In e-mail and on Facebook, several people have raised interesting questions about whether seeing animals in captivity bothers me, or wondering what I feel about it. Perfectly good and interesting questions. Animal politics are no more appealing to me than people politics, and for the same reasons. We often use animals to feel better about ourselves, to be self-righteous and closed-minded, to batter or attack humans. I see many people exploiting animals for their own needs all the time. Many see issues relating to animals as black-and-white. I do not. Animals are complex creatures and I  believe we understand very little about them and what is best for them. We often tend to see them in terms of what we think is best for us, crippled by our comparatively limited instincts and sensibilities.

I wonder, for example, about people who think it is wrong to keep animals in captivity yet have few qualms about keeping dogs in crates for years – even their whole natural lives –  because it fits their own notions of what is humane and generous. It would be wonderful if all animals could live free and natural lives, but we humans have made that impossible, almost unimaginable. We will be held accountable for that, I believe. We think we know what makes animals happy, but I am not even sure animals know what happy is or means. Animals are existential creatures. I think if they  are treated well – at least the ones I’ve seen –  seem to worship acceptance. I like the Aquinas idea – we need to treat animals well because it is a measure of our humanity, not something they demand or comprehend.

Walking through Sea World, watching the dolphins and sea lions and birds and turtles, I was thinking this:

– How nice to see so many thousands of people, adults and children, from all over the world enjoying these animals. That seemed like such a good and rewarding thing to see.

– How healthy and robust the animals appeared – birds in good coat, the dolphins and sea lions eating good food, away from predators, fed regularly,protected from the elements, working with people, busy and engaged in simple work showing clear attachments to the people they work with. They all appeared quite healthy to me, unlike the sluggish and disconnected animals I used to see in the old zoos.  Animals do not do well in crates and cages. The looked good at Sea World. And they all seemed safe. I don’t romanticize the life of animals in nature. Almost none of them live no-kill lives with easy access to food, untreated illnesses, exposure to elements.

I think it is tragic that the only non-domesticated animals most people will ever see are in zoos or places like Sea World. But better there than gone from the world, and better to see them and learn about them than nowhere.

The animals at Sea World looked  well-cared for to me. So did the people enjoying them. That’s what I felt. I had a good time and I much enjoyed seeing so many other people have a good time. These are personal feelings, decisions and choices and they are complicated. They are not simple or clear.

I do not know what animals think. I will never know what animals think. On to the Animal Kingdom. I am grateful for the questions. People who cannot be questioned have closed their minds to thought, growth, and life.