this is not my home

Sad… but animals are hunted too or get hit on the road.
Great shot, Chris!

Great shot through the glass and I also hate to see animals in zoo’s or any other captive environment because they always look so sad and depressed longing to be free… but on the other hand I also think they are safe from the people and enviromental issues who are seeking to destroy them so it is a real hard to figure out which is better for them.. anyway great shot

Very sad that any animal has to be caged up.. Great Capture :))

Awesome image, looks almost as if it posed for you.

Some zoos just don’t have the room to do things right and that is unfair to those poor animals. On the other hand, these animals don’t have to worry about their next meal. It is a sad trade-off in most instances.

I so agree with you Christopher, I won’t even go to zoos anymore, they make me too sad! I love your image and the title fits real well! Dee

Glad I got this post tonight Christopher… The title you chose has a true allegorical appeal to me after today! (Thank you so much for your compassionate response to what you see.)

So sad…I can feel his pain from here…..Great work through the glass btw! Thanks for the hint!

Great photo, Chris. A fitting title. I haven’t been to a zoo in more years than I can remember.

hmmm, maybe the rangers should capture the bears and bring them to the zoo instead of putting them down after a human did something to get them tagged? might not be the best place for them, but at least they will still be alive.
nice shot Chirs!

Wonderful shot Chris, I agree….. so many of the animals do look sad and unhappy in zoos!! :-(

Tis a great shot…but Im with you on the captivity…painful to see ;(

Yeah, good shot mate…not too keen on the circumstances surround this though:(

he does look sad! Although I hate seeing animals in captivity (and definitely agree with your sentiments Chris) I think sometimes it is a necessary evil not only to prevent some species from facing extinction, but also to bring home to sheltered people that these creatures are alive, breathing, living things with personality and, dare I say it, a soul!!! Too often they are considered a commodity which is the worse of the two things. But it’s a great title and gets home a very good point too.

I support and defend my local zoo. Marwell breeds some very very rare animals which would be extinct if it weren’t for their intervention and they strive to provide improved enclosures and conditions all the time. I do agree though that putting a native animal like this into a small zoo enclosure is ridiculous, but don’t be too upset by animals appearing to look sad – that is their natural expression, imho. ;o) My devil bunnies look miserable but they’re spoilt rotten!!! Nice shot, btw!

Firstly great capture under the circumstances Christopher. And like many others that have commented I do not like to see animals caged up…even though some zoo’s go to extraordinary lengths to give them a wonderful habitat to live in. (Our Perth zoo is pretty good).. a lot of money has come from the Public and business sector to do it though. And as some have already said – at least this guy isnt being hunted, (trying to find food and protect their young) because his forrests are being destroyed to make way for mines, timberlopping, and civilisation… Tough one Chris, I just hope all zoo’s improve their homes for them :)

beautiful shot and his saddness can be seen,dawnx

so bloody sad findin it hard tae look at this …..great shot though!

Hello Chris,

Your image truly captures what your words speak…........I too have taken zoo shots but I’m reluctant to post them for numerous reasons but mainly because the animals are not free in their natural environment…..............this image speaks volumes dear Friend!

xo

He is adorable great capture!

Great capture, lovely

Nice shot, he does have a sad look.

this must have been such a hard one for you to see and capture chris – a skilful shot yet so poignant !

;))

So touchy…!

LOVELY WORK ALWAYS

Excellent image! And thanks for the tip for shooting through glass:)

I couldn’t agree with you more..It is so sad to see them just sitting there not in their own environment and you can see their faces which speaks volumes! I hate zoo’s as well but I will admit I have been to a couple. I don’t know why I continue to go back either lol doesn’t make sense does it.. Well I’m right there with you Chris, its just so sad.

WOW what an awesome job you did my friend! I would never say it was taken thru a glass!

WOW !!!
Great shot Christopher ! :)

Bear…he is well taken care of….. like my father in the Elder care facility ….I find the pride to give him ,so he can feel ….......it is o.k.

then I go home and bow my head…. It is what I know.

k

zoo life is often a very sad life I know our local zoo makes me cry every time I go there we recently lost a baby giraffe which was really heartbreaking and the way they tend to the penguin population in this high desert heat is heartbreaking! I understand what your saying and the title choice

I had a similar experience at a zoo in Salt Lake City. I think my wife thought I was nuts at first, but that is exactly what I told her “I could feel their pain and sadness.” I have nothing against zoos and sometimes it was an injured animal that would not be alive if not for the zoo. But it still saddens me. Especially if the animal was shot by some idiot (I have seen Eagles in zoos or nature centers for this reason). Nice picture though. By the way…thanks for turning me on to Red Bubble. I met you at Meigs Falls a couple months back. Finally got to put some pictures on my site. Try to call you soon and get together.

I do not know how I missed this one. But what a wonderful capture. He is just too cute. I also agree with how you feel. I hate seeing animals in the zoo. I know it is for learning but still. They belong in the wild, the way God intended.

WOW…I love to visit zoos….absolutely love it….I believe they serve a purpose….but…...I do feel so sad for the animals…..

Fantastic imagery. I love your work.

What a beautiful animal and yes, sad to see the look in his eyes. But for some of us, zoo’s are the closest we can get to seeing these magnificent animals. The Indianapolis Zoo has done a wonderful job at re-creating natural habitats with plenty of space and I appreciated their efforts that direction. Excellent shot, Christopher…you certain captured the whole of this guy!

Yes sad that we have encroached on their enviroment that much that the safest place for them is in zoo’s, the breeding programs are excellent but how many can be released back into their natural enviroment ? sadly not many, l don’t like zoo’s much either they are a very poor alternative to the real thing, but probably the only place left for these poor creatures, a lovely capture Chris and l agree he does’nt look very happy kind of like a goldfish in a bowl

Very beautiful image!

awesome photo!!

Beautiful shot! I could see what you saw!

A beautiful piece, the bear holds so much in those eyes…

Going to a zoo is a bitter-sweet experience… I’ve always loved seeing animals that I’ll probably never see elsewhere outside a zoo enclosure… but those damn, pesky people who bang on the enclosure windows, and otherwise show no respect for what are essentially wild animals held in captivity. That said, it’s a very good close-up shot :)

wow fantastic shot !

WONDERFUL IMAGE ! Beautiful shot !
Regards,Grazyna.

This is a great shot, and I love what you wrote….
I think a lot of it has to do with the zoo itself. There are some zoo’s out there where the animals are NOT treated appropiately, however, like others have said, there are others where if not for their efforts, we would no longer have that animal on our planet because of humans, just like the rude ones you witnessed tapping on the glass. They have no respect for animals and can’t think outside of their own little boxes to “do the right thing” by them. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my mouth shut standing there..lol… so you’re a better person than I… lol… A poor character trait I suppose, but my mouth a runneth when I see someone acting like an idiot… LOL

you rock Chris, your work is and will be an inspiration to many young artists for many years. I salute you, my friend!

Poor thing, great capture…...... It is a sad thing to keep them in capture…

Beautiful work shooting through the glass, it is wonderful and crystal clear. I too sympathize with this beautiful intelligent creature and wish I could set him free. I very much enjoyed reading your story.

Great shot!

love this it is gorgeous