My second entry is this rather sleepy owl, it was taken near midday at the zoo in Osaka. Being a nocturnal predator, it was of course resting on it's perch.
Zoos are a bit of a moral dilemma: on one hand you get to see rare and sometimes dangerous animals in a safe and easy to access place, there are also many zoos involved in conservation efforts helping to rebuild the populations of endangered species; on the other hand, the natural ranges of nearly every animal in the zoo is far far larger than the entire zoo itself. The best zoos try to make the environment as suitable as possible for the species they house as well as provide mental stimulation for the animals too.
For the most part, the Tennoji Zoo does OK in regards to habitats for the animals, the Savannah species (zebra, giraffe, antelope) have a large and varied habitat. The Spectacled Bear though really needs an upgraded enclosure.
Announcement and contest details post: B&W Photo Contest
