Should Animals Be Kept in Captivity?

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There are billions of animals in captivity around the world. These animals are in zoos, breeding centers, and research laboratories. All those animals lead to out lash because of the stress of being in a small confinement habitat. Is it ethical to keep animals in captivity for research, breeding, or for our enjoyment? Over the years keeping animals in captive has not changed in safety and the well-being of the animal.
The reasons that animals are held in captivity could favor some people and others not. Animals in captivity are usually held for entertainment, education, research, and conservation purposes. The other major reason they are held in captive is the process of rehabilitation. The article, Ethical Issues, defines rehabilitation as the treatment of wild animals found injured or ill, taken into captivity until restored to full health and then returned to the wild. Then when the animal is released they are then able to live freely in their own habitat. Although this may lead to suffering and stress or even death for the animal. The animal is so dependent on their caretaker that once they are put into the wild they do poorly (1).
In The Art of the Cage, a saying is mentioned “to find enrichment is to sometimes have no enrichment at all.” This translates to how an animal in captivity may not be fed for a period of several days. By having animals in cages and separating them from a mate, parent, or offspring it gets them ready for the wild. In the wild the animal needs to endure hardships that it may face. While the animal has these hardships it gives them endurance, self-sufficiency, and survival instincts. In the past people collected animals has a way to express themselves with the gods to be closer. Zoo show the symbol o...

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... danger too. A good reason for captivity is rehabilitation for an animal that is hurt or wounded and could be treated. Then having a second chance back out into the wild. Also by keeping endangered species from going completely instinct by figuring out genetics of an animal. So having zoos and farms do help animals but does put them at risk.

Works Cited

1. Waples KA, Stagoll CS. Ethical issues in the release of animals from captivity. Roundtable. 1997; 115-120.
2. Young P. The art of the cage. The Antioch Review. 2003; 629-639.
Williams SE, Hoffman EA. Minimizing genetic adaptation in captive breeding programs. Biological Conservation. 2009; 2388-2400.
3. Kirby D. Captive Time bombs. Earth Island Journal. 2012; 55
4. Mason GJ. Species differences in response to captivity: stress, welfare and the comparative method. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 2010; 713-720.

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