Animals Behind Bars

Today I wanted to look at the way that photographs of the same animals in the same environment can be made to look so different with very little effort. I was experimenting and finding methods of showing the natural beauty of the incredible animals before me. Then, with minimal effort I wanted to show in comparison, the awful conditions in which the animals live. It is easy to give the image different appearances. The most common images of captive animals give the impression that the animals are fine and most importantly happy. This might not always be the case and not many images are taken inorder to show reality. I wanted to explore this and create photographs that contrasted drastically. 

These animals specifically, in my opinion are not happy. Their homes, small cages with little natural substance within, when these species are naturally found in woodland and farm land across the world. 

The aims of conservation is to essentially continue the species. If this can only be done with the animals in poor condition and in generally bad health, is the conservation a good idea? I am unsure and found it hard to decide. These individuals, most of which have been rescued, are in no condition to continue living a successful life in the wild. They are able to live with some degree of success, in an establishment, cared for by man. These individuals then are suffering for the eventual production of new young that will hatch in April and May within the avaries each year. This must be great, and a successful brood of an endangered species is very valuable but only if these return to the wild. Production of new young to be kept behind bars for there entire life seems pointless?

There is a lot of good within Zoos and Sanctuary's but there I think there is a fine line between successful conservation and an uphill struggle, with little produce. 

The images below have been taken with the intent of showing another side of captive animals and one that is sometimes a little overpowering.