Protected or Trapped?

Recently I went to a nature center & left feeling uncertain whether the animals were better off in or out of their "safety" pens.  Why?  Because of how sad they all looked.  See for yourself.  The fox, bobcat, bald eagle, snow owl and barn owls all looked downtrodden and upset, even.  As if to say, "Let me out of here.  I might be in danger out in the forest, but I'll have my freedom, and that's what I really want."

Every animal looked so sad, I couldn't bear to see their suffering behind fences.  Dependant on their keepers for food not necessarily shelter.  And, most were in isolation, kept apart from their buddies and pals.  That's not right.

I don't know what the answer is, as I suspect they'd have a hard time of it in the wild and may even be hunted down by a predator---two or four-legged.  At least in the nature center, they'll be safe.  But, at what cost?  To their sanity?  One snow owl already died because of stress, one of the rangers told me.  She hated being kept penned up.  I don't blame her.

A hard question.  One worth pondering.  Animals value their freedom.  Just like most of us.