We thought we were taking a cheerful trip to the zoo, but the experience left us in tears. It was my daughter’s first time at a zoo, her first chance to see these majestic creatures up close. But the animal enclosures at the Wilderness Trail Zoo are shockingly small and bare. The beautiful lions, tigers, bears and other animals that we had traveled to see were clearly not thriving. I felt so bad for exposing my daughter to these sad sights.

Wilderness Trail Zoo does not appear to have its animals’ best interest at heart. Please join me in asking WTZ to commit to improving its animal enclosures.

I do believe that zoos serve a purpose. They help rebuild endangered animal populations and educate the public about animals they might never see up close. But zoos also have a responsibility to provide suitable living conditions for the animals in their care. At Wilderness Trail Zoo, I saw big cats in treeless enclosures, with nothing to shield them from the sun. The bears paced around a pool that took up most of their cage. Birds hardly had room to fly. I felt devastated by the end of this family outing.

I have been to many zoos. The best ones provide huge enclosures, full of plant life for shade, and toys to keep the animals active. If we must keep these majestic beasts in captivity, it is our duty to make sure they have everything they need to lead a healthy existence.

I am not here to close this zoo, but I do want it to enlarge its enclosures and prove that it really does have its animals’ interest at heart. Please help me make a difference for hundreds of animals being held in subpar conditions. Tell the Wilderness Trail Zoo that their animals deserve better.