Chris

Richard, in all honesty I think that says a lot more about pre-packaged, sanitised, Disneyfied Western civilisation than it does about the zoo. I think it is also worth pointing out that the staff at zoos spend every working day with these animals and get to know them and their personalities. I find it hard to believe they are being callous or insensitive. I think they have been as true to 'the wild' as possible, given the limitations of the zoo environment.

Lions are not cuddly creatures that escape their cages to go on jolly adventures in Madagascar. They are apex predators that catch other large mammals and tear them to shreds for dinner. I see no harm in showing our children that, so long as the zoo clearly communicates what is going on to parents who then have the choice whether to expose their kids to reality or not.