Dear Sirs:

I am enclosing a letter that I recently wrote to the director of the
Little Rock Zoo. I was seriously disturbed by the conditions at this
facility. Since I am not from your area of the country, please help me
to make your citizens aware of a serious problem in your community and
print my letter so they can take action locally. Anybody who does not
react should be ashamed. Please do not enclose my name or personal
information. 

PS. If printed, please email me.

Sincerely yours,
CLF

c/o Zoo Director				July 22, 1997
Little Rock Zoo
Fair Park Blvd.
Little Rock, AR  72211

Dear Sir/Madam:

I recently visited your zoo on Thursday July 17, 1997 and I cannot
express to you how upset I was when I left your facility. I have
traveled the world over, and have been in many zoos abroad and in the
US, and I have never seen one that was as poor as yours. 

The overall atmosphere, in general, is dingy and unkempt but by far
worse are the conditions of the animal pens. Not only are they
aesthetically unpleasing, they certainly cannot possibly simulate the
animals natural habitats. I can honestly say to you that I was near
tears several times during my visit. To begin with, the day was
extremely hot which seems to be par for the course in your region of 
the states. Several of the animals were out in the open sun with little
shade if any. One prime example are the zebras. Their landscape was
nothing but dirt and rocks and a lone tree for shade. There was not a
hint of grass to be seen.

Moreover the bears' displays were comparably desolate. In the pit where
water could be readily available for them to cool themselves there was
none.  You could actually feel their misery in their small concrete
"homes".  There is a plaque near the gorilla display that states that
the habitats are created to simulate the animals' natural land. This is
the biggest joke I've ever heard. IF, and I mean IF, there was a patch
of green in an animals pen, it was a bunch of native (to Arkansas that
is) weeds!! Not to mention the disgusting pool of algae and slime that
resides in the middle of the gorilla's cage. I pray that is not their
only source of drinking water!!

By far the most depressing display, though, were the cats' cages. An
animal that is used to running wild in an open plain had barely enough
room to take two steps before it reaches the other side of its cage. 
The lion's pen was by far the worst.

The conditions for these animals are UNACCEPTABLE. There is no possible
way that your facility at this time is providing the proper physical 
as well as mental stimulation for  these animals. I am aware that your
facility may not have the funding of the larger more known zoos, but 
if you can't afford to give the animals the proper habitats to assure a
healthy life, then you should not be open for business.

I am also writing letters to several animal protection agencies to make
them aware of the issues. I am generally not the type of person to write
letters for a cause, and I am not writing this letter to be a trouble
maker for your business, but from what I witnessed, I am concerned
enough to care. I hope you are too and will take my feedback seriously.