The Pros And Cons Of Using Captive Animals In Zoos

For hundreds of decades animals have been the center of entertainment for humans. They are used in circuses, zoos, aquariums, and other animal-based exhibits. However, how many of us actually take the time to consider if this involuntary imprisonment is doing more harm than good? Not many take into account the permanent effects these animals suffer from being locked in cages or small spaces for 95% of their life. Using captive animals to entertain humans should be considered unlawful and cruel because of the physical and mental repercussions that are caused and because they are not educational.

There are over 600 million people who visit zoos yearly and two-thirds of those visitors argue that putting animals in zoos is beneficial in keeping the animals from becoming extinct; however, this is not true. “Zoos cannot provide the amount of space animals have in the wild”(25). This means that an animal will be confined to a smaller space than normal which is not helpful; it is harmful to the animals. This creates physical issues like laziness and obesity. These come from the lack of exercise and lack of space to exercise. “Obesity has become one of the biggest problems facing zoo elephants

It disrupts social groups and splits up families which is completely unnatural. Animals like dolphins, for example, sometimes even tend to lose their joyful nature after being snatched away from their families. In some instances, they have been known to stop eating and won’t mate. Professor Olivier Berton says, “It is possible that behavioral disorders in animals .. may impair their chances of survival.” This is important because an animal that has depression is of no value to a zoo and may be taken back to the wild. Where they will not survive their lack of knowledge about being in the natural life and lack of knowledge of the fight it actually takes to obtain food for