Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. When the caretakers are not well informed about the animals they are to be taking care of, it can be problematic. People assume that because an animal can move great distances that they would choose to do that. If they have everything they need nearby, he argued, they would be happy with smaller territories. For some animals, reintroduction will always be difficult, such as baby elephants, or pet cheetahs, both of which habituate to human care very quickly, says Moore of IFAW. However, they are really just teaching children about caring for animals in captivity. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. All of these options afford you a close view of nature exactly as it was intended. While zoos can definitely be exciting places for families to visit, the fact remains that they are bad for animals. Fish and Wildlife Service, suggested that learning how to breed animals contributes to conservation in the long term, even if very few animals are being released now. However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. Gus, a polar bear at the Central Park Zoo, was given Prozac as part of an attempt to stop him from swimming endless figure-eight laps in his tiny pool. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept In Zoos - AnimalLoveTalk.com Do not reproduce without permission. But few federal laws protect these animals, who may be forced to perform or kept confined in small cages with little to keep their minds occupied and bodies well. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Even the best zoological park cannot fully capture the wild, and many smaller zoos fail to take effective measures to ensure the health and well-being of their animals. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. It is these boastful collections of animals, these autocratic menageries, from which the modern zoo, with its didactic plaques and $15 hot dogs, springs. The trainer was immediately sent to the hospital and has since recovered from physical injuries, and so does the dolphin. Trading in Wild Animals: Every year, thousands of animals enter the captive wild animal trade. Captive Animals - Animal Legal Defense Fund As an avid fan of botanical gardens, I humbly suggest that as the captive animals retire and die off without being replaced, these biodiversity-worshiping institutions devote more and more space to the wonderful world of plants. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. The Los Angeles Zoo has used Celexa, an antidepressant, to control aggression in one of its chimps. But, for every story that casts zoos in a bad light from Vince the rhino's poaching at Paris' Thoiry Zoo in March; Cincinnati Zoo shooting endangered gorilla, Harambe, last year after a child fell into his enclosure; or Copenhagen Zoo killing and publicly dissecting Marius, a two-year-old giraffe in 2014 there are heart-warming tales too. Yes And Someone is Paying Attention, Swimming with The Seahorse: Discover Their Mystical Charisma. Before anyone starts sprinkling the stuff on their cornflakes, this isn't the hottest new beauty trend nor is it a natural phenomenon: Assiniboine Park Zoo's keepers use coloured glitter in the bears' feed to identify their droppings. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Dramatic Hour-by-Hour Changes of Dart Mission Slamming on an Asteroid, Can Humanity Deflect Potentially Hazardous Asteroids? These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. Forests Under Threat: A Comprehensive Look at the Latest Deforestation Statistics, Puppy Mills vs. Jason Hribals 2010 book, Fear of the Animal Planet, chronicles dozens of attempts. Many zoos give children the wrong lessons about wild animals and how to protect animals. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. However, the vast majority dont do enough to accurately replace an animals natural habitat. Learn More. He also found many examples of zoo elephants hurting or killing their keepers and evidence that zoos routinely downplayed or even lied about those incidents. Zoos | Freedom for Animals However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. And it is true that the territory size of an animal like a wolf depends greatly on the density of resources and other wolves. But then theres the pacing, the rocking. When in their natural environments, wild animals are not used to being confronted by humans. Once the ground has been left with no coverage, soil erosion will be the next step. Black-footed ferrets and red wolves in the United States and golden lion tamarins in Brazil all endangered, as well have been bred at zoos for reintroduction into the wild. Why the world needs zoos | Dr Dave Hone | The Guardian PETA isn't alone. What began as a way to pass time soon became a compulsion. Wild Animals Should Not Be Kept In Captivity - Medium ViewResources. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 Lets get into the nitty-gritty details of why keeping animals in zoos is bad: Wild animals often suffer in captivity because they were meant to be free. Help inform others by writing letters to your local newspapers and posting to social media. Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos? | The Minimalist Vegan One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. Another problem of zoos is that animals often only have rather limited space to move. Ive heard and read some of their stories. Apes are excellent at escaping. Thats true, he said. Your email address will not be published. