Zoochosis: Keeping Animals At A Virginian Zoo

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More than forty animals required mental care at a Virginian zoo last year (Editorial, 2016). In terms of animals in captivity, this case isn’t abnormal. Although zoos accommodate the basic needs of animals, they differ from the natural environment of these wilds animals. Animals in the wild can roam wherever they please and have access to various natural resources. Animals in zoos, however, are confined to a place, no matter how big, and are only exposed to what zoos give them. This notable change in habitat and lifestyle invokes stress in captive animals and takes a toll on their health. As a result of zoos, captive animals develop behavioral problems and reproductive deficiencies. Overall, keeping animals in zoos harms their health them …show more content…

A common unnatural behavior found in captive animals is called zoochosis. Zoochosis is a disease unknown to the wild and a word used to describe a collection of abnormal actions. Symptoms include “pacing, vomiting, self-starvation, repetitive unnatural behaviors, and self-mutilation” (Editorial, 2015). Zoochosis, and other stereotypical behavior, is caused by the change in lifestyle and scenery. Wild animals are used to chasing down their food as well as an engaging, natural environment and extensive space. Thus when they are confined to an area and served a platter of everything they need to survive, they get stressed and uneasy. In a study about clouded leopards, elevated stress hormones correlated with fur plucking, expensive pacing, and hiding behavior (Wielevbnowski as cited in McPhee and Carlstead, 2010, 305). The pacing and repetitive behavior, although unusual, causes no harm but the self-mutilation indicates that captive animals are physically injuring …show more content…

Animals in zoos even suffer from shorter lives than animals in the wild. Although zoos are improving their conditions, animals are still affected by the transition from the wild to the zoo. Instead of investing in zoos, it would be better to turn to an alternative such as sanctuaries. Sanctuaries are non-profit organizations that focus on rehabilitating animals and, if certified by Global Federation of Animal sanctuaries, have adequate housing, physical facilities, meals, veterinary care, and animal reintroduction (GFAS Standards of Excellence). Certified sanctuaries are like zoos, they include the fun of watching animals without risking the health of the

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