why animals should not be kept in zoos articles

Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. No, most likely not. While zoos can definitely be exciting places for families to visit, the fact remains that they are bad for animals. The forerunners of the modern zoo, open to the public and grounded in science, took shape in the 19th century. Severe arthritis and foot infections are common in captive elephants due to standing on hard, unnatural surfaces all day without room to roam. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. When an animal is not on the endangered list, capturing it doesnt serve any purpose to the animal. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. Some studies have shown that as many as 80 percent of zoo carnivores, 64 percent of zoo chimps and 85 percent of zoo elephants have displayed compulsive behaviors or stereotypies. Cons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. Zoo animals sustain both physical and psychological scars from harsh zookeepers. Little Joe, a gorilla, escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston twice in 2003. A day may come, he said, when we need to breed elephants or tigers or polar bears in captivity to save them from extinction. It is expensive and difficult to keep wild animals in captivity. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY By "Phillip" Hungry, depressed, and unable to connect. Should We Keep Animals in Zoos? - Scholastic This is only one of the Act's limitations. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. Copyright OurEndangedWorld | All Rights Reserved, Environmental Organizations in The Philippines, Environmental Organizations in North America, Environmental Organizations in South America, Best Energy-Efficient Electric Fireplaces. Some zoo animals try to escape. Jason Hribals 2010 book, Fear of the Animal Planet, chronicles dozens of attempts. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. The worst climate risks, mapped: In this feature, select a country, and we'll break down the climate hazards it faces. Before anyone starts sprinkling the stuff on their cornflakes, this isn't the hottest new beauty trend nor is it a natural phenomenon: Assiniboine Park Zoo's keepers use coloured glitter in the bears' feed to identify their droppings. Even the best zoological park cannot fully capture the wild, and many smaller zoos fail to take effective measures to ensure the health and well-being of their animals. In 1898, the reason was cited by the New York Zoological Society when it resolved to inform the public of the continued decline in animal populations, to stimulate sentiment in favor of animal protection, and to cooperate with scientific organizations to ensure the preservation of species. William Randolph Hearst created his own private zoo with lions, tigers, leopards and more at Hearst Castle. But this is not the norm. However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. This is how animals get physical and psychological scars from abuse. Life expectancy is controlled by both the mental and physical health of most animals. The Endangered Species Act: The Endangered Species Act, the ESA, is a federal law that protects fish, mammals, birds and plants listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. and beyond. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. Especially not for the broad spectrum of species they have in their park. Why zoos are good | Zoology | The Guardian Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. The first efforts to keep wild and exotic animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in . ALSO READ: Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals? Terrifying, Pre-Historic-Looking Fish Captured in the Ocean's Twilight Zone; What Is It? They normally find themselves locked in cages, and only released into an artificial habitat when there are visitors at the zoo. Zoo animals, this new narrative went, function as backup populations for wild animals under threat, as well as ambassadors for their species, teaching humans and motivating them to care about wildlife. Tatiana the tiger, kept in the San Francisco Zoo, snapped one day in 2007 after three teenage boys had been taunting her. Zoos shifted just slightly from overt demonstrations of mastery over beasts to a narrative of benevolent protection of individual animals. 17 Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity - ConnectUS They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. [WATCH]. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. Even without a consciousness (that we know of) animals are alive and should be treated as such. For example, the law does not restrict the display or private ownership of captive wild animals or prohibit the use of controversial bullhooks, whips, electrical shock or other devices commonly used in circuses. Whats Causing Their Decline? Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. Many zoos claim to be helping preserve dwindling populations. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. The truth is that zoos are a prison for animals. For some animals, reintroduction will always be difficult, such as baby elephants, or pet cheetahs, both of which habituate to human care very quickly, says Moore of IFAW. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. Don't be suckered into supporting companies that offer experiences like hugging a tiger, swimming with dolphins, riding elephants, or kissing sharks. The other argument zoos commonly make is that they educate the public about animals and develop in people a conservation ethic. Are Sliding Doors or French Doors More Energy Efficient? However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. So when they face a threat, wild animals believe that they should survive by fleeing, fighting, flirting, or freezing. Animals in zoos are easier to get various kinds of diseases because there are thousands of people around the animal every day. Not investing enough when designing a habitat for your animals to save money. Even when properly fed and well housed, they can never be fully relaxed in confined spaces. Opinion | Zoos Are Bad for Animals - The New York Times However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. Read on to find out why animals should not be kept in zoos. Elephants figure prominently in his book, in part because they are so big that when they escape it generally makes the news. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. Zookeepers are not mustache-twirling villains. Important to protect endangered species from extinction. