Re: “,” June 5 Lori Gruen column.
The problem with some animal activism is failure to understand the hierarchy of life on our planet. When a child meets a gorilla, and life is in the balance, the correct decision is to save the child, except in the mind of confused individuals.
Besides activists’ response to the silverback gorilla situation at the Cincinnati Zoo, there’s been the removal of elephants from circuses and cessation of orca performances at Sea World.
What is ignored is the tremendous value zoos, circuses, and water parks have for education and appreciation of animals. Kids’ personal experiences with these creatures foster a life-long respect and love for them. Animals lucky enough to be ambassadors for their species are treated humanely. Even in captivity, they have a good life despite claims of people who pretend to know whatap going on in an animal’s mind.
Itap not unusual for rabid activism to be devoid of common sense.
Walt Heidenfelder, Denver
I’ll never go to a zoo again, and itap not because of the death of Harambe the gorilla. I haven’t been to a zoo in over 30 years. It occurred to me one day that they were all wrong, like the circus, and the Running of the Bulls. Sure, itap an up-close opportunity to see animals that otherwise we would never see in person. I watch documentaries instead. No harm, no foul, and no decision has to be made about the life of a child vs. the life of a lowland gorilla, and therefore no poisonous rants and arguments.
Craig Marshall Smith, Highlands Ranch
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