Well now I'm really confused.... I always thought the " monkey" (") belonged to the fairer sex........:aetsch004:
You have to look on the bright side of it. The monkey was born in captivity, she gets outside everyday and socializes with humans and she does a very good job at it. If you ever see her pictures she takes while sitting on a girls shoulders or in her arms, she always covers the nipples. When she is sitting in the arms of a guy, she is always giving a hug or something cute and random. They are making money from it and supporting their families, and in turn providing her a good home and plenty of food and she has her regular medical check up with the local vet. Same goes for the rest of the animals. It is no different than us owing a pet dog, cat, fish, hamster, or bird. I have never seen them mishandle her, or tug on her little leash when she is acting up, they simple make a kissing sound and she listens right away. Personally speaking, I don't think it is any different than going to the zoo. I don't believe in locking up animals for our amusement, but from a educational point of view, its nice to be able to hold a monkey, or any other animal that you wouldn't be able to do at your local zoo. It brings out the kids in us again.
People crack me up!! What proof do you have that thes critters are mistreated?? Chances are they come from a group that treats then extremely well. Most tiger cubs I've encountered in and around Mexico are rescue animals who are treated gently, well fed and somewhat tamed. They end up in zoos, not killed when they're too big to handle. Christ, that cub is worth a small fortune. And your assumption that it wants to go to its mother and lay down for a nap.. Chances are its mother was killed and it's handler is its mother now. Ever thought that the $$$ raised from the pictures might be going to an animal preserve?? My point is you have no idea... Why jump to conclusions?? I have seen the photo op donkey, painted to look like a zebra, wearing a sombrero.. That's the animal you should feel sorry for.. Oh wait, it's not soft and cuddley.. So why worry about that poor bastard... Sorry to rant.. Just don't assume those animals are mistreated just because it Mexico. Tho shit pisses me off!!
You can "assume" it's not mistreated, and killed when it gets too big, and sleep well at night with a photo of a "cute" lion cub on a beach in Cancun. I choose to "assume" we have laws in Europe banning such activities for a reason. The last I will say on the subject
No reason to assume.. Before you jump to conclusions, simply ask a few questions.. You might be suprised!!! Peace out...
Thankfully the city of Vancouver voted to phase out it's zoo back in the '90's. There is one privately owned zoo operating out in the suburbs and it's regularly in the news for shoddy treatment or even the death of its animals. Many years ago (when TTR was BBG still) we went on a catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres and there was a stop to take a picture with a nurse shark. We mentioned that this sort of thing did not interest us and sensing our disapproval, one of the staff made a point to address all of the guests, letting them know that the shark was a part of a university marine biology program, and how wonderfully it was treated and that every few months a new shark would take the place of the previous one, etc, etc. Naturally, we were interested in which university program would be so destitute and underfunded that a rickety, old, wooden pen would serve as an enclosure, where no other educational infrastructure was evident, and where tourists were encouraged to hold the wet-noodle-like shark and pose for photos. Not surprising when no clear answer could be given. For us, these are not the kind of memories we would choose to preserve through photographs, but to each their own.
Actually, the thread was about getting yourpicture takien, not exploiting animals. SOme people actually like to do this, as theyve never seen or held a monkey up close, our selves included. Perhaps, if you think its morally wrong, you should join the SPCA or other such worthy cause, but keep other comments to yourself.
