A Stitch in Haste

Species of animal brought back alive. Interesting similarity in physical characteristics to human beings in head, trunk, arms, legs, hands, feet. Very tiny undeveloped brain; comes from primitive planet named Earth.
–The Twilight Zone, “People Are Alike All Over“

The London Zoo has a new exhibit:

Caged and barely clothed, eight men and women monkeyed around for the crowds Friday in an exhibit labeled “Humans” at the London Zoo.

“Warning: Humans in their Natural Environment” read the sign at the entrance to the exhibit, where the captives could be seen on a rock ledge in a bear enclosure, clad in bathing suits and pinned-on fig leaves. Some played with hula hoops, some waved.
…
“Seeing people in a different environment, among other animals … teaches members of the public that the human is just another primate,” [a zoo spokeswoman] said.
…
“A lot of people think humans are above other animals,” [one participant] told The Associated Press. “When they see humans as animals, here, it kind of reminds us that we’re not that special.”
…
They are being treated as animals, complete with keepers, but are allowed to go home each night at closing time.

Oh yes, very impartial and apolitical; totally scientific and realistic.

Gimme a break.

This is merely a (semi-)naked publicity stunt with no educational value. It’s nothing more than reality television without the television.

You want to learn about how “humans are no different from other animals”? Try an art museum, or an air & space museum.

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Meanwhile, a zoo in China has its own primate issues:

The handlers of a smoking chimpanzee in a zoo in northwest China are trying to get her to kick the habit.

The 26-year-old female chimpanzee has been smoking for 15 years. Her mate died recently, which caused her to smoke even more.

Now, the chimp’s keepers are worried about her health as a result of her intense smoking. So, they’re trying to give her milk instead of cigarettes.

She started smoking years ago by picking up butts from tourists.

Could you imagine if this were an American zoo? There would daily protests, lawsuits and congressional investigations. But if the zoo is in China, it’s “cute.”

When I flirted with the idea of becoming a Bronx Zoo docent, one thing they told us was that, even though we were mere volunteers, we should never hesitate to demand that people put out their cigarettes (smoking is forbidden everywhere in the zoo). One cigarette butt can, if swallowed, fatally poison even relatively large animals.

But this is China, so we have to “respect their cultural differences.” If they want to let visitors smoke in zoos, then who are we to be ethnocentrically judgmental?

I repeat: Gimme a break.