There have been arguments on whether there should be zoo or not. I think that we should have zoos because it’s educational for all ages, also people can see all the different types of animals up close in person that they might not get to ever see in real life. Zoos are even helpful for some of the animals. The endangered animals like the golden frog is endangered in 2007 there was an fungal outbreak that spreaded throughout their habitat which made them extinct in the wild. But, the Zoos in the United States have been breeding them for years hoping that by maintaining genetic diversity in the species, they might eventually be able to reintroduce golden frogs to their native cloud forests in western Panama. But a combination of factors, including …show more content…
Many zoos have specialized breeding programs, which are managed by the AZA. For threatened or endangered species such as chimpanzees, the AZA maintains species survival plans. The plans involve both breeding and transferring animals within the network of AZA-accredited zoos. Each plan “identifies population management goals and recommendations to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically varied population,” according to the AZA. Currently, there are over 500 species survival plans in place. Animals born in captivity are hardly ever re-released to their natural Habitat. A species survival plan was used to bring the species back from the brink of extinction and its breeding program started with only 14 individuals. Reintroducing captive animals into the wild involves a number of challenges aside from simply having a large enough population and getting it back to its native habitat. It involves working with government agencies and in some cases international bodies like the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which is the international body that classifies species as threatened, endangered or critically endangered. The AZA oversees only zoos and aquariums in the United States. The reintroduction of a species with a breeding program in the U.S. to a habitat located in another country would have additional challenges as well. It has been done, but the cases are exceedingly
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.
Author Robin Ganzert states that in today's society Zoos are using “robust and sophisticated breeding programs” to conserve animal life. While the programs may conserve some animal life, the author over exaggerates the quality of the breeding programs. Most facilities don’t have the resources or the space to support a larger breeding program. Captive breeding programs also have a high cost to support and properly care for each animal so they consist of few animals that cannot sustain a proper breeding population. These programs can often fail to imitate wildlife causing major changes in animal behavior such as: a decrease in foraging abilities, decrease in physical activity, and some problems in social behaviors.
“For many wildlife biologists and conservationists, breeding and conservation-oriented research on captive wildlife are seen as essential activities that should not be halted on the basis of animal welfare and animal rights objections. The ethical imperative to save threatened species from further decline and extinction in the wild has for them a priority over concerns regarding individual animal welfare.” By breeding animals that are in captivity, these animals give birth to their offspring that are then raised in captivity, even if the breeding works these animals will never be able to return to the wild because they will not be able to fend for themselves. Lack of diversity within DNA in captivity is also a large issue. By breeding animals in captivity that have very similar DNA, you create inbred animals which, in most species, have an “infant mortality rate among inbred animals of 100%.” Another issue with breeding is that the DNA will change from what the animals have that are born in the wild, these animals have different traits that are not at all similar to the same animal that is bred in captivity. The largest issue is that many zoos advocate that they are in business to save the animals and are doing so by breeding, but they are only breeding animals that do not need help. We should be supporting “large scale breeding centers rather than conventional zoos, most of which have neither the staff nor the facilities to run successful breeding
The AZA, Associations of Zoos and Aquariums, have set up a worldwide system to attempt to save these very threatened animals. The program is called the Species Survival Plan. As part of the species survival plan, zoos and aquariums in conjunction with AZA follow a system of rules and plans to help promote the care of these endangered animals in facilities. Each animal, out of the over 500 species AZA protects, has their own management system as set up by the various . The plans are devoted to maintaining genetically diverse populations ...
According to ancient Egyptian records from around 1250 B.C., animals like birds, lions, and giraffes have been kept in captivity. According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), a nonprofit organization that is committed to help zoos and aquariums in conservation, there are over 10,000 zoos, aquariums, and reserves worldwide. The Department of Agriculture has about 2,400 licensed zoos and aquariums in the United States alone. Of these 2,400 zoos and aquariums, only 212 are associated with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) requires that these zoos and aquariums have high quality animal care (Fravel). There is a very controversial debate on whether zoos, aquariums, and reserves
Captive breeding programs are what make zoos ethical, but several problems need to be confronted. Zoos operate captive breeding programs in which they take animals from the wildlife and breed then in a scientifically controlled environment. They have saved several species from extinction such as the Red Wolf and the Przewalski Horse, and are aiding many others such as the blue-crowned laughing thrush. Before the breeding program saved the Red Wolves from extinction, there were only 14 pure breed Red Wolves remaining. When a species gets endangered it goes on the Species Survival Plan program. There are two issues that I came across during my research. Firstly, some zoos are taking advantage of several species to generate revenue. Cohn said that “to get more white tigers, zoo managers in India and the United States in the 1950s mated fathers with daughters, granddaughters, and even, on occasion, great granddaughters. (Cohn 654)” The question is whether this is ethical? After reading this I felt...
"How Zoos Are Saving Our Animals." – Features – ABC Environment (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
They produce a safe place for dwindling species to thrive and reproduce. Dozens of zoos all over the country take part in a special program to help animals. The program is called species survival plans. This program has to do with the reproduction of many endangered species. The program helps keep a very healthy and self sustaining species. This program is very important in the fact that some animals become sick and have a very hard time reproducing. When you genetically breed the animals yourself it makes it like a new branch in the species. Then the animals are genetically unique and they are stable only to their own demographic area. The Species Survival Plan’s ultimate goal is to try to reintroduce some of the worlds endangered species back into the wild. When the Species Survival Plan is done the animals they reintroduce will all be in their native areas.
Zoos today say that one of their main goals is to conserve endangered species and eventually reintroduce them back into the wild. However, Benjamin Beck, former associate director of biological programs at the National Zoo in Washington, found that over the past century only 16 of 145 reintroduction programs worldwide ever actually restored any of the animals back to the wild (qtd. in Fravel). He also found that a majority was carried out by the government and not the actual programs themselves. Beck noted that the billions of dollars the zoos were receiving were going towards hi-tech exhibits and marketing strategies to get people to go to the zoos. So which zoos are actually attempting to save the lives they claim to be? According to David Hancocks, a former zoo director with 30 years’ experience, many zoos that are not affiliated with the AZA do not spend hardly any of their fu...
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.
First of all, more than half the animals in these programs are not endangered. Usually any animals that do not fit in the breeding program, are more then often killed. That is why the 4 lions that were mentioned before were killed. Even if they have bred before in the zoo, if they do not fit into the program they are killed.
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 ...
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.
Such that the zoo based research is minor in the greater efforts . However, this testimony is slowly being weakened due to the growth of zoo-based research for conservation purposes. Despite this most of the research is focused on animal husbandry rather than the imperative to advance conservation. The reason why there has been an increased in zoo-based research is the availability to carry out high-impact research on animals in in-situ may be too costly. Therefore, the justifiability for captivity is that they now withhold a more holistic requirement to promote species viability and ecosystem health.
Imagine you’re in the zoo, and you see so many exotic animals that your head is overwhelmed with the amazement of each one. You decide to witness one more animal before you head out home. You check out the black-footed ferret. When you look at the sign, it says “endangered”. Suddenly, you have this strong urge to protect this species.