Seaworld Argumentative Essay

711 million people a year sponsor the act of kidnapping, torture, and starvation around the world. If you’ve ever been to a zoo, aquarium or a Seaworld park, you’re one of those 711 million people. Lately, controversy has struck the world over the treatment of animals in those types of facilities. There are many good rehabilitation centers in zoos worldwide that help injured, endangered or ill animals, which is why a lot of people do support them. However, there is a darker side to these parks and facilities. These animals cruel pasts and hidden lives will never be heard unless we help. Help them escape their tortured lives, and see their families they were ripped from when they were only babies. Be the voice of the voiceless and shut down

these madhouses.
One reason animal entertainment shows and zoos should be shut down is because the animals are becoming sick and miserable in their cages. According to Michael D. Lemonick in Time Magazine, [Maggie and her friends, elephants from the Alaska Zoo, would normally walk over 30 miles a day in their natural habitat. In their habitat at the zoo, they are only given around a few acres of land to roam around everyday]. Lack of exercise can cause animals to become obese, unhealthy and stressed. Studies also show that one of the main reasons for death in captive elephants is obesity due to lack of exercise. Daniella Chusyd, M.A. of the University of Birmingham says “Obesity affects 40 percent of African elephants in captivity. Much as we see in humans, excess fat in elephants contributes t o the development of heart disease, arthritis, a shorter lifespan and infertility." These animals are getting very sick in zoos and their life spans are diminishing every generation.

4,200 miles away animals don’t have to worry about obesity in the National Zoo in Washington D.C. The zebras housed in the National Zoo died after temperatures dropped below freezing and the 2 young zebras couldn’t survive. “Keepers failed to feed them enough fat and protein and keep them sufficiently warm during Washington's frigid nights” (Washington Post). These two zebras were on the endangered species list. In the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo eleven endangered siberian tigers were starved to death after a long harsh winter. There is an estimated 400-500 of these animals left in the wild. These zoos that are supposedly saving endangered animals are only killing them off because of their irresponsibly and immaturity. Zoos around the world are starving and causing sickness on their animals.

On the contrary, some animal activists like animal shows and zoos due to their rehabilitation centers for endangered and injured species, such as Seaworld.

Now, Seaworld talks about the animals they rescued because of probable causes, such as illness or injury, any chance they can get, like on their website “With a legacy of animal rescue spanning more than 50 years and benefiting more than 25,000 animals, responding to wildlife in crisis is a commitment we take to heart”. Seaworld will always bring up the animals they save and the animals they give “better” lifestyles to, but what about the animals that they ripped from their family and habitat in order to make a few bucks from the american people, who, for some reason, have a weird obsession over seeing wild animals in tiny cages performing inhumane acts of torture? Well what about those animals? Those animals are forced to live in tanks no bigger than 150 ft x 80 ft and 36 ft deep. An example of one of these animals would be Tilikum. A 34 year old male Orca, who weighs 12,500 lbs and is 22 feet in length was stripped from his family in 1983 from the waters in Iceland waters with no injuries or illness. Seaworld had taken a 2 year old baby orca from his family and have kept him captive for 32 years of his life. But he isn’t the only one. According to The Whale and Dolphin Conservation organization’s website “At least 148 orcas have been taken into captivity from the wild since 1961”. 148 families have been broken, and 148 orcas have died, physically or mentally, while living in tanks equivalent to a bathtub to us . While the debate over zoos, aquariums and animal entertainment are still being talked about, These facilities should be exposed and shut

down.

In conclusion, the zoos, aquariums, and animal entertainment shows, such as Seaworld and circuses, should be shut down immediately. Endangered species, in these facilities, are being starved to death, deprived of their health and precious years of their lives and are being taken from their natural habitats and families in order to make money for the cruel people who kidnap them. Many of these facilities do save animals from injury, illness and endangerment, but the ones who mistreat their animals need to be exposed and shut down as soon as possible.