Zoos often have insufficient knowledge of animals. At the Los Angeles Zoo, a gorilla named Evelyn escaped seven times in 20 years. Another serious problem is that the chronically-understaffed USDA conducts inspections infrequently. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. Another problem of zoos is that animals often only have rather limited space to move. 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, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. "Zoos are prisons for animals, camouflaging their cruelty with conservation claims," Mimi Bekhechi, director of international programmes at PETA, explains. 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. Thousands of animals are captured and put in zoos and aquariums for tourist attractions every year. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. While researching my book on the ethics of human interactions with wild species, Wild Souls, I examined how, exactly, zoos contribute to the conservation of wild animals. Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are under stress.
Why Zoos and Aquariums Are Beneficial - Association Of Zoos And Aquariums Zookeepers are not mustache-twirling villains. Lets get into the nitty-gritty details of why keeping animals in zoos is bad: Wild animals often suffer in captivity because they were meant to be free. All of these animals are well studied and have a plethora of documentaries and video footage of them in the wild. A zoological park is defined as an establishment designed for conservation, study, and public display. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. Apes are excellent at escaping. There is no end to the risk of cross-contamination and disease spread, especially when considering the fact that lots of zoos fail to provide the correct standard of care. This can have huge negative effects on the environment in many adverse ways. There have also been reported cases of zoos not properly disposing of dead bodies when animals die on their premises. Most people visit the zoo to see the big draw animals. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. Some 5,800 species of animals are covered by the treaty (along with 30,000 species of plants). But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to quantify.
Reasons Why Animals Should not Be Kept in Zoos - GradesFixer Animals are often bored and, as a result, some become aggressive and can lash out at other animals or zookeepers. Cleaners and feeders spend a lot of time with the animals, and understanding the situation one is getting into can be very helpful. But that day of release never quite seems to come. Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. That's how animals living in captivity feel. But few federal laws protect these animals, who may be forced to perform or kept confined in small cages with little to keep their minds occupied and bodies well. However, the vast majority dont do enough to accurately replace an animals natural habitat. See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. Depressed monkey Roadside zoos dot the American landscape. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. They are contained in small spaces, often made docile through drugs and other medications, and slowly strip away all autonomy and freedom from all animals. The window to the world of. 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. 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.". In zoos, elephants are often given a small outside enclosure and an internal house. This is nowhere near enough space to provide an elephant with a life comparable to that of its wild counterparts. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. People are fascinated by animals. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. Not surprising, perhaps, considering the typical polar bear enclosure is one million times smaller than the area they would naturally roam.". The Animal Legal Defense Fund is rated four-stars by Charity Navigator, is a Platinum Level GuideStar Exchange participant, a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, and an Independent Charity Seal of Excellence awardee, ensuring that we meet the highest standards of accountability, efficiency, and impact. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. Fewer and fewer states are allowing residents to keep captive wild animals without a permit. The Enigmatic Wombats: Surprising Facts and Myths Debunked. NASA's DART Mission Successfully Changed the Trajectory of Space Rock Dimorphos, Asteroid Ryugu Richly Harbors Building Blocks of Life, Scientists Reveal, SpaceXs Crew-6 Astronauts Aboard Dragon Capsule Endeavor Will Arrive at Space Station Early Friday [WATCH LIVE]. Animals are removed from their natural habitats. All things considered, animals should not be kept in zoos or aquariums. Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. Gus, a polar bear at the Central Park Zoo, was given Prozac as part of an attempt to stop him from swimming endless figure-eight laps in his tiny pool. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. Many zoos use Prozac and other psychoactive drugs on at least some of their animals to deal with the mental effects of captivity. Tatiana the tiger, kept in the San Francisco Zoo, snapped one day in 2007 after three teenage boys had been taunting her. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. ", Published in the June 2017 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK), What to do in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, How to plan and book an Indian rail odyssey, Four of the best luxury sleeper trains in India, How Miami is re-embracing its modernist architecture, Where to eat in Clitheroe, the Ribble Valley's culinary hotspot, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society.
