Wild Animal Contact (at Out of Africa Wildlife Park)

[MrScrevier20]

I remainder when he was at the Catskill Game Farm

[heptafanes]

Ugly creature. Is it stupid?

[raftjm]

Good for you, young Lady...good observational science... as an undergraduate (about a hundred years ago) I worked a Yerkes primate research center Emory University and found much the same as you did (but about gorillas and other large primates). This was the 1960's... several staff members were killed however... I believe due to inappropriate behavior and training...

[RontoYukimaru]

@raftjm I think it's fair to say that while animals are unpredictable, extended contact and observation of them helps you learn how to read their signals and to respond respectfully and appropriately to them. It takes time to build a bond with a wild animal-- they're not like trained horses who let anyone ride them. And all animals have different signals, which means you need to learn to recognize them.

But I think contact is important. Animals need relationships, especially when in captivity.

[ustfu]

thank you