A zoo is a place where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to view. An example of a zoo animal would be an elephant. As of October 2017, there are 230 Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos in the world; however, there have been numerous reports of unaccredited zoos reported. There are many reasons why animals do not belong in zoos, but a big reason is they do not have the proper size space to live in. People against zoos has been an issue throughout society for many decades. An organization called Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) was founded in 1957 by retired school teacher, Irene Heaton. She was disgusted by the lack of care and proper treatment animals the keepers were failing to give. …show more content…
The living area may be for walking, playing around, or just hiding from others; yet, the enclosure size is significantly smaller than what their breeds in the wild have. Elephants are a victim in small living spaces. According to Lemonick, McDowell, Bjerklie, “In the wild, elephants roam as much as 30 miles a day, snacking on lush foliage, bathing in water holes and interacting socially with other elephants in groups of up to 20” (8). The AZA requires outdoor spaces to be 1,800 ft² and 400 ft² for an adult elephant. A typical adult elephant is approximately 8-13 feet tall and 7-9 feet wide. In order for a single elephant in the zoo to get the normal 30 miles a day (158,400 feet), it would have to walk back-and-forth about 3,734 times in its outdoor enclosure and 7,920 times in an indoor enclosure. Walking that many times can be hard due to the cramping as well as be very boring compared to the average 640,000 acres of free roaming in the wild. Elephants taken from the wild will have to do a lot of adapting to a new, smaller home. Since the change is so sudden, zoo animals can get a condition called zoochosis. Zoochosis behavior includes: bar biting, pacing, vomiting, and self-mutilation. “Stereotypic behaviour is not seen in animals in the wild and is understood to be abnormal and is therefore a negative factor in conservation captive breeding” (ZooCheck). Causes can be because of separation from natural habitat, direct control
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.
However, there is another side to the educational perspective. A critic of zoos, Yourofsky argues against the positive education experience others believe zoos provide, supporting his opinion with how the animals are in their unnatural habitats. Yourofsky writes, “one cannot learn about animals who are in an UNNATURAL habitat displaying UNNATURAL behaviors from the stress of confinement and lethargy of captivity” (Yourofsky). Hence, from this logic the educational experience is minimized because the animals are in an inaccurate environment, impacting behavior and differentiating from how they would truly behave if they were in their natural habitats.
Kagan R, Veasey J. Challenges of Zoo Animal Welfare. In: Kleiman DG, Thompson KV, Baer CK, editors. Wild Mammals in Captivity: Principles and Techniques for Zoo Management, 2nd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. p. 11-21.
Animals, particularly the larger ones, are unable to live comfortably in small enclosures. Zoos tend to forget that larger animals have the hardest times getting used to the spaces that they are forced to live in. According to James Nolan’s article, “All the Reasons Why Zoos Should Be Banned”, “…the average lion or tiger has 18,000 times less [space] in captivity than it does in the wild; polar bears a million times less [space]” (7). Although zoos try to recreate their natural habitats, they cannot possibly succeed. The animals, if not born at the zoo, lived in large areas and had all of the freedom that they
The first zoo in the United States was established in 1874 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia zoo first only had 813 animals but has grown today to have 1,300 animals, still having the same forty-two acres as it did when it first opened. Today there are zoos in almost every major city across the country and even more around the world. But along with zoos, there are marine parks and aquariums. The most famous marine park is SeaWorld, which has three different locations in the nation: Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio. Zoos and aquariums were first brought about to learn about the species that we live with on this planet. To be educated about the wild creatures who are so different from ourselves. Zoos and the caging of wild animals have been around for centuries, there is evidence from Egypt of rulers having wild animals as pets, locking them in cages, just like how today people have hamsters but instead, you would have a wild animal. Today, zoos are used for education to teach people about wild animals so that we can learn ways to conserve the planet and the animals’ habitats, in order to prevent more animals from becomin...
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.
The African Elephant has some great physical features to it. Such as the color, gray, unique for the elephant. And how much it ways. A female elephant can get up to 1,800 pounds, and a male elephant up to 2,160 pounds. The African Elephant can get up to 13.2 feet tall,10 feet wide, and eat about 200-600 pounds of food a day. This animal also has a way of adaptation to its environment, such as fighting to keep itself or its cubs safe, digging to find underground water, and a tusk to get the food to its mouth (“African Elephant.” Wikipedia).
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 ...
Elephants have had a drastic negative change in behavior. Due to the decades of poaching, culling and habitat loss elephants are experiencing a species wide trauma of chronic stress. It is part of elephant nature to be raised and live in the wild with close familial ties. Humans are disrupting this on many levels by removing elephants from their natural environment for ecotourism purposes. Elephants are being forcibly taken away from their family merely for human entertainment.
2700-acre home to 11 elephants, Space is natural habitat – forests, fields, lakes, streams, hills, valleys – that is home to not only elephants but to a variety of other wildlife. he innovative space includes a large barn, an elephant exercise trek through a forested area, three unique outdoor habitats, four water features and a large indoor Elephant Community Center. The indoor communal space allows the elephants to interact and engage with stimulating features such as a
Measuring from the shoulder, African elephants are on average 10.8 feet (females 8.9 feet), and the average length of their trunk is approximately 7-8 feet. They have the same size eyes as humans, but have no functional tear glands so they have a third eyelid to provide moisture. Their ears are large and fan-shaped, and act as radiators that prevent overheating. They have the largest brains in the animal kingdom weighing approximately 10-11 pounds. Many people don’t know this but they are very easily able to adapt to their surroundings and they are able to remember what they learn. They live about as long as humans and their ...
A new disease has recently been discovered that is now hindering elephants’ ability to survive even further. This is a major problem because according to Science Magazine, as of 1997, there are only an estimated 291 Asian elephants and 193 African elephants left in North American zoos. Since this survey was conducted, this number has declined significantly. It is now estimated that for every elephant that is born in a zoo, another three die. In the wild, female elephants are constantly pregnant or nursing.
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.
What really happens to the animals after lights turn out, and the visitors leave? Maybe zoos are not that horrible, and it is in only some cases. The controversy surrounding the lives of zoo animals, is that not many care to learn about the reality these animals face after they leave the zoo and go home. Some say that they are just animals and do not need to be accommodated for their basic needs. According to National Geographic an elephant born in captivity has its lifespan cut down by 39 years compared to those living in their native habitat.
Today, witnessing a herd of elephants is becoming increasingly uncommon, as more and more elephants die prematurely every year. Jessica Hatcher, writer for The Guardian News, reported that “There are between 410,...