Comments on: When is a tiger just a tiger?

By: Craig McLaughlin

Craig McLaughlin — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:23:21 +0000

Dearest cousin,

The original draft of the article did answer the question: What is wrong with us? As well as the related question: What makes us human? The Guardian edited for length. I kid you not.

Now you will have to wait for the answer until the memoir is published or until one of us visits the other.

By: Pitch

Pitch — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:20:58 +0000

I don’t like zoos. But I don’t like extinction, either. The choice comes down to tigers in zoos vs. no tigers at all.

Attack by a large predator in a public is an unusual way to die. It doesn’t
happen very often. But it draws huge media attention. Makes us feel good and scared.

By: ann flowers

ann flowers — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:29:44 +0000

i felt guilty as my first automatic prayer was for the tiger! I did another for the man killed….
It reminds me of the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon, where Calvin suggests a trip to the zoo and Hobbes suggests they visit a prison afterwards!
I guess freeing the animals and ensuring they have a habitat to return to is part of the struggle for the world i want to live in!

By: Thorn Coyle

Thorn Coyle — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:55:50 +0000

I remember reading Craig’s drafts about living with the animals years ago… I wish he would finish it, too.

This was a really good article.

And I can’t stand zoos. They just depress me.

By: Deborah Bella

Deborah Bella — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:30:51 +0000

Although it’s not a popular opinion, I think it’s time we end traditional zookeeping. I think traditional zoos are bad for an animal’s mental health, and humans become strangely complacent (or get their power-over kicks), thinking that they’re safe because the animals are “behind bars”. It’s just unhealthy all the way around.