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. Just as we humans are free to do whatever we want so long as we follow the law, then it shouldn't be different for animals. For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. This is due to the fact that many zoos want to keep as many animals as . Few federal laws protect the millions of wild animals who live in captivity in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos in the U.S. Thousands of animals are captured and put in zoos and aquariums for tourist attractions every year. What if zoos stopped breeding all their animals, with the possible exception of any endangered species with a real chance of being released back into the wild? This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 Zoos also have the power to euthanize their animals when they themselves deem it permissible. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to . Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. Mr. Hagenbecks model was widely influential. The law, adopted by Congress in 1966, protects so-called warm-blooded animals who are bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially or publicly exhibited, like in a zoo or circus. zoos is usually not more than 200 animals per year, the organization said.) This could cause problems for the animal. Many visitors will disturb and disrespect the animals in a zoo simply because they feel as though they are owed a performance of some sort. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. An animal lover, Alexs family, have all been involved in various animal welfare charities. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. If an animal cannot be given sufficient space or is suffering from stress and not behaving as expected, the zoo is within its right to kill the animal(s). For animals in zoos, the AWA sets low requirements as to housing, food and sanitation, and, as is commonly noted, no requirements for mental stimulation of animals other than primates. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. The Link Between Fasting And Mental Health: Can It Improve Mood And Cognition? Profits are also gained through the selling of animals to other zoos or circuses. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. Since most countries dont have any regulations on how to handle animals in zoos, these business people can do whatever it takes to make the most profits possible. At least 20 zoos in the United States have already ended their elephant exhibits in part because of ethical concerns about keeping the species captive. More tigers live in cages in this country, than exist in all the wild. I dont see any problem with holding animals for display, Mr. Ashe told me. But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. Fish and Wildlife Service, suggested that learning how to breed animals contributes to conservation in the long term, even if very few animals are being released now. Zoos are expensive to run, often have a very tight budget, and cannot afford to maintain and support animals that do not pull their weight in terms of attraction. See Related: Most Comfortable Animals in The World. What Cause Extinction What Can We Do To Stop It? There are a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. Tell lawmakers you support animal-friendly legislation and local bans on using animals in entertainment. In some environments, we believe it's best not to keep certain wild animals at all, as their needs simply can't be met. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. Many suffer from arthritis and other joint problems from standing on hard surfaces; elephants kept alone become desperately lonely; and all zoo elephants suffer mentally from being cooped up in. Deforestation will be the next problem when animals such as moose, elks, and deer start eating everything even young trees. Yes, it is time consuming and it is expensive, but if it is possible, we have to try, simply because is the right thing to do.". The surpluses are then sold off to zoos, aquariums, or even circuses. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. Others allow private parties to keep animals like tigers or primates with a permit. This type of behaviour is almost unheard of in their wild counterparts. Zoos protect against a species going extinct. In the past five years, the number of zoos has been gradually going up. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. PETA isn't alone. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. According to an article inPlant Based News, marine parks and aquariums are a billion-dollar industry that exists to entertain the public by catching fish and sea mammals from the wild and using them as live exhibits. PETA says: "People who care about protecting endangered species should donate to organisations that safeguard them in their natural habitats if a species' native environment has been destroyed, there's nowhere left for the animals to go. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife Early in the pandemic, the Neumunster Zoo in northern Germany coolly announced an emergency plan to cope with lost revenue by feeding some animals to other animals, compressing the food chain at the zoo like an accordion, until in the worst-case scenario, only Vitus, a polar bear, would be left standing. After being captives of the pandemic for more than a year, we have begun experiencing the pleasures of simple outings: dining al fresco, shopping with a friend, taking a stroll through the zoo. Slow animals with minimal to zero predators such as elephants have brief life spans in captivity. When the zoo replaced the bars with thick glass, he started methodically removing the putty holding it in. Mr. Hribal documented many stories of elephants making a run for it in one case repairing to a nearby woods with a pond for a mud bath. In zoos vets and biologist help to prevent inbreeding. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. A Brief History of Zoos . When factoring in the number of zoos breeding animals and the risk posed to baby animals, the change of disease skyrockets further. For example, if the number of lions is drastically reduced in an area, their prey will thrive. They argue that no animal should be forced to spend their life in an unnatural environment and perform. On the other hand, the researchers reported, there were no significant differences in survey responses before entering an exhibit compared with those obtained as visitors were exiting., A 2008 study of 206 zoo visitors by some members of the same team showed that while 42 percent said that the main purpose of the zoo was to teach visitors about animals and conservation, 66 percent said that their primary reason for going was to have an outing with friends or family, and just 12 percent said their intention was to learn about animals., The researchers also spied on hundreds of visitors conversations at the Bronx Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Groundhog More than Just a Weather Prognosticator! An example of this is a snake that will bite whatever is threatening them since they are not as good at running away as other animals. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. See Related: How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals. Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. Zoos often do more harm than good, creating unnatural environments that look realistic enough to make any potential return to the wild all but impossible. The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals in bare tanks do not present a realistic image of natural behaviors or natural habitats. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. Chimps pull out their own hair. Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. Check out more news and information on Wild Animalsin Science Times. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? Some surplus animals or injured animals are even fed to predators as a means of life-cycle maintenance. The lawsuit asserts the agency must be able to remove animals if the USDA has deemed the facility unable to provide minimum standards of care set out by the Animal Welfare Act. Reasons why people think keeping animals in zoos is bad for their welfare: the animal is deprived of its natural habitat; the animal may not have enough room; the animal is deprived of its natural . When in their natural environments, wild animals are not used to being confronted by humans. Ms. Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. Because so many diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as Ebola, Hantavirus, and the bird flu, zoos frequently conduct disease surveillance research in wildlife populations and their own captive populations that can lead to a direct impact on human health. What Mr. Ashe wants visitors to experience when they look at the animals is a sense of empathy for the individual animal, as well as the wild populations of that animal.. "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. In 2018, the Eighth Circuit issued a unanimous decision in Cricket Hollows appeal of that case, that it can be a violation of the Endangered Species Act when captive animals arent given proper care. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. Most people arent always comfortable seeing animals that are kept in zoos. Thats true, he said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Animals in captivity can struggle to adapt to their new environment. Elephants arent the only species that try to flee a zoo life. Sadly, most of these associations end up protecting the interests of their members, and not the animals they should be protecting. The shooting of Harambe the gorilla spawned the most-shared meme of 2016 and caused a hounded Cincinnati Zoo to suspend its social media accounts. However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. Having seen a majestic leopard in the zoo, the visitor becomes more willing to pay for its conservation or vote for policies that will preserve it in the wild. Its zookeepers who arent fond of animals that go around hurting animals even when they havent been provoked. Outside of providing sufficient space to allow natural behaviors to develop, issues such as climate, diet, and the formation of a social hierarchy where appropriate make running a zoo a difficult task. His father works for a large national Cat charity in the UK, and Alex has regularly taken part in fundraising events for them through the years. The environment that these animals are kept in isnt natural to them more so the animals that are taken from the wilderness and kept in zoos. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it cant meet the space requirements for most of its animals. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. Copyright 2023 The Science Times. Should animals be kept in captivity? - The Current Display would be incidental. In fact, while animals will have almost unlimited space in the wild, they are often caged in rather confined areas in zoos. But that incident has triggered conversations on the negative impacts of marine parks and aquariums on wild animals. Such zoos might even be merged with sanctuaries, places that take wild animals that because of injury or a lifetime of captivity cannot live in the wild. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. As a late Gen-Xer-cum-early-Millenial, my childhood was rich with trips to visit zoos. Instead, they will hire generalists with a degree of knowledge specificity and run with that. Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. The better alternatives to zoos are the options that dont result in animals being held in conditions that are unsuitable and forced to live in natural environments. For them, the best option is to fight back. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. Going to the zoo is often quite affordable. In 1982, only 22 condors existed in the wild. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. Elephants bob their heads over and over. Depressed monkey Why Are Puppy Mills Bad: The Numerous Reasons Why They Must Be Stopped And How You, yes you, Can Help! But, for every story that casts zoos in a bad light from Vince the rhino's poaching at Paris' Thoiry Zoo in March; Cincinnati Zoo shooting endangered gorilla, Harambe, last year after a child fell into his enclosure; or Copenhagen Zoo killing and publicly dissecting Marius, a two-year-old giraffe in 2014 there are heart-warming tales too. Animals held captive in zoos are in very small environments such as cages, and they have no freedom. From there, it was an easy leap to protecting animal species. Its protections are minimal as well. There have also been reported cases of zoos not properly disposing of dead bodies when animals die on their premises. Theyre generally small menageries where wild and exotic animals like lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, and others are kept in captivity, and often suffer badly. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. In a study done on 40 chimpanzees in six different zoos, all of the chimps exhibited behavior their counterparts in nature did not. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Four of the zoos and the aquarium in New York City, for instance, are managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which is involved in conservation efforts around the world. When she caught up with the boys at the cafe, she mauled them before she was shot to death by the police. Carl Hegenbeck, a German exotic animal importer, introduced the modern model of more natural habitats for animals instead of obvious cages at his Animal Park in Hamburg in 1907. Zoos are held to their word of conserving animals and releasing them back into the wild when they are ready. 32 Important Pros & Cons Of Zoos - E&C Many zoos use Prozac and other psychoactive drugs on at least some of their animals to deal with the mental effects of captivity. Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. The A.Z.A.s policies allow for the euthanasia of animals, but the president of the association, Dan Ashe, told me, its very rarely employed by his member institutions. As a result, many zoos breed animals. This treaty is credited with helping foster international cooperation to protect some endangered and vulnerable species. See Related: War and the Effect on Wildlife.

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