Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Los Angeles Zoo's Reindeer Romp - much opinions?

[dillotest0]

It has come to my knowledge about the holiday events that take place annually at the Los Angeles Zoo - in that each year around the winter holiday season, there happens a ceremony of animatronic light ornaments resembling animals, a visit from 'Santa', and, most relevant here, an appearance of young, live reindeer.
I am not trying to say the zoos of Europe do not have such events - a good number of zoos in the UK have similar festivities around the holiday season, albeit without the inclusion of live reindeer - which may appear at the festivities of other venues/businesses, but seemingly not zoos, which appear either to have reindeer enclosed year-round, or not have reindeer in their collection whatsoever. Nor am I suggesting that America's zoos are guilty entirely of this - a number of major American zoos, to my knowledge, do maintain reindeer as a permanent exhibit.
Given the advanced requirements of reindeer in a captive setting, I hope it is not 'silly' of myself to have some sort of concern that the Los Angeles Zoo including reindeer in its collection only for months at a time gives the impression to visitors that these animals are of a lesser degree of importance as a species than are the rest of the Los Angeles Zoo's collection, and potentially de-sensitizes visitors to the threats that reindeer face in the wild. I am of no doubt that the facilities of the Los Angeles Zoo are very much appropriate for their animal residents, but I am just shining my personal sentiments onto this particular thing.
I was curious to see what others believed?

 

[DavidBrown]

potentially de-sensitizes visitors to the threats that reindeer face in the wild

Reindeer are domesticated caribou. They do not live in the wild.

The context of the reindeer exhibit is the seasonal Christmas fantasy of Santa Claus. If you object to zoos celebrating Christmas and the holiday season then maybe the reindeer display would be offensive. Otherwise I'm not seeing the problem. The reindeer are well cared for.

Most people never get to see reindeer.

If anything, it shows people that they are real animals and not just fantasy creatures, and may inspire appreciation for the real animals that did not previously exist.

 

[dillotest0]

Reindeer are domesticated caribou. They do not live in the wild.

Coming from Europe myself, I find it a 'potato potato' situation - the two words refer to the same species. Or, if one desires, one can arbitrarily call all the members of Rangifer tarandus outside of North America as 'reindeer', and all those inside North America as 'caribou'.
And from what I can recall, only the European reindeer was domesticated - the American caribou never was = S

 

[Kudu21]

Coming from Europe myself, I find it a 'potato potato' situation - the two words refer to the same species. Or, if one desires, one can arbitrarily call all the members of Rangifer tarandus outside of North America as 'reindeer', and all those inside North America as 'caribou'.
And from what I can recall, only the European reindeer was domesticated - the American caribou never was = S

While your point of the American (caribou) subspecies having never been domesticated is correct, arguing over the semantics detracts from the point @DavidBrown was making, which is also correct. The animals being displayed at these holiday events, which are very common and not exclusive to the Los Angeles Zoo, are domesticated reindeer on loan from reindeer farms. They are not wild animals (in fact, most reindeer on display in North America are the domesticated form). I echo all of David’s points — they are taken care of by animal care professionals during their time at these events and they serve as ambassadors for a species people likely no little to nothing about when it comes to the real animals and not how they are depicted in pop culture in relation to Christmas. It’s no different than the display of any other domestic animal. One could argue the climate; however, they are only there for a few weeks in the winter when temperatures are cooler, and all measures are made to ensure their comfort. I have had coworkers that have had to help work temporary reindeer displays before, and I can assure this.