Government Involvement In Zoos Essay

1513 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Controversies of zoos

Zoos and aquariums date back hundreds of years. They have been a fixture of big cities and states for many years, a staple of grade school field trips, and a place to take your family to see all the exotic animals. There is, however, a dark side to zoos and aquariums that many people do not realize exists. They lack regulation from the government, they can cause unnatural diseases in species, and put the welfare of animals in jeopardy, they cause moral and ethical dilemmas, on top of many other things. While all of that is detrimental, there are ways to change the status quo, and move towards a healthier future for these animals. With this paper, I hope to explain the aspects of government involvement in zoos, show the unnatural, harmful side …show more content…

She says that zoos, aquariums, and other places with contained animals, have little to no governmental regulations and these facilities are left to self-police the standards by which they keep their animals. She states that “the government increasingly expects public display facilities to self-monitor” (Conley 237), because they lack the enforcement officials, and these facilities fall very low on the priority …show more content…

If there is no help from the government, that means the infractions can run rampant within these facilities. This is dangerous for the enclosures and the animals within them, if there are no rules, then there is no guarantee that the animals are being taken care of. The only regulations there are for zoos, are established in the Animal Welfare Act. This act was passed in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson and regulates the treatment of animals in research, transport, exhibition, and by dealers. This act establishes the bare minimum for the standard of care, and is enforced by the USDA. (“Animal Welfare

Show More
Related

  • Stripes Will Survive Essay On Zoos

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever seen an animal sitting in a cage all alone with nothing to do. Well, zoos are trying to change that fact. They will allow the animals to live in an environment that is like their home. Many people don't realize this, but zoo are keeping and breeding these animals because they would not survive in the wild alone. In the three passages, ¨The Stripes Will Survive,¨ ¨The Zood Go Wild from No More Dodos,¨ ¨Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment.¨ All of these articles present one claim, that is that the role of zoos is no longer to keep animal, but to protect them.

    Read More

  • Zoos: Whom Are We Really Helping?

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    Peoples Trust article “Zoos & Conservation” touched surface solely on zoos located in Britain. What about the rest of the world? Luckily there is a group called the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) that inspects zoos and aquariums making sure that they are fit for conservation. For instance, the Giza Zoo In Cairo was shut down for killing two gorillas that may have been infected with disease and for extra pay putting visitors in danger so they could pet any animal they requested. Now if one of these animals were to attack a visitor then they would put down the animal in which is just doing what its instincts tell them.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Zoos Are Not Prisons: They Improve The Lives Of Animals

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    Considering the many challenges animals face in the wild, it is understandable that people may be eager to support zoos and may feel that they are protective facilities necessary for animal life. In the article “ Zoos Are Not Prisons. They Improve the Lives of Animals”, Author Robin Ganzert argues that Zoos are ethical institutions that enrich the lives of animals and ultimately protect them. Statistics have shown that animals held in captivity have limited utilitarian function resulting in cramped quarters, poor diets, depression, and early death for the animals thus, proving that Zoos are not ethical institutions that support and better the lives of animals as author Robin Ganzert stated (Cokal 491). Ganzert exposes the false premise in stating

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: Why Are Zoos Are Good?

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    The difference between right and wrong is not always perfectly clear. A long-standing part of cultures across the world, zoological and animal parks have been around for hundreds of years. While in the past concerns and issues regarding the ethical problems zoos seem to impose were less prominent, in recent times the rise of animal rights activist groups and new generational values have influenced the way people view these parks. Critics believe that zoos are an unnatural habitat for animals and force them to live in captivity, having a negative impact on their health. Yet, there are still many remaining who fully support zoos, citing business and educational reasons. Some supporters even acknowledge the ethical problems zoos face, but choose

    Read More

  • Why Do Animals Live In Zoos

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    The debate on storing animals in zoos became controversial, and I came to the final decision that animals do not deserve to live in zoos. Animals are meant to live in their natural habitat, just as humans thrive in their naturally industrialized environment. Living in captivity can also cause the animal’s lifespan to decrease, and it may be due to the failure to satisfy their emotional needs. Human interaction to wildlife and its animals is every expanding, and this probably makes manmade disasters the main cause of the transaction of wild animals from the wild to zoos. On the other hand, zoos have the potential to raise awareness and the support from public donations to fund animal conservation projects, but people do not need to physically see an animal provide their support. Since there are many solutions to this debate, there is no direct answer. From a wild animal’s point of view, humans may be seen as immoral beings with countless evil intentions. What they do not realize is that we have the potential to do good and make big, positive

    Read More

  • Ethics of Zoos

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many places where people can go to see live animals such as aquariums, zoos, and safari parks. A pleasant way to define a Zoo is to call it “an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals”. (Google def) Another way to say that is a facility in which animals are “enclosed in cages for public exhibition”. I believe zoos are ethical; however, changes need to be made to eliminate problems I have discovered. In this argumentative essay, I will be arguing the ethics of zoos and certain problems that need to be addressed that people are not aware of. Zoos are great places to take the family out for the day to have entertainment; however, problems such as captive breeding, length of life, and animal stress need to improve.

    Read More

  • Role Of Zoos

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    What about zoos in other regions of the world? This question is a good one; as it applies to regional views. Zoos all over the world have different rules; for visitors and their animals, depending on who and where they are located. China has a main focus on saving their giant pandas from extinction; note they are vulnerable, but can end up endangered once more. Some zoos run on donations; Cheyenne Mountain zoo and Dartmoor zoo, while others are federally paid; Denver zoo. Each zoo has a mascot to be the main view; Cheyenne mountain has a giraffe, Denver has a lion, Australia zoo has a crocodile, but under that mascot are other animals branched out. This means that no zoo is a like; they may have the same animals, but their rules and lifestyle are entirely different.

