Smoky Mountain News

OldTown Bank

Wed06192013

     Subscribe  |  Contact  |  Advertise  |  RSS Feed  |  Other Publications

Wednesday, 13 February 2013 13:38

All Cherokee bear zoos should be shut down

Written by 

To the Editor:

It’s about time that the USDA finally suspended operations at Chief Saunooke’s antiquated concrete pit in Cherokee. Now is the time for Chief Michell Hicks and tribal council members to make this permanent.

Anyone who continues to cage wild animals in cheap sideshows for profit should be shut down. It is simply cruel, inhumane and totally disrespectful to the animals. Black bears in the wild require up to 50 square miles of territory, not 50 feet of concrete! 

Cherokee has changed so much from when I was a kid, and I am so proud of all the progress that has taken place. But how can a such a disgraceful practice be allowed to continue? My blood is not full Cherokee, but I was taught to respect all of God’s creatures, and the bear spirit is among the most sacred. It is to be revered, not caged up for tourists to snap pictures of while it paces back and forth in misery. 

Please do the right thing and shut down all of these horrible zoos. We should not need PETA to point this out.

Mylan Sessions

Clyde

blog comments powered by Disqus
Read 452 times

Latest from Admin

Media

blog comments powered by Disqus
More in this category: « Majoring in philosophy? More power to you Lake J property owners need more information »
back to top

The Naturalist's Corner

  • Like a good neighbor

    out natcornThe folks in the mountains of Western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee share more than a common boundary, they share a deep appreciation for the wild, sometimes rugged, but always beautiful landscape they call home. 

    blog comments powered by Disqus
    Written on Wednesday, 12 June 2013 12:37 Read more...
Subscribe to this RSS feed

A fledgling in the woods

  • Audobon Society, here I come

    Maybe someone heard my plea.

    For the last two weekends, the rain, for the most part, has stayed away, giving us at least one nice day without a drop to enjoy some time outdoors. And after having my first attempt to go birding cancelled because of the weather, I was looking forward Saturday to finding out why others enjoyed the hobby so much.

    Written on Wednesday, 05 June 2013 13:42 Read more...
Subscribe to this RSS feed