Public zoos are not the only type of zoo that costs a lot of money to maintain. Animal collectors in the United States and many other places will seek out endangered and exotic animals to own in their own private zoo enclosures. Marianna Grigoryan writer of Private zoos boasting exotic animals – the new status symbol of Armenia's elite said, “Private zoos with lions, tigers and bears are emerging as a popular hobby for the wealthy and powerful, and the government does not seem inclined to intervene. Instead, recent amendments to wildlife legislation seem to facilitate this pastime. Private citizens are allowed to own wild animals, including endangered species, as long as they provide areas for the animals that ensure their ‘life, health, and
The difference between right and wrong is not always perfectly clear. A long-standing part of cultures across the world, zoological and animal parks have been around for hundreds of years. While in the past concerns and issues regarding the ethical problems zoos seem to impose were less prominent, in recent times the rise of animal rights activist groups and new generational values have influenced the way people view these parks. Critics believe that zoos are an unnatural habitat for animals and force them to live in captivity, having a negative impact on their health. Yet, there are still many remaining who fully support zoos, citing business and educational reasons. Some supporters even acknowledge the ethical problems zoos face, but choose
Thousands of zoos worldwide are visited by citizens yearly to admire and satisfy their curiosity of the beautiful wild animals that mother nature has to offer. Zoos have been around for hundreds of years and have become a known tradition for numerous school field trips and family outings. The ongoing debate between animal rights activists and zoo officials remains, should wild animals be taken from their natural habitats to live in city zoos for education and entertainment purposes?
As a kid, I had always looked forward to days at the zoo. I was, however, far more interested in the jungle-themed surroundings than the educational parts. I was told that zoos protected animals and took good care of them. Now I'm not too sure that's the truth. Animals like tigers, lions, and elephants are born to live and grow up in the wild. They aren't meant to live inside of a cage in a zoo. Not only that, but the animals' health isn't as good as you'd expect. Although lots time and money has been spent on zoos, animals are still suffering. Zoos are fun and exciting for kids and tourists, however, the animals aren't enjoying it as much as us.
Should animals be harmed to benefit mankind? This pressing question has been around for at least the past two centuries. During the early nineteenth century, animal experiments emerged as an important method of science and, in fact, marked the birth of experimental physiology and neuroscience as we currently know it. There were, however, guidelines that existed even back then which restricted the conditions of experimentation. These early rules protected the animals, in the sense that all procedures performed were done so with as little pain as possible and solely to investigate new truths. Adopting the animals? perspectives, they would probably not agree that these types of regulations were much protection, considering the unwanted pain that they felt first followed by what would ultimately be their death. But, this is exactly the ethical issue at hand. For the most part, animal rights are debated in regards to two issues: 1) whether animals have the ability to rationalize or go through a logical thought process and 2) whether or not animals are able to experience pain. However, ?it will not do simply to cite differences between humans and animals in order to provide a rational basis for excluding animals from the scope of our moral deliberations? (Rollin 7). This, Bernard Rollin claims, would be silly. He says that to do this is comparable to a person with a full head of hair excluding all bald men from his moral deliberations simply because they are bald. The true ethical question involved is, ?do these differences serve to justify a moral difference?? (Rollin 7). Also, which differences between humans and non-humans are significant enough to be considered in determining the non-human?s fate?
Among many other fun and exciting attraction to visit around our community, a visit to the zoo has always been a memorable experience. This cost effective priceless lifetime experience is being undermined by a group of activists all around the country. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), world largest animal rights organization, argue that zoos deprived animals from satisfying their most basic needs. They urge not to patronized zoos and claims that the money spent on ticket purchases pays for animals to be imprisoned and traded, not rescued and rehabilitated. They go on saying in summary that zoos strip animals from their rights. So this heated debate revolves around the animal rights and how the zoo industry inhibits it. Are zoo really bad for the animals? Should we get rid of the zoo and let the animals back to the wilderness? Mazur and Clark (2001) state that zoo is a monument to a long-standing tradition of people’s fascination with non-human nature. Since the early societies of the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese, wild animals have been maintained in captivity in order to satisfy human curiosity with exotica (p 185). Most western zoos today, however, embrace far more benevolent values such as supporting the conservation of biodiversity through specialized animal breeding, research, and education programs.
Millions of grandparents, parents, and children attend one of the 10,000 zoos located worldwide (Fravel). Zoos are purposeful through amusement or entertainment and education to children and adults. Overall, zoos are perceived as a happy, fun, and educational place, although, according to National Geographic, they are locations for holding wild animals captive for the purpose of studying and breeding them as well as to protect the endangered species (Society). Even though society might learn a few facts in a zoo, are they actually beneficial to the animals? An animal's life depends on the decisions humans make, it depends on our morals regarding captivity, liberty, and if they have a legitimate purpose.
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.
"Zoos Are Unnecessary and Should Be Discontinued. " The Rights of Animals, Edited by Debra A. Miller, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Accessed 1 Mar. 2017.
There are numerous amounts of zoos worldwide, and there are plenty of people who visit zoos. In America, there are around 751,931 animals in zoos. A significant amount of people don’t agree with animals in zoos, but 175 million people still visit them every year. Zoos should stay because people make emotional connections with animals at zoos and they can learn there.
Wildlife should stay wild for many reasons. Most zoos are explained as having poor conditions for their animals. They claim to teach children about animals but they just show them an animal in a cage. Some people say that zoos connect us to nature in a fun way. With this wildlife should stay wild.
Zoos provide an invaluable service and therefore should not be closed. Animals are able to reproduce easier. They are able to eat more. Kids of all ages enjoy seeing and learning about endangered species.
Did you know that four zoos in Australia are non-profit? All the money they get goes to protecting animals and feeding them. Did you know one fourth of the animals in the National Zoo are endangered? Zoos are sanctuaries for animals. All zoos find endangered animals and help them, Some zoos are non-profit so the animals can live better lives.
Many people go to their local zoo to get up close and interact with animals that can only be seen on television or in the wild. Zoos can provide a fun and educating environment to the public. However, animals in zoos are living in confined areas behind fences and glass enclosures. These animals are forced to entertain us whilst we flash our cameras in front of their faces, and let our children bang and knock on their glass enclosures. The majority of us are oblivious that we have been laughing at zoo animals (this whole time).
How many of you have gone to the zoo and thought about how sad the animals? Are but have you ever thought that maybe the zoo is a good place for the animals. I believe that the zoo is better place for animals than the wild. Zoos help sick and hurt animals, they keep animals safe from from poachers and hunters and lastly they help animal mate and breed successfully. Firstly zoos help sick and hurt animals.
To have or not to have zoos is a hotly-debated topic. As expected, opinions diverge. Living in a world facing climate changes, huge developments in science and technology, as well as a change of awareness, this is an important issue to be seriously discussed. On the one hand, we have to consider zoos has valuable centres of education, scientific research and, even, conservation and protection of endangered species.