Animals are not toys

Re: “Snake charmer”, (BP, March 10) and “Caged wild animals”, (PostBag, March 7).

The referred picture depicts a golden python being played around with by “a presenter” at a shopping arcade, the same place that I referred to in my “Caged wild animals” letter. The picture caption also describes other animals, such as crocodiles and albino buffalos.

I would like to refer to the famous quote, “Mercy keeps the world going”.

It should be reiterated that no wild animal deserves to be shown anywhere, including in exhibitions, zoos, aquariums, circuses, etc. All these places are not natural for wild animals.

Zoos abduct animals from their natural habitats and lie that it is about “species protection”. They also get rid of “surplus” animals either by killing them or selling them to unethical exotic animal dealers.

The majority of species kept in zoos are not endangered. Children who visit zoos do not learn about wild animals’ behaviour because they behave differently naturally in the wilderness.

It is the same with aquariums. Sea animals swim in vast oceans. They are captured from their ocean home and can only swim in endless circles inside tanks. They are often drugged to relieve stress caused by that and in order to manage aggressive behaviour induced by stress.

In circuses, animals are harmed by being trained with hurtful tools to perform naturally uncomfortable tricks for people to watch. Many animals used in circuses are bred in captivity and spend their entire lives in close contact with humans, which is unnatural and stressful for them.

Animals are not toys to be treated in those ways, such as in the shopping arcade’s exhibition in the above newsin-picture caption by caging them in a closed environment and with many people getting close to them, making them feel stressed and depressed. NUNTANIT BUMRUNGSAP