In October, we wrote, "Animal conservation is the latest New Zoo marketing tool. In fact, the New Zoos do not let the word zoo into their lexicon. Maybe someone should suggest to the embattled Greater Vancouver Zoo that it only needs to change its name to Greater Vancouver Conservation Center."

The Zoo did choose a name, Animalasium, much more P.R. savvy than our boring suggestion. It could only have been made up by a P.R. firm, or maybe it is on a "any name but zoo" list that zoos share. It sounds a lot like this place in England...

The Animalarium at Borth is a collection of unusual and interesting animals to amuse and delight you.
We have domestic and farm animals which you can pet and feed in the petting barn.
Also there are exotic and endangered species in the larger enclosures, where we attempt to breed animals whose natural environment is under threat. Visit us for a day to remember!
http://www.animalarium.co.uk/

Every tacky little petting zoo will soon be calling itself a "species conservation centre" . That is a good thing - it shows up what a load of elephant poop this whole new business marketing tool is.

Shame on the teachers who take children to see imprisoned animals. It's not free so this is how your education tax dollars are being used. Where are the teachers within the school system who will object to the children at their school being brainwashed that imprisonment is okay?