Also i cannot understand it when people like Nick Baker wade into these debates..after all the company that was supplying these penguins to hamleys is the same company that supplied all those animals for the really wild show and other programmes he has been involved with.
Because he a television presenter and likes the sound of his own voice
Seriously, you make an interesting point regarding animals supplied for television, etc. It's telling that the very few professional zoo people have waded into this debate apart the Director of Living Coasts Aquarium (who I believe has a background marketing and management and not zoology).
The reason for this is likely to be that if these birds were Jim Clubb's those zoo professionals who know him also respect him as a decent animal keeper who actually knows what he is doing and are furthermore not prepared to make derogatory statements about him for no good reason.
As I said I could see no indication that these birds were stress in anyway on the video and there treatment would have been much the same on any film or television set they were hired to work on.
I can see the 'context' argument. But I guess in a world where there's plenty of kids can't tell a horse and a cow appart, think milk comes from the cow ready bottled, and fighting in Pokemon is a model for how to keep pets etc ANY contact with animals that's halfway positive is perhaps a good thing?
This is a very valid point. We seemed to think in this day and age that the 'general public' are well versed in the behaviour of animals both wild and domestic but personally know from experience this sadly is very much
not the case despite the fact we have excellent wildlife television programmes, etc. The reality is that these people will be too busy watching X-Factor not animal programmes to think or care about animal conservation and welfare.
Exposure to real animals (provided their welfare is not compromised) can only be a good thing. I recall years ago whilst cleaning out some animals at The Welsh Mountain Zoo beside the Education Centre I heard a women state:
"Education Centre? I did come here to be educated but to have a good time!!"
Which is very telling. And she is the kind of person these kind of simple and basic experiences may have a positive effect on.
To me this penguin display in a shopping centre or toy shop is a none story and has more to do with people personal feelings about 'performing animals' than animal welfare.
