Free Post #9

     For todays free post I didn't really have an idea of what to write about.  I decided to ask a few people about if they had any questions about the field of zoology.  One of the questions I got was what they do with the animals at the zoo in the winter time.  I found this question really interesting because I have never really thought about it before.  I know that zoos still stay open in the winter but what do they do with the animals like giraffes and lions that come from places like Africa wehre it is warm year round?  I decided to do some research.
     It turns out that while zoos do stay open till the winter, they make the habitats for the animals as close to their natural habitats as possible.  Animals like the bears and polar bears that are accustom to the cold temperatures can live just fine, but animals like lions and wild dogs have heated rocks and caves to lay in/on.  One of the biggest concerns is the giraffes, "giraffes are not adaptable" (Where Do the Zoo Animals go for the Winter?).  animals like giraffes are brought to stay inside for the winter.  For these animals it is important to make sure they are receiving the same amount of care as they had when they lived in their enclosures outside.  They must receive exercise by moving and keeping their minds bright by doing puzzles (Bowerman)!  These animals must be kept happy in order to continue to survive in captivity.
     It is good that zoos take into account the natural climates of the animals to try to make their zoo life as close to home as possible.  However, I still feel that there is truly nothing like the real deal for these animals and they should be left to thrive in the wild where they belong.    

Works Cited:

"Where Do the Zoo Animals go for the Winter?" CBSBoston. N.p. 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.

Bowerman, Todd. "What do Cold Cities Do With Zoo Animals in the Winter?" Animals by Demand Media. Pawnation. n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.