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Man
has been keeping wild animals in captivity from thousands of years.
Partly out of curiosity and also because they thought that these
exotic animals were symbols of power. Lions and parrots were often
given as gifts to kings and queens. These collections were called
menageries. They were looked after by specially appointed keepers
. The first public zoos opened in the 1800s , wild animals were
exhibited in cages which were often small and cramped. Visitors
to the zoo would tease and irritate the animals and the animals
behaved unnaturally.
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Closed
enclosure for leopards
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Though the zoo animals may have been fed quite well , the
small, dark cages did not allow the animals any freedom of movement
and they were also not exposed to sunlight. These conditions led
to a rapid deterioration in the mental and physical health of
the animals. Since then zoos have changed in many ways. The first
animal enclosures were built to give people the best view of the
animals. The cages had strong iron bars and were rather like prisons
cells. Today we would consider these to be quite cruel places.Today
moats, glass and electric fencing are used to separate the animals
from the public.
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The
very concept of zoos has changed from cages to vast natural or
simulated enclosures. These enclosures provide the animals with
a living space that closely resembles their natural surroundings.
Not only are the animals comfortable , even the visitors have
the chance to see the animals in its natural surroundings .
Enclosures can be open or closed. Open enclosures have a perimeter
wall or a moat to keep the animal in. Moats can be of two types
, wet or dry. Dry moats are for animals which are good swimmers
and the moat is made sufficiently deep , with steep walls to prevent
their escape.Generally dry moats are provided for their cost effectiveness
and easy maintenance. Wet moats are useful for hydrophobic animals
, the water prevents the animals from escaping and the perimeter
wall need not be too high. Glass-houses are provided for reptiles
like snakes etc. Electric fencing is used in safaris.
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Dry
moat for rhesus macaque
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Closed
enclosures are constructed for feathered friends which can fly
off into wilderness if not enclosed and also for larger animals
like leopards because their agility and will to escape .For the
animals to behave naturally, they need space to move about and
plenty to interest them. They also need safe places to retreat
to when escaping from fights or for breeding. A great deal of
thought goes into designing the enclosures for the various animals
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Since
the zoo park enjoys the advantage of having plenty of land for
expansion , the moats and enclosures in the zoo are designed optimally
and are some of the best among Indian zoos. They are not only
aesthetically pleasing but also simulate the natural living conditions
of the animal to a great extent . In order to avoid the confrontation
between the animal and the visitor certain critical distances
have been maintained while designing various moats and enclosures.
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