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Ecological benefits of zoos
The consequences of zoos for animals
The consequences of zoos for animals
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Recommended: Ecological benefits of zoos
Zoos: Humane or Inhumane? Millions of people worldwide visit zoos or aquariums with their families. These habitats are designed for society as a whole to come together and see animals which may not live natively to these people. However the question is always raised: are animals in zoos and aquariums treated humanely, and is it fair for them to live in captivity for their entire lives? Zoos and aquariums were designed for society as a whole to come together and see animals that may not live native to their homeland. These people would not see these types of animals in any other way if the habitats had not existed. According to Time magazine, “responsible zoos and aquariums exist to facilitate and promote the conservation of animals.” The conservation of animals is more important now than ever, because the earth is going through a “Sixth Extinction” according to Elizabeth Colbert, a Pulitzer-Prize winner. These institutions are ready to combat those threats using their breeding programs to continue different species and to continue genetic biodiversity. Some animals, after being …show more content…
PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have an article on their website that speaks about zoos and pseudo-zoos. This article states, “deprivation….causes many captive animals to lose their minds. Animals with this condition, called ‘zoochosis,’ often rock, sway, or pace endlessly and some even resort to hurting themselves by chewing on their own fingers and limbs, or pulling out their fur or feathers.” PETA also states that some animals are prescribed antidepressants or antipsychotics to try to curb the abnormal behavior. Humane Conservation is a certification process that must be certifies health and working conditions for animals in zoos and aquariums. This was designed to keep animals safe, as well as those working with these animals
Considering the many challenges animals face in the wild, it is understandable that people may be eager to support zoos and may feel that they are protective facilities necessary for animal life. In the article “ Zoos Are Not Prisons. They Improve the Lives of Animals”, Author Robin Ganzert argues that Zoos are ethical institutions that enrich the lives of animals and ultimately protect them. Statistics have shown that animals held in captivity have limited utilitarian function resulting in cramped quarters, poor diets, depression, and early death for the animals thus, proving that Zoos are not ethical institutions that support and better the lives of animals as author Robin Ganzert stated (Cokal 491). Ganzert exposes the false premise in stating
Suzuki, David. “The Pain of Animals.” Taken from The Broadview Reader 3rd ed. Ed. Herbert Rosengarten and Jane Flick. Peterborough: Broadview Press, 1998. Print.
Lets start with zoos, where animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public viewing. Millions of people visit zoos thinking the animals are happy, when in all reality they are miserable. You can try to replicate the animals enclosure to their natural habitat, but they can never replace their homes. An animals rights organization states, “Animals are often prevented from doing most of the things that are natural and important to them, like running, roaming, flying, climbing, foraging, choosing a partner, and being with others of their own kind,” (PETA). Although, zoos are said to ‘help’ these animals, they really are not, it is more a collection of different animals in order to show off to the audience and gain money off of them. People begin to believe it is okay to keep these wild animals captive and have their lives be controlled by someone else.
Zoo captivity is substandard and inadequate for animals. Zoo animals are deprived of their right as animals they are treated unjustly and unfairly. Animals should not be forced to kept in a cage away from their natural environment and be used as a form of entertainment to humans. The animals also suffer from stress and are driven insane by being trapped behind bars. The zoo is supposed to provide safety to these endangered animals but instead, these zoo animals are put at risk towards a variety of dangers such as vulnerability to diseases and starvation.
The article, “Are Zoos Cruel? The Pros and Cons of Zoos and Wildlife parks”, discusses the advantages and disadvantages animals have being in zoos and wildlife parks. It states, “The physical and mental frustrations of captivity often lead to abnormal, neurotic, and even self destructive behavior, such as incessant pacing, swaying, head-bobbing, bar-biting, and self-mutilation. In other words, animals tend to become psychotic when held in captivity. Their psychotic behavior comes from the restriction of freedom they have. This is significant because it validates my argument that dysfunctions.
Zoos are massively valuable to education. Education is the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction. Zoos give instruction by teaching about animals and how to care for them as well. Zoos educate the public by showing them the different animals, how they act, how dangerous they are, and how to treat them according to the article “Education – Association of Zoos and Aquariums.” Zoos are an important part of education because without a public zoo some might not know how dangerous some animals are and get killed by them or even unknowingly kill an endangered species. Also without zoos the education on animals study would lack curiosity because of a poor presentation of examples. Children need to see to believe and without that aspect the education towards animals would suffer tremendously. A total of 175 million people have been educated because of zoos. They are educated about wild animals, their related conservation issues, their habitats, and the ways in which they can contribute to their preservation of these animals.
