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The Importances Of Zoos
The role of zoos in conservation
What are the advantages of animals living in zoos
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Zoos: Whom are we really helping?
Peoples Trust has provided me with an extreme amount of information on why zoos are beneficial through their “Zoos & Conservation article.” Peoples Trust has pointed out that not every zoo mistreats their animals, but never took into consideration how the animals themselves may undergo, and what is being taken away from them.
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.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) breeds Globally Endangered animals and then introduces them back into the wild. ZSL states that the main reasons of extinct species are: Poaching, Pollution, Climate change, and Over Population of the human race due to the need of homes, shops, hospitals and other amenities. The rain forest once encompassed four billion acres of Earth has now depleted to 2.5 billion acres of Earth within a few hundred years. Wetlands have also been destroyed and the provide drinking water for wildlife and humans. Maybe the solution to this problem is not locking away the animals that are endangered, but cracking down on the destruction of habitats. Maybe there should be places where property is restricted ...
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... the animal itself should be put before profit at all times.
Work Cited
Jackie Leavitt. "The Worlds Worse Zoos." Global Post 23 July 2010: 4 Sept 2011
< http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/global/100629/worst-world-zoos>
Think Globally,Act Locally. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. 4th Sept 2011
Zoos. Mercy for Animals, A voice for the rights of all animals. 4th Sept 2011
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/zoos.asp
Zoos & Conservation. Peoples Trust For the Environment. 4th Sept 2011
http://www.ypte.org.uk/environmental/zoos/113
Zoochosis. Circus Watch WA. 4th Sept 2011
http://circuswatchwa.org/zoochosis.htm
Sad Eyes and Empty Lives. Captive Animals. 4th Sept 2011
< http://www.captiveanimals.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Sad-Eyes-Empty-Lives.pdf>
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.
Animal rights have become a very serious issue here in the United States over the last few decades. One issue that has been discussed is whether or not zoos serve a good purpose or are they just a torture chamber for the animals. Locked up in small cages so people can yell at them and stare. Or are zoos the key to save our species in an ever growing human population. Rachel Lu, a philosophy teacher and senior columnist, writes the article, “Let’s Keep Zoos: Learning stewardship is a good thing.”, published April 18, 2014, argues that zoos are worth keeping. Rachel Lu uses her personal experiences to appeal to her audience that zoos are valuable to people especially young children because it gives them a perspective on nature.
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
Furthermore, while zoos should conserve and encourage educational experiences within their parks, Allen points out it’s also important to take a compassionate approach in caring for each individual animal. As zoos focus more on education and conservation, they sometimes forget that animals are not alive in terms of population and individual welfare is important. Thus, it appears that Allen is taking a middle ground approach to the ongoing debate about zoos, because she is open to zoos, when they are compassionate, yet fully recognizes the downside of animal cruelty.
In fact, zoos take all necessary precautions to make sure that the animals and the attendees are all safe in the captivity of the zoo. As a matter of fact, trainers always have experience in the field that they will be working in so that no one, including themselves, gets hurt. The enclosures are very well protected and sealed to make sure that no animals escape and no humans get inside to be hurt by the animals or to hurt the animal. Of course, there are also security cameras to make sure that all humans are safe where they are and no one in the near future will be hurt. In addition,
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.
All the above sound like magical notes for the reader, but what about if the animal reality were different or not so easy? What about if living in the wild could be the end of their species, if the own nature turns against them, or many times the humans turn their wildlife into an inferno. Should zoos be shut down when they are completely safe after the extinction? Should zoos be shut down when they rescue and care for animals, when they provide a safe home for many before reinserting them in the wild? No, of course not, zoos play an important role in the restoration and the conservation of planet Earth.
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.
Lemonick, Michael D. “Who Belongs in the Zoo?” Time. Time, 11 June 2006. Web. 12 Dec.
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.
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.
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
In “The White Heron” the heron was protected from the hunter by a girl. The girl could represent a zoo while the young hunter could represent people who exploit animals for personal reasons, such as money. Zoos promote the awareness of animals that are going extinct. This would allow for people to help fund the repopulation of those animals. If more people are aware of new animals on the endangered species list, there is more of a chance that researchers will get more funds. Zoos also make habitats for animals on the verge of extinction where otherwise there would be none. There is some controversy between zoos and endangered species. Because of the limited gene pool of a species, the variation is limited greatly. This will –as an end result- lead to inbreeding which will create mutations and defects in the offspring.
Zoos are an unsuitable environment for wild animals and should, therefore, be abolished. Firstly, zoo animals are kept in a very confined area compared with their vast natural habitat. Secondly, breeding programmes are far less successful than zoos claim. Thirdly, zoo animals are exposed to many diseases and other dangers.
Or are the animals simply there for our amusement? In this essay, I altercate the inhumanity of zoos. Zoos have existed since 1250 B.C., when ancient Egyptian writings described birds, lions, and giraffes inside of compound like structures (Fravel). Modern day zoos are mainly used to entertain, and there are species going extinct and habitats being destroyed because of the animals we take from the wild and put in zoos. There are over 10,000 zoos worldwide today, and around 2,500 in the United States alone.