation of me:

I suspect that I am bit older than most people on the site. Turned 50 a couple of years ago. However, I have been an animal lover all my life and when I was young I read a lot of books on zoology and related matters. That was long ago, but in recent years I have taken up a special interest in zoo landscaping design, enrichment of zoo animals and things like that. Though in everyday life I work as a financial controller – quite a different story…...

I may not be able to contribute that much in the beginning, partly because I very seldom travel (I’m usually too lazy!) and therefore doesn’t get to see many zoos, also because I don’t have a digital camera. Will get myself one as soon as I find the time to check out the camera market and find the right model for me. When that is done, I promise to upload lots of photos from Copenhagen Zoo. I live in a nearby city in Sweden and tend to make day trips to the zoo 4-6 times a year.

Oh… and maybe I should tell you (or “warn you”?) that I am more positive towards the animal rights people than most of you on the forum seem to be. My “main defence” for my interest in zoos are the disappearing habitats in the wild, the threat of species becoming extinct etc. I am a very strong advocate for improving outdated exhibits in zoos. I feel horrified by many testimonies on Asian zoos, but also of several zoos in The West.

For instance, I am not sure whether I can justify the holding of elephants in zoos, at all. Over the last couple of years I have followed the debate in USA on this matter – I guess you all know the story about poor Maggie up in Alaska? (Now relocated, thank God!). Still, when I have bought that camera, I will upload a lot of photos of the new elephant exhibit in Copenhagen …..

Oh well……….that was a “zoo related” presentation of me. I look forward to spend a lot of time on Zoobeat and hope you all go on debating and uploading photos!

22-08-2008

hello and welcome to zoobeat!

22-08-2008

@Dan: I have been to loads of zoos and also have a major problem with elephants in captivity. You would probably be appalled to read some of the health reports that have been issued from zoos with elephants that have foot injuries. However, many famous zoological collections (San Diego, Los Angeles, Broofield, Denver, National Zoo in Washington, Dallas, etc) are in the process of designing or constructing larger pachyderm enclosures. We can only cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Welcome to ZooBeat!!

22-08-2008

Thanks, msickmanp and snowleopard!

And, yes... snowleopard! Crossing fingers and hoping for the best is all we can do!

22-08-2008

Welcome Dan

22-08-2008

Welcome Dan from another Zoobeat member of your age-group . Hope you enjoy it here as much as I do .

22-08-2008

Hej och välkommen from another 'more mature' member!

22-08-2008

Hey Welcome to zoobeat Dan! Hope you don't mind a welcome from a kid!

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23-08-2008

hello dan.....i m also half ur age..welcome to zoobeat! also...interested in zoo landscape designgn!

23-08-2008

Thank you so much, everybody, for the warm welcome!

23-08-2008

And some of us are even older--I'll be 62 next week and have worked in zoo for the past 22 years. I'm a firm believer that a love of zoos and compassion for animals knows no age restrictions. We've had zoo docents well into their 80's and small children making enrichment items for the animals.

24-08-2008

Hello welcome here! Enjoy the forum!

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24-08-2008

Thanks to Rookeyper for the wise words "I'm a firm believer that a love of zoos and compassion for animals knows no age restrictions."

My mentioning of age was not important!

So, what animals do you work with, Rookeyper? Believe me, I truly envy you your profession!

24-08-2008

Welcome Dan.

For the elephant exhbitis; we in The Netherlands are a bit spoiled with having very good ones, but yes, there are to many zoos with very bad enclosures and/or with performing elephants, which I hate. Animals are not made for doing some stupid circus acts. If I have to give a rating for an exhibit, and the enclosure looks very good, but the elephants must performing in a show, I will rate this exhibit as very bad.

25-08-2008

You have a very good point here, UntBwe. "Elephant circus" in a zoo is usually a bad thing.

Are there any particular elephant exhibits in The netherlands that you would like to recommend and that you could provide some interesting links to? Links with pictures that gives a good overlook of the enclosures?