There are many places where people can go to see live animals such as aquariums, zoos, and safari parks. A pleasant way to define a Zoo is to call it “an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals”. (Google def) Another way to say that is a facility in which animals are “enclosed in cages for public exhibition”. I believe zoos are ethical; however, changes need to be made to eliminate problems I have discovered. In this argumentative essay, I will be arguing the ethics of zoos and certain problems that need to be addressed that people are not aware of. Zoos are great places to take the family out for the day to have entertainment; however, problems such as captive breeding, length of life, and animal stress need to improve.
In the film, Madagascar, zoos are depicted as a sanctuary in which all the exotic animals are kept safe and are open for the public to view. But many would argue that zoos are inhumane, the caging of animals for our personal entertainment is unjustifiable. Those who believe that zoos are wrong and should be destroyed are animal rights activist; they believe that animals should be allowed to choose their own destiny. Those that believe that zoos are an important part of our lives are scientist and zoologist. This debate has gone on for generations and average folk are stuck in the middle, not knowing which side to stand on. The animals being kept in captivity could not be interviewed; their side of the story will be based on interpretation on their movement and interaction with animals in the zoo and in the wild. Are animals better suited to live in the harsh conditions of the wild or are they better suited to live their lives safely in captivity?
Even though some zoos have an endangered species exhibit with the intention of protecting and rehabilitating animals, many do not do an adequate job of protecting the animals. Zoos have been harmful to the very animals they have sworn to protect. Animals in captivity often suffer from anxiety, boredom and other severe issue related to prolonged confinement. Most animals are unable to thrive in small enclosure with unnatural weather and climates. For example elephants are known to walk as far as 30 miles per day, but the association of Zoos and aquariums only require a space the measures $0 feet by 45 feet, which is about the size of a three car garage, to house these large animals. (peta.org) the drastic difference in the amount of space their allowed ...
Some people may argue that zoos protect animals and species under this polluted world, however, do animals in zoos really need our “help”? Yes, but surely not that many. According to Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS), 79% of animals in United Kingdom zoos and over 70% of elephants in European zoos are wild-caught. It seems that zoos need them rather than they need zoos.
As if that alone isn’t enough to prove that zoos are cruel and unfair, there are many professionals and experts who gravely look down upon zoos, too. Delcianna Winders, director with the PETA foundation, said “Renowned oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau reported that he was forever changed after witnessing a captive dolphin commit suicide by ramming his head into a tank wall.... ... middle of paper ... ...
For hundreds of decades animals have been the center of entertainment for humans. They are used in circuses, zoos, aquariums, and other animal-based exhibits. However, how many of us actually take the time to consider if this involuntary imprisonment is doing more harm than good? Not many take into account the permanent effects these animals suffer from being locked in cages or small spaces for 95% of their life. Using captive animals to entertain humans should be considered unlawful and cruel because of the physical and mental repercussions that are caused and because they are not educational.
When talking about zoos some people think that they are terrific for the animals while others think they’re harmful to the animals. I think that zoos are terrible because the animals are trapped and zoos even cause some animals to have a mental illness. The first reason I think that the animals are trapped is because they are in small cages and habitats, and are forced to socialize with other animals of their kind. In the text it says some animals “who are accustomed to swimming up to 100 miles in one day and diving hundreds of feet, are forced to live in confined spaces” (“Zoochosis”).
Animals in zoos are usually rescued from the wild if they get sick or injured and are left behind by the other animals. If people didn’t intervene, the animal would have died an unnecessary death that could’ve been prevented. As stated in the text, “Many nature parks have programs that keep animals in protected places. By putting them in controlled environments, the animals can live safely, and their numbers can increase through supervised breeding programs.” Although some believe that zoos just throw the animals in a pen and forget about them, the animals are taken care of very
Supporters of zoos argue that they help to conserve endangered species, but in fact they are not very good at this. Even the world famous panda-breeding programme has been very costly and unsuccessful. Also, zoo life does not prepare animals for the challenges of life in the wild. For example, two rare lynxes released into the wild in Colorado died from starvation even though the area was full of hares, which are a lynx’s natural prey.