Zoos and other places that have animals are a great place for families or even just people to visit. They are entertaining for young children to see the different kinds of animals, yet still enjoyable for adults as we as humans never cease to be fascinated by them. How could a place that seems so wonderful, be so bad? It isn’t.
Many people believe zoos and places such as Sea World mistreat and or abuse the animals. There are organizations out there claiming to try to rescue these animals and the “need your help”. However you’ve never seen these people actually freeing any animals or actually taking any action. Maybe because there isn’t anything to take action against.
Humane Society of America quotes “[Zoos] provide benefits for animals, such as financially supporting conservation programs and the preservation and restoration of threatened and endangered species, as well as promoting the education of people to the needs of wild animals and their role in ecosystems.”
• Humane Society all for saving animals, so why would they support zoos if they are bad?
Zoos keep endangered animals from going extinct. And they are
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going extinct because of us. Poachers and illegal hunters kill 100 elephants EVERY DAY. That is why they are put in zoos. TO BE KEPT ALIVE. I want elephants to be able to roam free as much as the next guy but I’d rather they be alive than extinct. If you want these animals to free then target the people killing them, not the people saving them. Zoos provide medical care. You know what happened to the zebra when it breaks its leg in the wild? It gets eaten. But in zoos the zebra gets a chance to recover and be taken care of and live. If there is a drought or a food shortage what happens? Animals suffer is what happens. This doesn’t happen in zoos. Animals are fed every day and never go hungry. Arguing for these animals to be left in the wild is arguing for them to be killed, injured, eaten, and starved. And yet these people claim they are “helping” animals? What about SeaWorld?
SeaWorld has a huge crowd advocating against it and many refuse to even step foot in the place. Well I’ve been there twice and once I even got to witness backstage and firsthand that they do not abuse the animals. People often like to bring up the fact that the killer whales have well killed some trainers before. And I’m not going to downplay it. It happened. But there is always risk when handling animals. I own a dog. My dog has bit me before. There was blood. Does this mean I abuse my dog? I love her and feed her and have never once abused her? No. And no one has even accused me of abuses my dog even though she has bit me. It is the same with these whales. They are called killer whales for crying out loud. If the trainer isn’t being careful enough, bad things can happen. And it is tragic. But it certainly does not mean
abuse. SeaWorld has said this about their killer whales: “We do not capture killer whales in the wild. Due to our groundbreaking reproduction research and program, we haven’t collected a killer whale from the wild in 35 years. Our killer whales’ life spans are equivalent with whales in the wild. We recognize the importance of social structure and keep dependent killer whale calves with their mothers. The killer whales in our facilities benefit whales in the wild. We provide scientists with access, research and data that would be difficult or impossible to get in the wild. We invest millions of dollars in the care of our whales. Our habitats are among the largest in the world today and allow for the highest and safest standards of care. We also recently announced our vision for the creation of future whale habitats. The quality of care we provide these animals is further evidenced through the stringent accreditation process of two of the foremost professional zoological organizations to which we belong: The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA). AZA accredited zoos and aquariums undergo a rigorous review that includes a detailed accreditation application as well as a multiple day on-site inspection by a team of experts from around the country. Fewer than 10% of the animal exhibitors in the US are AZA accredited. The AMMPA requires similar application and on-site review processes for accreditation” On SeaWorld’s FAQ page. Someone asked if SeaWorld animals are stressed or unhappy. SeaWorld responded by basically saying that any animal is unhappy from time to time, especially people but SeaWorld animals don’t have the stress they would have in the wild such as being hunted or having to find food. People say animals at SeaWorld have a much shorter life span. If this is true then why is one of their Killer Whales 46 years old? And it was born at the park…. The average life span for a killer whale is 40-50 years old. So does that look like a shorter life span to you? Because it sure doesn’t to me. SeaWorld and other Zoos also don’t just benefit the animals. The benefit us humans too. Now we can better learn about the species that live around us so we can try to better protect them. Children now get more opportunities to learn about these animals which will inspire many of them to go into the business themselves when they are older. Many schools even now take “Oceanography” trips to Sea World and they get to go behind the scenes and see how the animals are taken care of. A quote from the AZA itself: “In the last 10 years, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums formally trained more than 400,000 teachers, supporting science curricula with effective teaching materials and hands-on opportunities. A 2009 National Research Council report found "abundant evidence that these programs and settings, contribute to people's knowledge and interest in science" and that they can "significantly improve outcomes for individuals from groups that are historically under represented in science."” Overall Zoos and places such as SeaWorld do not abuse or mistreat their animals but rather help and save them. Commonsenseforanimlas.org is for zoos, The Humane Society for America is for zoos, The AZA and the AMMPA support SeaWorld, so why don’t you? If you are against zoos then you are actually for animal suffering.
