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Recommended: Morality of zoos
The modern Zoo has been around for centuries the first zoo was established in 1748. Since then zoos have evolved immensely. Many standard zoos offer a variety of activities for visitors but little has been done to offer animals proper care, sufficient space and variety. Traditional zoo enclosures rarely match each animal’s natural environment especially for large animals, as everything is just too small and too condensed. Zoos must reinvest and revamp into the structures and organization of their facilities for the better of the animals and viewers. Across Canada there are over 100 zoos and wildlife collections. Humans have always had an interest to learn and study wild animals. Unfortunately, many zoos are only in it for profits. Nowadays the public is much more knowledgeable about the animals needs such as their emotionally and physical health. Many people want to see change. The health of the animals is being jeopardized. Traditional zoos in Canada should be banned because the animals’ welfare is negatively affected, they provide little education value and they do not serve as effective conservation practices.
The well being of animals are not well cared for in zoos. Some may argue that zoos attempt to accommodate the animals to the most natural environment possible. Despite some improvements many animals in traditional zoos still encounter health issues and stereotypical behaviours due to the small enclosures (See figure 1). The lack of room zoos encounter is insufficient and keeping animals isolated in a not so large area is detrimental to the health of the animals. “Studies have found that lions in zoos spend 48% of their time pacing and 40% of elephants performed stereotypic behaviours” (Sad eyes & empty lives). These anim...
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...on questions wisdom of Copenhagen giraffe cull” The Globe and Mail. Feb. 10 2014 .
O., and Brookfield Zoo (Illinois) Elepha. IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS SURVEY: ELEPHANTS IN COLD-CLIMATE ZOOS (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
Renzetti, Elizabeth. “Killing Marius the giraffe showed the zoo truly understands kids.” The Globe and mail. Feb. 15 2014.
Society, Captive Animals Protection. Sad Eyes & Empty Lives (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
"The National Humane Education Society -Entertainment Issues:Captive Creatures." The National Humane Education Society -Entertainment Issues:Captive Creatures. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014.
Truongthuhuong1. "Environtment." StudyMode. Web. 17 May 2014.
Whitning, Amy. “ What’s wrong with zoos? ” Animal liberation victoria.
"Zoos." All About Animals > Secondary Pupils > Issues >. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014.
"Zoos: Pitiful Prisons." PETA. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014.
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.
Zoos. Mercy for Animals, A voice for the rights of all animals. 4th Sept 2011
Since the recent event with a gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo, people have questioned ethics. The author wrote this argument to explain why the safety of animals, as well as their survival in the future, depends on these enclosures. Some readers would accept that zoos and aquariums conduct a lot of research, but for those who are skeptical, the argument discusses that the “Zoological Society of London, for instance, is developing innovative methods to assess the risks of animals contracting disease when they are reintroduced into the wild” (2016, p. 2, para. 7). The effective evidence Ganzert brings in shows readers the benefits of zoos and aquariums in order to appeal to the value of the animals being well contained and protected while they are in the enclosures. Another strong example of Ganzert’s appeal to an audience that wants the facts is “The Phoenix Zoo helped lead the ensuing breeding and reintroduction programs, which ultimately birthed more than 200 calves from just nine individuals. Now between Oman and Jordan, there are about 1,000 Arabian Oryx living in the wild” (2016, p. 2, para. 4). In result, the audience receives information about an existing program as well as what has happened due to the creation of this program at the Phoenix Zoo.
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
Sources used in this piece were interviews with zoo staff and also visuals in the form of photographs of the elephant. Unknown, “Hattie, Central Park Elephant, Dies; News Hidden to keep Sad Children Away.” The New York Times. November 20,
The first point of view from this issue is the side that believes humans, zoos and other facilities should be allowed to keep animals. The places that captivate animals believe that they are doing a favor to the creatures. They believe that they are saving them from being killed by humans. They say that if they would not have taken in these animals they would have died in the wild. They say they’re giving them a fresh new start and a place to live without worry. For example, in this article they state that zoos try and h...
Minor’s Trust A Trust for Minors; specifically, they are used to hold and allocate possessions to minors. They typically dictate that the currency or property assets will be held in the trust until the minor reaches the age of majority, which is usually 21 years old. After which time the trust is terminated an all assets within the trust are distributed appropriately. Minors trusts are generally set up by parents or relatives who want to leave property to a minor, but they also want to make sure the assets within the trust are cared for and appoint an adult trustee to be financially responsible for the trust until the minor comes of age.
Cohn, Jeffrey P. "Do Elephants Belong In Zoos?" Bioscience 56.9 (2006): 714-717. Academic Search Premier. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
The "Emaciated Asian Elephant Started Life at Busch Gardens. " N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 12 May 2015.
"Indonesia's 'nightmare' Zoo." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 21 Oct. 0013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
Since approximately 1250 B.C., ancient Egyptians had created and practiced the capture and display of animals in what are now known as zoos (Fravel). Records describe such exotic animals as birds, lions, giraffes, and tigers in captivity (Fravel). Since then, zoos have continued to entertain millions with the exciting chance to view exotic animals up close and personal. Even in ancient Greece, exotic animals were on display in fighting arenas, and in enclosed viewing areas. Originally in America, zoos were just created so that royalty and the wealthy could flaunt their exotic animals to the public (Leolupus). Today, with species threatened and habitats disappearing worldwide, zoos are serving a new purpose other than the mere exhibition of animals – conservation. (Fravel). When you think of a zoo, you either think of a fun, entertaining place that provides close-up and exciting exhibits of wild animals that you would otherwise never get the chance to see, or a place where people keep suffering, unhappy animals captive just for entertainment and display. However, despite whichever view you hold, and despite the stereotypes, some zoos have evolved to serve alternative and helpful purposes. Although some zoos face controversy due to allegations such as lack of space and quality care, neglect, and cruelty, some zoos have programs specifically designed to help and protect animal species. For example, these zoos have programs that help such conservation efforts as breeding.
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.
Of the 321 elephant deaths for which The Times had complete records, half were by age 23, more than a quarter before their expected life spans of 50 to 60 years. For every elephant born in a zoo, on average two die. At that rate, the 288 elephants inside the 78 U.S. zoos could be “demographically extinct” within the next 50 years because there’ll be too few fertile females left to breed, according to zoo industry research (Berens 4). Most people think that zoos protect animals, but it can clearly be seen in the records provided by the Times that the zoos are doing the exact opposite of protecting animals. The American zoos, including the accredited ones, have led to the near demise of elephants.
Zoos are an unsuitable environment for wild animals and should, therefore, be abolished. Firstly, zoo animals are kept in a very confined area compared to their vast natural habitat. Secondly, breeding programmes are far less successful than zoos claim. Thirdly, zoo animals are exposed to many diseases and other dangers. Zoo animals are usually kept in very cramped enclosures and do not behave like their wild counterparts.