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Essays on protecting endangered species
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Wild Animals vs. Animals in Captivity
Although animals in captivity are provided with their basic needs to survive and more, wild animals are more likely to thrive and reach their full potential.
Animals in the wild face greater environmental changes than animals who live in a zoo. An animal living in a zoo most likely has an enclosed area with a set climate and most everything they need to live comfortably. Wild animals, on the other hand, have to face harsh changes in their environment like droughts, floods, and forest fires. Animals in the wild can be challenged with heavy rains and rising level which can cause them to lose their homes and ultimately a place to hide from predators. Day in and day out, wild animals have to face or find shelter from these changes and their predators while captive animals don’t have to worry about either because zoos assure that they will have comfortable and safe living conditions.
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When wild animals are faced with forest fires and droughts this affects the food chain greatly. For example, if herd of gazelles is faced with a long drought or a wildfire in the savanna, their food supply can become extremely limited which could cause competition among the herd or could become completely depleted. If all the gazelles die off, what are the lions and cheetahs supposed to feed on? What about the hyenas? They prey on lions and cheetah as one of their larger meals. How will this affect the smaller mammals in this area because hyenas are skipping out on this meal? In contrast, an animal in captivity will never have to worry about any of those conditions or not having enough food because, when a zoo animal becomes hungry, zoo personnel takes care of it right
Have you ever seen an animal sitting in a cage all alone with nothing to do. Well, zoos are trying to change that fact. They will allow the animals to live in an environment that is like their home. Many people don't realize this, but zoo are keeping and breeding these animals because they would not survive in the wild alone. In the three passages, ¨The Stripes Will Survive,¨ ¨The Zood Go Wild from No More Dodos,¨ ¨Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment.¨ All of these articles present one claim, that is that the role of zoos is no longer to keep animal, but to protect them.
Animals life spans in Zoos are also drastically different from those in the wild. Studies have shown that animals kept in Zoos live only half of the lifespan animals do in the wild (Cokal 493). This goes to show that when animals are kept in Zoos they do not live statistically longer or healthier lives. They live shorter, problematic lives due to poor
Even though zoos try to imitate the natural habitat of each animal, the area for the zoo might not be able to support the animals needed environment. When visiting a zoo many people fail to notice that the animals have living areas measuring an acre or smaller. “Their enclosures are often small, barren, and without shade or privacy” (Laws). “Animals also need to endure dirty living conditions, stagnant water, and hard floors to sleep on at night” (Laws). It’s obvious that in the wild any animal has almost unlimited space to live in. They catch and forage for food naturally and mate naturally.
The Dama Gazelle are herbivores. Their diet consists of shrubs, acacias, and desert dates. During the wet season, this species migrates to the Sahara Desert. During a drought, this species migrates out of the Sahara Desert to moister habitats. They do not need much water to survive. These animals can live off little droplets of water from their food source. One article from “National Geography” states, “Dama Gazelle numbers have fallen by about 80% in the last decade and continues to fall.” These species is endangered because of illegal hunting, habitat destruction, drought, and competition for food. A statement from the “International Endangered Species List” says, “At this rate, the Dama Gazelle is headed toward extinction.” If this species becomes extinct, it will affect the entire ecosystem and cause a ripple effect. Once they become extinct, it will cause other species to become extinct and possibly cause plants to take over the desert. They move in small herds to protect themselves from natural predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. A fun fact about these interesting creatures is that Dama Gazelles may stand on their hind legs to eat from acacia trees and other plants as high as six feet from the ground! They are the largest s...
Being able to live freely, wild animals are definitely happier than captive zoo animals. In the article "Bambi or Bessie: Are Wild Animals Happier?," paragraph 12, it says, when we domesticated animals, we forever altered how they respond to their environment, and paragraph 10 says that in all the domesticated species ever studied, all animals had a decreased stress response compared to wild counterparts. Like what paragraph 14 says, stress is needed and is important for surviving in the wild and the vast majority of domesticated animals wouldn't survive in the wild. The second article, "Dogs help herd elephants at the Pittsburgh Zoo," says that the PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) group thought that it showed clearly
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?
middle of paper ... ... Freedom is precious and animals are constantly suffering mentally and physically from the lack of freedom that captivity brings to them. Although many zoos are visited by millions of people annually, they still operate at a loss and have to make budget cuts. Funds that should be used to provide humane conditions for animals are often wasted on cosmetic improvements such as landscaping, refreshment stands, and gift shops in order to draw visitors, leaving the animals behind steel bars and glass trapped in a concrete jungle for no reason without hope of ever being free.
... danger too. A good reason for captivity is rehabilitation for an animal that is hurt or wounded and could be treated. Then having a second chance back out into the wild. Also by keeping endangered species from going completely instinct by figuring out genetics of an animal. So having zoos and farms do help animals but does put them at risk.
Zoos introduces captive-bred projects to take care of some animals for years and reintroduce them back to the wild. However, captive animals usually lose their survival skills in wild after under an absolute protection for a long time, especially those who are used to learning from their parents. They no longer able to escape from predators or track preys. Reintroduction often needs to be abandoned permanently.
Zoos display fascinating animals from all over the world for human entertainment, research, conservation, and education. Many scientists conduct studies on animals in captivity that they may not have been able to in the wild. Zoos educate all the visitors that come; they let people know everything that they know about the animals on display. We do learn a lot from these animals, but not all of the animals in the zoo are behaving like they normally would in the wild. Larger animals, such as elephants and orcas (commonly known as killer whales), have trouble with being confined in such a small area. However, many smaller animals benefit from zoos because they provide protection from predators, natural disasters, and poachers. They also benefit from conservation efforts; the babies being born get all the care they could ever need. Some animal rights activists are concerned that the conservation efforts are limiting the gene pool of the species. They argue that the small number of animals able to breed in captivity limits biodiversity and leads to weaknesses in the species overall. Zoos are wonderful places to study and learn about animals, but we need to improve the living standards for animals that struggle with captivity.
Zoos bring human kind closer to wild life. Though, sometimes that means taking the animal out of its natural habitat. Some animals have lost most of their habitat and are on the verge of extinction. In this way, the zoo helps the animals rather than using them as a form of human entertainment. Zoos also allow humans to study different kinds of animals more closely. Some zoos on the other hand manipulate the animals to acquire as much revenue as possible rather than being concerned with the welfare of each animal.
Being in captivity means that animals do not have the same environment as free animals. Also according to Jane Goodall elephants need more room to roam. In the article ( Pro or Con ) animales stress out when in small places. According to the video, “ Born wild” animals can be kept in a cage without a companion for a
They’re nature empowers them to run free. Free in the wilderness, where they were born. Unfortunately, zoos go against the course of nature, and ultimately ruins their natural instincts. The origins of zoos date back to colonial times when victorious nations would exploit animals from conquered lands and show them off.
Zoo animals are usually kept in very cramped enclosures and do not behave like their wild counterparts. Polar bears, for example, are given about 10 metres of walking space whereas in their Arctic home they roam for many hundreds of kilometres. Similarly, primates, big cats and birds are often confined in cages where they lack exercise and stimulation. Many animals develop unnatural habits such as pacing back and forth or swaying from side to side.
Lastly, many zoos have breeding programs which helps endangered species grow their population. In the wild some animals find it hard to find a mate and to successfully breed. At zoos they have professionals which make sure that the breeding goes successfully and that the baby grows into a strong and healthy adult. If you still don't believe that animals should be kept in zoos another option is an animal sanctuary where animals are able to run free but still have the care of a human if