Peoples Trust has provided me with an extreme amount of information on why zoos are beneficial through their “Zoos & Conservation article.” Peoples Trust has pointed out that not every zoo mistreats their animals, but never took into consideration how the animals themselves may undergo, and what is being taken away from them.
Ever since, Zoos have become more popular in this modern time-era. As one may have heard the saying, “ Free Tilly”, it actually comes from a petition for saving animals from Seaworld. People are fighting to save these creatures to take them back to where they belong because it is unfair to use them for entertainment. People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has started in 1981 on a case of spring silver monkey of animal experiment since then it has expanded to help animals being captured from their natural
Some supporters even acknowledge the ethical problems zoos face, but choose to ignore them for what they believe is the overall positive impact on society. In “Why zoos are good” Dr. Dave Hone highlights education as one of the main reasons he supports zoos, mentioning how many people who live in cities may never get to experience wild animals if it weren’t for zoos. Hone states educational videos and documentaries are an option, but they “pale next to seeing a living creature in the flesh, hearing it, smelling it, watching what it does and having the time to absorb details” (Hone). Not only do zoos provide interactive learning opportunities and a direct opportunity to experience how animals behave in the flesh, Hones notes zoos can be educational elsewhere, as a significant amount of work is being sent to conservatives to help educate others on how to improve conditions for the animals.
Zoos have been very controversial lately with debate about animal cruelty and speculations shifting around the industry, so what is the truth about zoos? Zoos are known to be a safe area for animals and humans, entertain individuals and be a safe containment for endangered animals. Knowing this information it’s factual to say that this sounds like the perfect place for animals and humans, and they are.
Animals like the killer whale should be kept in captivity, here's why. According to Jerry Adler the writer of the article “Why Killer Whales Belong in the Ocean, Not Seaworld” he says, “Hargrove, who quit Seaworld in 2012, suffered numerous broken bones and nearly destroyed his sinuses.” which means that the killer whales were being aggressive that a person named Hargrove quit Seaworld because he had broken bones and tissues destroyed in his body. In the article “Why Killer Whales Belong in the Ocean, Not Seaworld” it says “But it easily could have cost him his life if a whale had grabbed it to pull him into the water.” Not only the whales
Tigers, lions, giraffes, and other exotic animals are rarely seen in the wild. However the public, without humans and/or animals being harmed at the same time, can see exotic animals when a zoo opens. Zoos for many are a wonderful experience, but to others they see the animals as being treated poorly and not able to roam free. These people do not consider the beneficial sides of zoos. Zoos around the world help species that have been endangered by protecting and caring for them. Otherwise they would have became extinct and killed for their valuable fur or feathers. Zoos were created for a purpose that needed to be filled. If there were no purpose for them they would have not been created. Zoos are needed and if there is a need in this world, the spot will most likely be filled without hesitation. Some zoos were not trained properly and do not treat their animals very well. Some bad zoos do not feed their animals enough and keep them in a confined cage. Although some zoos are harmful for both animals and people, many of them are good zoos and take care of their animals better than most people take care of them selves. It is amazing to be able to see such care and love are associated with zoos. Not only do zoos help the endangered animals they also help people learn to respect such amazing creatures. Zoos are a good attribute to society because they promote education, research, protect, conserve, and outlook.
