Faced with a $15 million shortfall, the Bronx Zoo has announced it will close several of its less popular exhibits, such as a the World of Darkness display which allow bats and naked mole-rats to run around in daylight (by convincing them it’s actually night), and a rare animal range that holds some rare species of antelopes. The occupants will be up for sale to other zoos.

I know the zoo has to do what it can to stay afloat, but one of the reasons I’ve always felt zoos were worth keeping animals in cages is the work they do preserving rare species and exposing people to them. Getting rid of “unpopular” animals while keeping the elephants and giraffes is the same kind of problem that bedevils a lot of endangered-species and environment-preservation efforts: It becomes Save The Cute Animals! because that’s simplest. I don’t think it’s a good thing, and I don’t think it’s good for zoos to hop on that train.

I will admit that I’m biased: I think seeing bats and naked mole rats is fun. In fact, I can’t think of an animal I wouldn’t want to see at a zoo.

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