Should zoos exist essay: Should Zoos Still Exist or Not? The Arguments If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. Read more: Should I worry about chemtrails? Eventually, the only animals on display would be a few ancient holdovers from the old menageries, animals in active conservation breeding programs and perhaps a few rescues. What people can do: Justin Gillis and Hal Harvey describe the types of local activismthat might be needed, while Saul Griffith points to how Australia shows the way on rooftop solar. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. Visitors will hammer on the glass or clamor around an animal enclosure, calling and shouting for the creature to perform for their pleasure. Your email address will not be published. People may behave eco-friendlier after going to the zoo. Their sleeping quarters can get overcrowded and this can lead to the animals harming each other. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. Animals are forced to live in artificial habitats that arent anywhere close to their former homes (the wild). 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 example of these associations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which represents over 240 businesses across the globe. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. Animal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner, Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? It is not possible to have zookeepers versed in a detailed understanding of every single species. A peer-reviewed 2017 study in the . Some of the captive-born animals are not capable of sustaining themselves in the wild and they could pass on these genes dooming the whole species in that region. Local laws are often most effective in governing the private possession of exotic animals. All rights reserved. It is always best to stay away from wild animals to prevent disastrous interactions. Captive animals are forced to spend their lives swimming endlessly and aimlessly instead of traveling up to 100 miles a day at fast speeds in the wild. They found that only 27 percent of people bothered to read the signs at exhibits. There is more to natural environments than just looks. The Brutal Truth About Seal Clubbing: Because Everyone Needs Dead Seal Pups (Not)! (The culling of mammals specifically in E.A.Z.A. See Related: Best Books on Endangered Species. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. Photographs by Peter Fisher. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. As an avid fan of botanical gardens, I humbly suggest that as the captive animals retire and die off without being replaced, these biodiversity-worshiping institutions devote more and more space to the wonderful world of plants. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The fewer than two dozen non-participants include North Korea, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Turkmenistan. An animal lover, Alexs family, have all been involved in various animal welfare charities. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. 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. The first efforts to keep wild and exotic animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in . Sanctuaries occupy a "gray area," says Tanya Espinosa, a . Another similar behavior of flirting is freezing, in which an animal does not move when there is no way of escape, like being caught in a trap or net even though they are terrified. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. They are kind people, bonded to their charges and immersed in the culture of the zoo, in which they are the good guys. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Many zoos fail to provide the required minimum standard of care, Zoos dont replicate animals natural habitats, Zoos teach people that animal captivity is acceptable, Animal protection laws are not strong enough, Many visitors disturb and disrespect the animals, Zoo animals are often drugged to be kept calm. Artificial environments. In one escape, they worked together: One held a mop handle steady while her sister climbed it to freedom. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. Do not reproduce without permission. At the end of the day, Zoos are largely unethical places that are built under the pretense of habitat conservation but really are there to earn money and entertain people who want to be able to say they saw real-life wild animals. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. Polar bears have one million times less space. 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. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. So when they face a threat, wild animals believe that they should survive by fleeing, fighting, flirting, or freezing. Animals are forced to sleep, eat, and defecate in the same small area. Also, removing a certain species from the ecosystem can destroy the whole ecosystem. See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. 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. Wrong! The Animal Welfare Act: The Animal Welfare Act, or AWA, is the primary piece of federal legislation regulating captive wild animals. This is particularly true if the animal is there for entertainment. 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.
17 Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity - ConnectUS They normally find themselves locked in cages, and only released into an artificial habitat when there are visitors at the zoo. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. worldanimalfoundation.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Other Programs, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the Partners. Increasingly, animals were presented with the distasteful fact of their imprisonment visually elided. Copyrights 2023. Unlike in the wild where these endangered species have to worry about staying safe, in these breeding programs they get taken care of. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers.
9 Reasons Not to Visit Zoos - PETA UK Even when properly fed and well housed, they can never be fully relaxed in confined spaces. The Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES): CITES is an international treaty that regulates the trade of wildlife for nations that are signatories to the treaty. Once the ground has been left with no coverage, soil erosion will be the next step. Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. More tigers live in cages in this country, than exist in all the wild. Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. All Rights are Resvered.
Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos? | KQED Education Your email address will not be published. There is considerable variation from state to state and among cities and counties, as to how much legal protection is offered to captive wild animals. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. We use cookies to help ensure the best experience on our website. And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. This becomes a major blow to the biodiversity of the affected region. That doesnt mean there havent been criticisms. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. In fact, while animals will have almost unlimited space in the wild, they are often caged in rather confined areas in zoos. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY By "Phillip" Hungry, depressed, and unable to connect. [WATCH], Armored Dinosaur Magnificently Preserved After Face, Skin, Spikes Survived Fossilization. A day may come, he said, when we need to breed elephants or tigers or polar bears in captivity to save them from extinction. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. Elephants arent the only species that try to flee a zoo life. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. Ive spent many memorable days in botanical gardens, completely swept away by the beauty of the design as well as the unending wonder of evolution and theres no uneasiness or guilt.
