Bears Deserve Better Living Conditions

Sept. 10, 2002

The Baylor Lariat

Letter to the editor

As an orientation leader this summer, I led many tours at different hours to the Bear Pit, and became increasingly appalled at the conditions the bears live in.

After reading the article in Friday's paper, I feel I must add my voice of concern as an environmental studies major.

Larry Brumley is quoted as saying, 'We meet all ... regulations for a Class C zoo,' as if this is adequate. But when the bears show symptoms of distress, simply having adequate facilities is not enough.

We who love Baylor and our bears must care enough about them to provide a healthy atmosphere for them.

There are theories of zoo-keeping that have been introduced that believe that in order to prolong the life and health of the animals, you must make the environment as close to natural habitat as possible.

I hate to say this, but, if money is an issue that will not be resolved for awhile, perhaps the ethical thing is to postpone the housing of live bears on campus until a better living situation can be built.

It seems that Baylor's attitude in general is 'adequate,' not superb, and that we are continuing to play catch-up to other's standards.

Alexis Cooper

Environmental Studies/

Economics, '04