The only thing greater than human ignorance is human arrogance and selfishness. It is difficult to see an animal in a cage and not ask yourself which side of the bars is the real zoo.

In imprisoning an animal one can see nothing but sorrow, the pain and suffering of captivity, and the selfishness and cruelty of the dark side of human beings. For the same reason that Black people were not created for white people and women were not created for men, animals were not created to serve or entertain human beings. We have no right to steal the freedom of living creatures merely because of the ugly and arrogant assumption that we are superior to them.

The next time you see a lion, sad and restless, pacing back and forth inside a cage, or a bird sitting in a corner of its cage as though it has forgotten how to fly, and your heart does not ache, look again. You will find the pain.

Aydin Areta