    Read More

  • Are Zoos Good or Bad for Animals?

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    Zoos today say that one of their main goals is to conserve endangered species and eventually reintroduce them back into the wild. However, Benjamin Beck, former associate director of biological programs at the National Zoo in Washington, found that over the past century only 16 of 145 reintroduction programs worldwide ever actually restored any of the animals back to the wild (qtd. in Fravel). He also found that a majority was carried out by the government and not the actual programs themselves. Beck noted that the billions of dollars the zoos were receiving were going towards hi-tech exhibits and marketing strategies to get people to go to the zoos. So which zoos are actually attempting to save the lives they claim to be? According to David Hancocks, a former zoo director with 30 years’ experience, many zoos that are not affiliated with the AZA do not spend hardly any of their fu...

    Read More

  • Zoo's Efforts to Help Conservation

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since approximately 1250 B.C., ancient Egyptians had created and practiced the capture and display of animals in what are now known as zoos (Fravel). Records describe such exotic animals as birds, lions, giraffes, and tigers in captivity (Fravel). Since then, zoos have continued to entertain millions with the exciting chance to view exotic animals up close and personal. Even in ancient Greece, exotic animals were on display in fighting arenas, and in enclosed viewing areas. Originally in America, zoos were just created so that royalty and the wealthy could flaunt their exotic animals to the public (Leolupus). Today, with species threatened and habitats disappearing worldwide, zoos are serving a new purpose other than the mere exhibition of animals – conservation. (Fravel). When you think of a zoo, you either think of a fun, entertaining place that provides close-up and exciting exhibits of wild animals that you would otherwise never get the chance to see, or a place where people keep suffering, unhappy animals captive just for entertainment and display. However, despite whichever view you hold, and despite the stereotypes, some zoos have evolved to serve alternative and helpful purposes. Although some zoos face controversy due to allegations such as lack of space and quality care, neglect, and cruelty, some zoos have programs specifically designed to help and protect animal species. For example, these zoos have programs that help such conservation efforts as breeding.

    Read More

  • Denver Zoo Research Paper

    1435 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every year, the zoo offers a number of classes to volunteers and students that are based solely on the handling of their animals, how people can help in the world, and can put people face-to-face with the animals to form a bond. The zoo has 126 animals that are used to aide in educational demonstrations, and this is in addition to the animals they show in the exhibits. Annually the zoo educates approximately 215,000 people with nearly 80.5 thousand hours of volunteer service provided. Their education system is important to the health of all their animals because it displays the time and effort dedicated to the care of the animals they have there. They also conduct daily exercises and training with the animals to make sure they are receiving enough exercise. A large chunk of all funding that the zoo receives go directly to the buying of food for the animals. They all eat different types of food sources to maintain healthy diets that relate to what they would consume in their original habitat. The zoo pushes the community, and it’s researchers/vets/trainers to all become invested and well-educated in the study of animal

    Read More

  • Zoos Should Not Exist!

    984 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some people may argue that zoos protect animals and species under this polluted world, however, do animals in zoos really need our “help”? Yes, but surely not that many. According to Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS), 79% of animals in United Kingdom zoos and over 70% of elephants in European zoos are wild-caught. It seems that zoos need them rather than they need zoos.

    Read More

  • Zoos And Animal Rights: The Ethics Of Keeping Animals

    2836 Words  | 6 Pages

    Animals are used for people 's entertainment or own benefits, but the question is what benefits do they get? Do they even get any? This paper tells about the things animals go through to help or just entertain us in life. For example the tiny cramped places animals are forced into. If the animals don 't perform well in zoos or circuses a lot of times they simple won 't feed them. The owners beating them for nothing. Lastly experiments on them and they can not even defend themselves. Animals should not be used for human benefit. Using animals for any kind of entertainment or experiment can be considered against the law especially if they are put in poor conditions and harmed. Animals have rights that should be taken seriously. Animals also have

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay About Zoos

    1309 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every year, accredited sanctuaries have to turn away hundreds of exotic and wild animals made homeless by circuses, roadside zoos, and the “pet” trade. While a few zoos, such as the Detroit Zoo and California’s Oakland Zoo, have made the compassionate decision to provide animals who are truly in need with refuge, most zoos reject these animals. The zoo industry must transform itself from a prison to a refuge, where the rights and welfare of individual animals are given the highest priority. Let your local zoo know that the public will support such change by urging it to stop all breeding in order to offer greater space to fewer animals and to make room for wild animals who are confiscated from backyard cages, basements, circuses, and roadside

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Zoos

    390 Words  | 1 Pages

    Zoos have been around for centuries. In the past zoos were a simple collection of animals in cages. Many animals in the early 200’s were diseased and treated poorly. Zoos today are very different modern zoos were diseased and treated poorly. Modern zoos pride themselves as centers for scientific studies and research.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Zoos

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    “While conceding that zoos have become more proactive and benevolent in their efforts, critics still feel that “good zoos” are in the minority” (Fravel, 2003). The concern of pseudo-sanctuaries incites an urge to inquire into the issue and seek for solutions to remedy the issue. In Denmark, aside from the Copenhagen zoo mentioned previously, a certain conservation organization will experience fresh changes, in which humans will be enclosed, rather than the animals.

    Read More

More about Government Involvement In Zoos Essay

Open Document