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Why shouldn't animals be kept in captivity
Why should not animals be kept in captivity
Reasons why animals shouldn't be in captivity
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A lot of people think that animals should not be used for entertainment. Animals should not be kept in captivity because they develop zoochosis, they live shorter lives and animals hurt or kill people when they are kept captive.The author agrees with that because animals that are kept in captivity and used to entertain people. Animals are stuck in a small enclosed area that is not normal for them, animals need to have space to run or do things that they would normally do in their natural habitat. Animals should not be taken away from their natural habitat or from their families.
Animals in captivity tend to develop zoochosis. Zoochosis is an obsessive, repetitive behaviour, and described zoo animals behaving abnormally. Animals that are kept in captivity develop zoochosis because they don't have any companion , and they can't do the things they would out in their natural habitat. Also animals develop zoochosis because they get stressed of being in such small cages and that they are removed from being in large groups of animals and their families. “ The disruption of family or pack units for the sake of breeding is another stressor in zoos, especially in species that form close-knit groups, such as gorillas and elephants.” If the captive environment does not cater for the species-specific needs of the animal, there
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Also that animals are not being hurt and they only go for animals that can possibly go extinct because they are trying to take care of it. “Breeding programs are focused on breeding animals that face extinction, meaning captivity is the only chance some animals have at survival.” Animals that are kept in captivity are well taken care of, “... the irritation and pain of parasites, injuries and illnesses will be treated, they won’t suffer or die of drought or starvation and indeed will get a varied and high-quality diet with all the supplements
Some captive species even have problematic changes in reproduction such as not be able to reproduce anymore (Lynn 1817). These changes in behavior and high cost are a major factor in whether these programs are sophisticated and whether the animals can be reintroduced into the wild and if it would benefit their
I will now move onto arguments supporting the use of animal captivity. I am starting with Kant, who provides a strong argument for animal captivity. Kantian Ethics holds the view that we do not have any direct ethical duties to non-human animals. We only owe ethical duties to rational beings, and non-human animals are not included in this group. The value humanity comes from our capacity to be governed by autonomous, rational choices. Since non-human cannot be part of this, Kant believes we can do as we please with them. This can be demonstrated in Kant’s ‘Political Writings’ when he argues,
Similar to the human illness Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), zoochosis is related to animals that have been captured from their native habitat and placed into a restricted exhibit in zoos and aquariums (“Animal Facts”). Significantly, zoochosis can reduce the overall management of stress and could decrease the overall life expectancy of an animal. The assistance of animal caretakers does not benefit the animal in certain situations as well. Illnesses that are not prevailing in the animal’s initial environment are developed inside the captive walls. Unfortunately, the animals are incapable of developing any form of resistance to these viruses (“Zoos”). Likewise, the treatments animals are faced with hurt them both emotionally and physically. Nevertheless, animal nutritionists have been improving the diets of animals, including the extension of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. “Besides ample quantities of fresh food, substantial effort is made in preparing a diet that is adequate and healthy for the animals.” (Haque 334). Considering the transition from an abundant amount of diverse foods, animals need a replacement in their diet, which increases their health.. Regardless of this positive enhancement in the zoo, animals still suffer due to the overcrowded and limited environment, and lack of treatment or care for the
Zoo captivity is substandard and inadequate for animals. Zoo animals are deprived of their right as animals they are treated unjustly and unfairly. Animals should not be forced to kept in a cage away from their natural environment and be used as a form of entertainment to humans. The animals also suffer from stress and are driven insane by being trapped behind bars. The zoo is supposed to provide safety to these endangered animals but instead, these zoo animals are put at risk towards a variety of dangers such as vulnerability to diseases and starvation.
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.
Animals should not be trapped in a cage because it brings behavior issues, short life, and depression.
On the other hand, animals kept in captivity not only have research done about them but it can also have a positive effect on their population. Being kept in captivity helps conserve the populations of endangered species. In a captive environment they are kept safe and away from harm. They can breed in captivity and keep the population growing. SeaWorld has bred many Orca Whales in captivity and hasn’t taken any out of the ocean in 35 years (Raja).
Mason, Georgia J. "Species Differences in Responses to Captivity: Stress, Welfare and the Comparative Method." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 25.12 (2010): 713-21. Print.
It’s always fun to go with your friends and family to see cute and exotic animals when you go to the zoo, right? You may think that they have the best life having people to give them things that they want and to protect them, but some of them are actually suffering just for our amusement from being in that small enclosure all day and all night. Animals should not be put in zoos because they can develop many mental and physical health problems due to the absence of some natural necessities and they are not always treated as nice as you think. “Zoochosis” is a term used for the specific behaviors that animals in captivity get due to unstimulating or even small enclosures. These behaviors are usually repetitive and purposeless, like pacing and overgrooming.
Not to mention, the capacity to feel suffering should be the basis for moral consideration to provide these animals a stable environment that allows
Animals should not be kept in captivity for any reason unless they have been harmed and need to receive treatment, but they should be released as soon as they are healthy and capable of taking care of themselves again. The use of a captive animal for research, education, or entertainment is just wrong; no creature deserves to have their life taken away for our benefit. Would you want to be captured and put in a tiny box, or a fake little ecosystem, or abused and tortured because apparently that’s the only possible way to train an animal? How about just knowing that your real life is over and now all you get to do is put on a show for people? That is what we put these animals through for our entertainment, we tear children away from their parents.
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).
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.
The zoo is an unnatural environment that exposes animals to numerous dangers. Diseases often spread between species that would never live together naturally. For example, many Asian elephants have died in US zoos after catching herpes from African elephants. Furthermore, zoo animals are often exposed to chemicals, solvents and other toxic substances. Finally, it is common for visitors to tease and provoke caged animals.