In many places there are animals being held in captivity that are abused or even sometimes killed. SeaWorld included. The annual mortality rate of Orcas is 2.5 times higher in captivity than in the wild. Also, 92% of SeaWorld’s Orcas have not lived past the age of 25. The average lifespan of an Orca in the wild is 30 years for males and 50 years for females. Some can even live up to 80-90 years old (WDC). Not only are these animals abused but the animals in captivity suffer from increased psychological and physical stress. Animals aren't free to pursue their natural lifestyles. Sometimes this affects animals so greatly that there have been cases where animals have killed or attacked their trainers (Issitt). In Sea World, a killer whale named Tilikum killed two of his trainers. Wild animals aren’t meant to live a life in captivity.
First off, opponents of zoos need to understand that zoos are not what they used to be. When zoos were first created, animals were treated like prisoners, locked up in small cages. But ...
Animals have many different homes: deserts, grasslands, rainforests, oceans, and even our very own homes, at times. Some would call the zoo, however, their safe heaven. Creatures such as these are rare and endangered species, injured animals that could no longer thrive in the wild, and the offspring of such beasts. In 'The Reality of Zoos' by Michelle Carr, it states that “Captive animals are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them.” (Carr, line 15) According to Michelle Carr, zoos are not appropriate places for animals. In her words, she describes them as depressing prisons where animals don't thrive, as they would in the wild.
What do you think about zoos? Children standing in front of big cages, feel excited to see those lovely animals and share the joy with their parents. Parents will then read aloud the information on the signs to educate the children. At lunch hour, animals in bonds wait for delicious dishes provided by zoo keepers and live happily ever after. It seems that zoos are really a heaven to us and animals. It gives us a place to keep close to nature, saving those little pitiful things in wild. Unluckily, that is not the truth we wished. Indeed, zoos magnify their contribution to educational circle, exaggerating the importance of role play in conservation work, in order to cover those disgraceful secrets behind.
One of the main justifications that zoos use for maintaining animals organised in captivity is the declare that zoos are required for academic reasons. Although this may seem like a genuine discussion, it is not an moral enough purpose to deny wild animals of their independence. “Besides, to obtain real and finish information of wild animals, one must notice them in their organic settings.” (Thoreau) “The conditions under which animals are kept in zoos generally change their actions considerably.” (Thoreau) Basically looking at an creature behind cup or behind cafes under the conditions in which they are in is not actually teaching. Those who go to zoos are not going for academic reasons anyway; they are going mainly for ...
Although zoos make the animals feel like they are in a natural habitat, they do not provide the space that the wild does. Also, zoos are just like prisons, but for animals. They get humiliated by visitors, when they are shown to the public by the zoos. The animals do not get the right amount of nutrients and food, not like they do in their natural habitats. They get handled by park keepers, which isn’t very good for the animals, or the park keepers, because the animals are not used to being handled.
Throughout the world, there are over 10,000 zoos for people to enjoy looking at the wild animals in cages. Zoos should be closed down because they are detrimental for the animals held in captivity. Yes, the cages are designed to look comparable to their natural habitat, but they all still suffer mentally. In the article “Should we have zoos?”, the author uses a quote provided by the Captive Animals’ Protection Society that states: “wild animals in zoos suffer physically and mentally as their complex social, behavioral and physical needs cannot be met in unnatural man-made environments” (paragraph 17). This quote states that animals cannot function correctly when they are held captive away from their natural environment. Controversially, some
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.
Animals should be free and in the wild, sometimes the animals might not have enough space to roam around. As stated in “The Impact of Animal Protection,” if animals have a small space they are more than likely to go psychotic. Small spaces may make animals breed forceful, which may make the animals overpopulate and they will need to have to kill off some of the species. Trying to keep the animals in captivity to extend their lifespan isn’t as good as it seems, if you put animals in the zoo, they don’t have the challenges to build up their strength as they do in the wild. The animals have more challenges to build up their strength and endurance than they do in an animal park.