'where' vs 'in which'

[Tamara]

Hi

Nobody should enjoy going to zoos in which animals are kept in cages / which keep animals in cages.

Nobody should enjoy going to zoos where animals are kept in cages.

Could you say, does they produce exactly the same meaning? (Uses of where and (in) which in the above sentences, I mean).
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[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

'In which' is more precise than 'where' in defining location as in: This is the box in which she keeps her pearls. This is the place where she keeps her pearls.
In your sentences, although the meaning is the same, possibly the use of 'in which' is more apposite because there is a reference to animals being kept inside zoos.

A
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[Yankee]

Are you talking about all zoos, Tamara?

[Conchita]

[Alan]

I assume Tamara is referring to those zoos where/in which ...

A
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[Tamara]

Hi

Yes, Alan's assumption is right, I mean only

[Yankee]

It's just that I've never been to or heard of a zoo in which none of the animals are ever in cages. That's why I asked.

[Alan]

Without flogging this point to death, which has become a bit of a feature in some of the comments on the site, there is no reference in Tamara's sentence to indicate that all animals are kept in cages.

A
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[Yankee]

That's why I asked, Alan. Any zoo I've ever been to had at least some animals that were always caged, and some that were sometimes caged, etc.

[Tamara]

I love you all.

In my view, if we consider normal everyday speaking/writing and (would ) arm ourselves with good common sense), this just means that
a vast majority of animals are kept (and presented to the public) in / without cages. As normal practice and the zoo policy.
This can be taken as the difference and a "distinctive feature".

PS
By the way, Amy, for example:

[Alan]

OK I'll really flog it to death - the question was:

[Yankee]

Oh, come on, Alan. Clarifying and asking counter questions is a normal part of communication. I asked a simple question in order to clarify in my own mind that what Tamara had written was what Tamara actually meant.

Thank-you for your clarification, Tamara.

[Alan]

Too late, the poor horse is dead.

A
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[Yankee]

Yes, along with the last bit of my comprehension of some things.

See ya.

[Alan]

Hi Amy,

I know you just love to have the last word on every comment I make but indulge me this once, won't you?

A
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