Should We Keep Animals in Zoos? - Scholastic Your voice is needed, so that captive wild animals in the United States, and elsewhere, are better protected. Some surplus animals or injured animals are even fed to predators as a means of life-cycle maintenance. A.Z.A. She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. Once again, a change of this magnitude can cause captive animals to exhibit changing behaviors, which include self-destructive acts and unrelenting restlessness. By designing these enclosures so that many animals could be seen at once, without any bars or walls in the visitors lines of sight, he created an immersive panorama, in which the fact of captivity was supplanted by the illusion of being in nature. Zoo elephants tend to die young. Properly curated and interpreted, a well-run garden can be a site for a rewarding outing with friends or family, a source of education for the 27 percent of people who read signs and a point of civic pride. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. When big predators are brought up on dead meat and never have to hunt for themselves, mingle with the prey they cant hunt, and entertain humans with tricks, they get further from their natural behaviors.
Are Zoos Ethical? Arguments for and Against Zoos - Treehugger So when they. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. Id like to think these kids, now in their early 20s, are working for a conservation organization somewhere. But that incident has triggered conversations on the negative impacts of marine parks and aquariums on wild animals.
Why the world needs zoos | Dr Dave Hone | The Guardian Keeping endangered animals in zoos infringes on those individuals' rights to freedom. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. The A.Z.A. This is the image of the zoo I grew up with: the unambiguously good civic institution that lovingly cared for animals both on its grounds and, somehow, vaguely, in their wild habitats. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. Some zoo animals try to escape. This can lead to an appreciation of animals, which in return will see them being treated much better. 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. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Children leave most zoos with a misconception about how animals behave in the wild and what it takes to truly care for endangered animals. Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. There are a few exceptions. Investigators found sticks and pine cones inside the exhibit, most likely thrown by the boys. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. The trade in wild animals involves tremendous suffering at every stage of the process. A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. In the age of social media, high profile culls have sparked heated debates. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and "cold-blooded" animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. 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. Zoos and circuses are among those who fall under this act. Giant Insect From Jurassic Era Found in Walmart Opens Deeper Ecological Questions, 3,500-Year-old Perfectly Preserved, Mummified Bear Might Lead to 'Breakthrough in Ancient Animal Study', Presumed Extinct Funji-eating Fairy Lantern Plant Found Emerging Again in Japan, How Did Missing Argentinian Man's Remains Get Into a Shark's Stomach? Check out more news and information on Wild Animalsin Science Times. The forerunners of the modern zoo, open to the public and grounded in science, took shape in the 19th century. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. Even though they might be getting enough food, if your animals are not okay mentally they might still not live to their full potential. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. 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. 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. The surpluses are then sold off to zoos, aquariums, or even circuses. More than 6,000 comments made by the visitors were recorded, nearly half of which were purely descriptive statements that asserted a fact about the exhibit or the animal. The researchers wrote, In all the statements collected, no one volunteered information that would lead us to believe that they had an intention to advocate for protection of the animal or an intention to change their own behavior.. Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. 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. Bears and cats pace.
Watching these is a much healthier and more educational way to learn about wild animals than visiting a local zoo. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Claws N Paws, Looking for case and legal resources? It is not humane to keep large mammals like orcas, dolphins or elephants in zoos or theme parks. Animals are stressed when they get separated from their packs or herds, especially when they end up as the only one of their kind in their new homes. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye.
Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect.
Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States In many modern zoos, animals are well cared for, healthy and probably, for many species, content. However, not all of them are suitable for captivity and are better left alone in the wild. What began as a way to pass time soon became a compulsion. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? In the case of America, our maps, developed with experts, show where extreme heat is causing the most deaths. That's not a record that justifies tens of millions of wild animals kept in zoos. Emma Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. We have good models of captive wild animal protection laws outside of this country as well. 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. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. Some populations in the wild are weakened by endogamy too. A study by Bristol University found that many British zoos fail to provide animals with the required minimum standard of care. WorldAnimalFoundation.org is reader-supported. Lawsuit to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals Upon License Revocation, Demanding USDA Strengthen and Enforce AWA Licensees Recordkeeping Requirement for All Animal Deaths, Demanding USDA Revoke Animal Welfare Act License from Pennsylvania Roadside Zoo Claws N Paws, Big Cat Public Safety Act Passes the U.S. Senate in Victory for Animals, USDA to Strengthen Tracking of Animal Deaths at Licensed Facilities Following Legal Petition, Lawsuit Seeks to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals When Agency Revokes Licenses.