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. For example, a lion might have a hard time adjusting to hunting for its meals when it has spent years being fed and lazing around. This treaty is credited with helping foster international cooperation to protect some endangered and vulnerable species. Here they are relatively safe . Sadly, once the small animals outgrow their cute phase, the zoo has to get rid of them since feeding and housing them all can get expensive. Investigators found sticks and pine cones inside the exhibit, most likely thrown by the boys. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. All Rights Reserved. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. A study by Bristol University found that many British zoos fail to provide animals with the required minimum standard of care. Grizzly Bear vs Black Bear: Whats the Difference. Genes evolved over time to help the animal adjust to a man-made habitat can be a downside to the populations of the species in the wild. Your voice is needed, so that captive wild animals in the United States, and elsewhere, are better protected. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. Zoos also have the power to euthanize their animals when they themselves deem it permissible. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. This gives the poor pets a home and creates a revenue stream for the zoos. The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals in bare tanks do not present a realistic image of natural behaviors or natural habitats. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. Zoo owners go to great lengths to build enclosures that have a wild aesthetic and give paying visitors a taste of the wild world. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. This can have huge negative effects on the environment in many adverse ways. Their sleeping quarters can get overcrowded and this can lead to the animals harming each other. When it rains, the topsoil gets washed away leaving the land more exposed. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. Reasons why people think keeping animals in zoos is bad for their welfare: the animal is deprived of its natural habitat; the animal may not have enough room; the animal is deprived of its natural . A 2019 report by World Animal Protection found that captive animals exhibitedabnormal levels of aggression, indicating that the attack in Miami Seaquarium was a direct result of captivity, despite claims that it is an isolated incident and is uncommon. When an animal is not on the endangered list, capturing it doesnt serve any purpose to the animal. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) operates an accreditation system for sanctuaries, rescue centres and rehabilitation centres. The shooting of Harambe the gorilla spawned the most-shared meme of 2016 and caused a hounded Cincinnati Zoo to suspend its social media accounts. Throughout history, men have accumulated large and fierce animals to advertise their might and prestige. They go to get out of the house, to get their children some fresh air, to see interesting animals. For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. says that its members host more than 50 reintroduction programs for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, a vast majority of zoo animals (there are 800,000 animals of 6,000 species in the A.Z.A.s zoos alone) will spend their whole lives in captivity, either dying of old age after a lifetime of display or by being culled as surplus.. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. [WATCH], Armored Dinosaur Magnificently Preserved After Face, Skin, Spikes Survived Fossilization. There is considerable variation from state to state and among cities and counties, as to how much legal protection is offered to captive wild animals. Wild dolphins swim up to 40 miles day with the other members of their pod, while captive dolphins are forced to swim in tiny pools with unfamiliar dolphins day after day. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. A few zoos are famous for their conservation work. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. These are species that would have vanished totally were it not for captive populations around the world, many of which reside in zoos (or, for plants, botanic gardens). Breeding programs in zoos eventually lead to some animals being sold off to other zoos or worse circuses. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction. Orcas don't do well in captivity. Here's why. - Animals Boycott businesses that profit from cruelty to animals. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY By "Phillip" Hungry, depressed, and unable to connect. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. Check out more news and information on Wild Animalsin Science Times. Fighting is a sign that they are threatened, especially when an animal has no way of getting away quickly. Early in the pandemic, the Neumunster Zoo in northern Germany coolly announced an emergency plan to cope with lost revenue by feeding some animals to other animals, compressing the food chain at the zoo like an accordion, until in the worst-case scenario, only Vitus, a polar bear, would be left standing. Bears and cats pace. She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. There are dozens of other countries around the world with similar prohibitions, including Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore. ALSO READ: Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner. Zoo keepers are often trained and specialize in a particular breed or species. See Related: What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? Persuasive Speech: Why Animals Should Not be kept in Zoos. Animal rights activists argue that hunting, capturing, and putting animals on display is unethical. Elephants bob their heads over and over. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. Also, removing a certain species from the ecosystem can destroy the whole ecosystem. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. When confined they rock, pull their hair and engage in other tics. In states without tight enough regulation, local jurisdictions oftentimes adopt ordinances that ban or restrict the display of captive wild animals. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. James Borrell: Eight reasons why zoos are good for conservation Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers don't get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. See Related: Most Comfortable Animals in The World. Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals? The truth is that zoos are a prison for animals. The daily stress and lack of stimulation often leads to abnormal and self-destructive behaviour - for example, pacing, walking in tight circles, rocking, swaying, or self-mutilation - a condition known as "zoochosis". For example, the law does not restrict the display or private ownership of captive wild animals or prohibit the use of controversial bullhooks, whips, electrical shock or other devices commonly used in circuses. "Animals in zoos suffer tremendously, both physically and mentally. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States Many zoos and aquariums offer behind-the-scenes tours and informative talks on animal welfare. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. The Brutal Truth About Seal Clubbing: Because Everyone Needs Dead Seal Pups (Not)! Here's What Experts Think. This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. The same applies to elephants. Many zoos fail to provide the required minimum standard of care, Zoos dont replicate animals natural habitats, Zoos teach people that animal captivity is acceptable, Animal protection laws are not strong enough, Many visitors disturb and disrespect the animals, Zoo animals are often drugged to be kept calm. The statistics on the number of big cats alone that have died in captivity between 1990 and 2021 is 126. Cons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. The Arabian oryx, an antelope native to the Arabian Peninsula, went extinct in the wild in the 1970s and then was reintroduced into the wild from zoo populations. Kings would keep hippos, baboons and large cats. In several cases, animals held in poor conditions at roadside zoos have been transferred to sanctuaries, after the Animal Legal Defense Fund brought lawsuits under the Endangered Species Act. People are fascinated by animals. Zookeepers also often may neglect their healthcare needs. Photographs by Peter Fisher. Properly curated and interpreted, a well-run garden can be a site for a rewarding outing with friends or family, a source of education for the 27 percent of people who read signs and a point of civic pride. People dont go to zoos to learn about the biodiversity crisis or how they can help. The practice of killing surplus animals is kept quiet by zoos, but it happens, especially in Europe. Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. Here is an example of just how harsh it can get when an animal is being trained to perform tricks. Mr. Hribal documented many stories of elephants making a run for it in one case repairing to a nearby woods with a pond for a mud bath. In many cases, animals in captivity do not have the space or resources to roam and live as they would in their natural habitat. A day may come, he said, when we need to breed elephants or tigers or polar bears in captivity to save them from extinction. Once again, a change of this magnitude can cause captive animals to exhibit changing behaviors, which include self-destructive acts and unrelenting restlessness. Anyone can read what you share. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. Keep on reading. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. See Related: Are Humans Animals? Zoos protect against a species going extinct. The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. Meanwhile, small changes at the officemight be one good way to cut significant emissions, writes Carlos Gamarra. More than 6,000 comments made by the visitors were recorded, nearly half of which were purely descriptive statements that asserted a fact about the exhibit or the animal. The researchers wrote, In all the statements collected, no one volunteered information that would lead us to believe that they had an intention to advocate for protection of the animal or an intention to change their own behavior.. And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. This isnt always guaranteed since the breeding practices could be insufficient or even produce animals that are not suitable for survival in the wild. Zoos - Pros & Cons - ProCon.org This can lead to an appreciation of animals, which in return will see them being treated much better. The law, adopted by Congress in 1966, protects so-called warm-blooded animals who are bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially or publicly exhibited, like in a zoo or circus. But that incident has triggered conversations on the negative impacts of marine parks and aquariums on wild animals. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. 32 Important Pros & Cons Of Zoos - E&C For example, smaller and faster animals with a lot of predators in the wild tend to thrive in zoos. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. Animals are forced to live in artificial habitats that arent anywhere close to their former homes (the wild). Breeders: How to Stop Puppy FarmsPermanently. Copyright OurEndangedWorld | All Rights Reserved, Environmental Organizations in The Philippines, Environmental Organizations in North America, Environmental Organizations in South America, Best Energy-Efficient Electric Fireplaces. To many people, a trip to the zoo is a fun day out for the family. In 2018, the Eighth Circuit issued a unanimous decision in Cricket Hollows appeal of that case, that it can be a violation of the Endangered Species Act when captive animals arent given proper care. Should We Keep Animals in Zoos? - Scholastic There are a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. After being captives of the pandemic for more than a year, we have begun experiencing the pleasures of simple outings: dining al fresco, shopping with a friend, taking a stroll through the zoo. The Animal Welfare Act: The Animal Welfare Act, or AWA, is the primary piece of federal legislation regulating captive wild animals. After all, more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide every year, and biodiversity is still in decline. In a 2011 study, researchers quizzed visitors at the Cleveland, Bronx, Prospect Park and Central Park zoos about their level of environmental concern and what they thought about the animals. According to an article inPlant Based News, marine parks and aquariums are a billion-dollar industry that exists to entertain the public by catching fish and sea mammals from the wild and using them as live exhibits. (This law does not affect zoos or circuses.). Polar bears have one million times less space. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. The window to the world of. Lack of Sufficient Space No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it can't meet the space requirements for most of its animals. "An even smaller proportion are part of captive breeding programmes and, of those, a tiny fraction have been released back into the wild. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. They normally find themselves locked in cages, and only released into an artificial habitat when there are visitors at the zoo. Giant Insect From Jurassic Era Found in Walmart Opens Deeper Ecological Questions, 3,500-Year-old Perfectly Preserved, Mummified Bear Might Lead to 'Breakthrough in Ancient Animal Study', Presumed Extinct Funji-eating Fairy Lantern Plant Found Emerging Again in Japan, How Did Missing Argentinian Man's Remains Get Into a Shark's Stomach? There is more to natural environments than just looks. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. Life expectancy for animals in captivity depends on a couple of things, such as their way of life, among other factors. Step away from the selfie stick. Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. If an animal cannot be given sufficient space or is suffering from stress and not behaving as expected, the zoo is within its right to kill the animal s. The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species. Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. Roadside zoos dot the American landscape. Unfortunately using real animals for these purposes involves tremendous cruelty. Welfare of Wild Animals in Captivity | RSPCA https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. This is due to the inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife Power-mad men from Henry III to Saddam Husseins son Uday to the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar to Charlemagne all tried to underscore their strength by keeping terrifying beasts captive. What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. State laws vary considerably, with some states banning the ownership of wild and exotic animals while others have virtually no regulation whatsoever. This could cause problems for the animal. The others ran, and she pursued them, ignoring all other humans in her path. A quick google search reveals that a zoo is an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation, or display to the public. Giraffes endlessly flick their tongues. Zookeepers are not mustache-twirling villains. The worst climate risks, mapped: In this feature, select a country, and we'll break down the climate hazards it faces. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. Visitors will hammer on the glass or clamor around an animal enclosure, calling and shouting for the creature to perform for their pleasure. This is only one of the Acts limitations. "Zoos are prisons for animals, camouflaging their cruelty with conservation claims," Mimi Bekhechi, director of international programmes at PETA, explains. Its protections are minimal as well. 1. Visiting a zoo is a chance for many people to see exotic animals they would otherwise be unable to see. I do not doubt that some people had their passion for a particular species, or wildlife in general, sparked by zoo experiences. Bears, lions, and other animals languish in roadside zoos across the country. A peer-reviewed 2017 study in the . Earlier this month, footage of a dolphin attacking its trainer in Miami Seaquarium went viral. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Because so many diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as Ebola, Hantavirus, and the bird flu, zoos frequently conduct disease surveillance research in wildlife populations and their own captive populations that can lead to a direct impact on human health. Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. Profits are also gained through the selling of animals to other zoos or circuses. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. Kept in barren cages rarely larger than 20 by 20 feet, bears in roadside zoos spend their days pacing, sleeping abnormally long periods of time, and bobbing their head all indications of extreme psychological distress.