Thank you. I never hide the fact that I shoot in zoos across the country. I do not state "Hey, this is a zoo image!" When I sell an image, I donate 100% to a zoo. I don't hide what I do from zoo officials – they aren't dumb. I don't get releases because I haven't found them necessary. I have had many images stolen and I have caught a few satisfactorily. The holy than thou crowd that preaches rules and regulations are usually the first to violate standards. I have never had an issue with a zoo. I have issues with hall monitors who are not unlike grammar nazis. I have issues with those that purport to be animal advocates and don't know what they are talking about and never puts money in the till. This little rant wasn't spurred by anything you said but by a few pitas that made snides.

The Fort Worth Zoo, Dallas Zoo, Cameron Park Zoo (Waco), Fossil Rim Wildlife Reserve, Houston Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Abilene Zoo, Victoria Zoo, Gladys Park Zoo, Tyler Zoo and the Austin Rescue Zoo are real jewels in Texas. They all strive to provide good habitats, living environments, quality food and superior medical care to their animals. People that disclaim or dislike zoos are working with little to no knowledge of what zoos really provide in the day and time. If it wasn't for the efforts of the zoos many of the species would never again be seen on earth. The white tigers are extinct in the wild and only 400 are maintained in the zoo shelters. The snow leopard will soon be extinct if hunting persists as with many other species. The zoos I mentioned and many others place the welfare of the animals above the entertainment of the general public. The Bronx Zoo in New York does extensive research as does the San Diego Zoo. If you know of something a zoo does that might harm or put a zoo animal in danger all you need to do is file a complaint with the FDA. The biggest difference in making images in zoos versus Africa is the cost of transportation and the expense of a guide. They put you in a 4 by 4 and drive you close to the lions, gorillas, elephants or other exotics. By the way, it's a show and tourist adventure. How do you think they keep the animals close to the vehicle routes? They plant food of course and sometime the food is live and staked out. If you are anti-zoo, I suggest that you get involved and discover the facts. The zoos are great photo adventures and not near as easy as you might think. I do photography in zoos across the United States, some more often than others, and I find it challenging and rewarding. $10 is a small fee to pay for a photo shoot at the Fort Worth Zoo. Have a wonderful time. It's one of my personal favorites. The Rooster image is a personal favorite of a bird who chooses to live at the Austin Rescue Zoo and kind of rules-the roost so to speak.