761 - Animals in a Zoo

Are zoos are a good idea or a bad one? Don’t feed the animals while you listen to this episode trying to answer that question.
Slow dialogue: 0:59
Explanations: 2:39
Fast dialogue: 16:18
Deborah: I can’t wait to see the elephants at the zoo. I wish I could see them in their natural habitat, but a zoo is the next best thing.
Zach: I don’t want to go to a place where animals are kept in captivity. How would you like it if you were locked in a cage and gawked at all day?
Deborah: The animals in zoos are lucky. They have a nice, safe place to live away from predators, and their handlers make sure they never go hungry. Zoos preserve endangered species.
Zach: If you think it’s so nice living in zoos, I’d like to see you switch places with a lion or a monkey for a month and see how you like it.
Deborah: Animals aren’t people. They don’t have the same wants and needs.
Zach: That’s what you think. One day, the animals aren’t going to take it anymore. They’ll rise up and break their shackles.
Deborah: And will you be their ringleader?
Zach: No, I’ll be their cheering section. It’s about time animals get some respect.
Deborah: Have you seen Planet of the Apes?! I’ll reserve a cage for you!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse