I agree. An excerpt from my recent 20 day/65 zoo trip:
Live rat feeding is encouraged and I saw one of this grim spectacles take place and I shudder to tell the tale. I’m okay with the feeding of rodents to crocodilians, monitor lizards and snakes (which costs a minimal amount at this minor zoo) but what occurred is that a live rat was simply tossed into the white alligator tank and as the rat splashed into the water the alligator awoke from its slumber. The rat spent 5 minutes desperately treading water and attempting to outmaneuver the gator and while the rodent clawed away at the glass and bobbed under water the gator would repeatedly strike and crash its jaws against the glass. This happened on a number of occasions and I was at the end of the hallway and checking out how much it cost to purchase a green basilisk ($69.99) or Brazilian black tarantula ($149.99 – expensive!) and I’d hear the occasional crack of jaw against glass. Just as I was leaving there was a resounding cheer and the rat must have met its maker as the crowd dispersed and I was left pondering why people would take sick pleasure over such a one-sided contest.
