However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. They are contained in small spaces, often made docile through drugs and other medications, and slowly strip away all autonomy and freedom from all animals. As we snap a selfie by the sea lions for the first time in so long, it seems worth asking, after our collective ordeal, whether our pleasure in seeing wild animals up close is worth the price of their captivity. Lack of Sufficient Space No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it can't meet the space requirements for most of its animals. A.Z.A. Capturing animals even smart ones like apes, for amusement shouldnt be going on anywhere. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some 5,800 species of animals are covered by the treaty (along with 30,000 species of plants). Captive animals need better laws, and better enforcement of those laws. Some animals are quite intelligent so keeping them in captivity should never be an option. Animals are removed from their natural habitats. It is expensive and difficult to keep wild animals in captivity. Zoos and circuses are among those who fall under this act. Also, removing a certain species from the ecosystem can destroy the whole ecosystem. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. The Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES): CITES is an international treaty that regulates the trade of wildlife for nations that are signatories to the treaty. 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. I find one statistic particularly telling about their priorities: A 2018 analysis of the scientific papers produced by association members between 1993 and 2013 showed that just about 7 percent of them annually were classified as being about biodiversity conservation.. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. Is Keeping Wild Animals In Zoos Unethical?: Arguments For - WorldAtlas This is seen as a cheaper option as opposed to moving them back into the wild. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. The first zoos housed animals behind metal bars in spartan cages. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. By designing these enclosures so that many animals could be seen at once, without any bars or walls in the visitors lines of sight, he created an immersive panorama, in which the fact of captivity was supplanted by the illusion of being in nature. The better alternatives to zoos are the options that dont result in animals being held in conditions that are unsuitable and forced to live in natural environments. In addition, baby animals that are deemed excess to requirements find their way into black market sales. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers don't get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. WorldAnimalFoundation.org is reader-supported. For many wild animals, this is a vital part of their life, and they can struggle to redefine their footing. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. This type of behaviour is almost unheard of in their wild counterparts. In most cases, animals in zoos lead very unhappy lives. Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? Visiting a zoo is a chance for many people to see exotic animals they would otherwise be unable to see. For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. Your email address will not be published. All rights reserved. The truth is that zoos are a prison for animals. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats. At the Los Angeles Zoo, a gorilla named Evelyn escaped seven times in 20 years. In normalizing captivity zoos, and teaching animals to perform tricks for human entertainment, zoos and animal sanctuaries are spreading the message that animal captivity to normal, healthy, and fully acceptable. An increase in the populations of herbivorous animals such as deer and buffalos isnt a good thing, especially not for the vegetation and ground cover. Your voice is needed, so that captive wild animals in the United States, and elsewhere, are better protected. See Related: How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals. Top 50 Most Good-looking Nationalities: AI Shows Beautiful People From Different Countries; How Does Science Measure Beauty, Attractiveness? This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos? | KQED Education NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Dramatic Hour-by-Hour Changes of Dart Mission Slamming on an Asteroid, Can Humanity Deflect Potentially Hazardous Asteroids? In a study done on 40 chimpanzees in six different zoos, all of the chimps exhibited behavior their counterparts in nature did not. Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. Display would be incidental. This could cause problems for the animal. Reasons Why Animals Should not Be Kept in Zoos - GradesFixer Some of the captive-born animals are not capable of sustaining themselves in the wild and they could pass on these genes dooming the whole species in that region. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. 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. Animals held captive in zoos are in very small environments such as cages, and they have no freedom. 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. An orangutan at the Omaha Zoo kept wire for lock-picking hidden in his mouth. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. ViewResources. Depressed monkey Important to protect endangered species from extinction. Your email address will not be published. Terrifying, Pre-Historic-Looking Fish Captured in the Ocean's Twilight Zone; What Is It? State laws vary considerably, with some states banning the ownership of wild and exotic animals while others have virtually no regulation whatsoever. How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals, Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years, 9 Best Solar-Powered Computers to Buy Today, 10 Impactful Ways to Conserve Coral Reefs. "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. We say zoos are bad because animals are forced to live in unnatural, stressful, boring environments, leading to a lack of mental and physical stimulation. What began as a way to pass time soon became a compulsion. 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. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. Learn More. Zoos protect against a species going extinct. Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity Persuasive Essay Animals kept in an unsuitable environment or fed the wrong diet can suffer, and this can lead to illness or death. 32 Important Pros & Cons Of Zoos - E&C Meanwhile, small changes at the officemight be one good way to cut significant emissions, writes Carlos Gamarra. When it comes from unsustainable sources it is a key cause of deforestation, impacting many species like orangutans and tigers. What Mr. Ashe wants visitors to experience when they look at the animals is a sense of empathy for the individual animal, as well as the wild populations of that animal.. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. 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. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Theyre generally small menageries where wild and exotic animals like lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, and others are kept in captivity, and often suffer badly. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. Zoos often do more harm than good, creating unnatural environments that look realistic enough to make any potential return to the wild all but impossible. Why? These refuge-zoos could become places where animals live. Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals? Severe arthritis and foot infections are common in captive elephants due to standing on hard, unnatural surfaces all day without room to roam. Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. This is only one of the Acts limitations. Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. Many suffer from arthritis and other joint problems from standing on hard surfaces; elephants kept alone become desperately lonely; and all zoo elephants suffer mentally from being cooped up in tiny yards while their free-ranging cousins walk up to 50 miles a day. In 1982, only 22 condors existed in the wild. With their apes, elephants, big cats, and other large and smart species gone, they could expand enclosures for the rest of the animals, concentrating on keeping them lavishly happy until their natural deaths. See Related: Are Humans Animals? Many visitors will disturb and disrespect the animals in a zoo simply because they feel as though they are owed a performance of some sort. This is due to the inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure. Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States. These laws help the animals and also people, since wild animals in captivity present a serious public safety risk. Some roadside zoos declaw tiger and lion cubs a serious surgical procedure in which a cats toes are amputated at the last joint. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Claws N Paws, Looking for case and legal resources? "An even smaller proportion are part of captive breeding programmes and, of those, a tiny fraction have been released back into the wild. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. When factoring in the number of zoos breeding animals and the risk posed to baby animals, the change of disease skyrockets further. Climate change has become a very real threat for the next and even current generations. Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. Animal Legal Defense Fund petition for rulemaking spurs reporting improvements: Forms will be revised to ensure AWA licensees maintain complete records of all animal deaths. This is only one of the Act's limitations. Many people consider zoos amoral and cruel while others have the notion . A small exhibit is never going to truly capture the vastness of the open world. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. 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. But relatively early in their evolution, a German exotic animal importer named Carl Hagenbeck changed the way wild animals were exhibited. That doesnt mean there havent been criticisms. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. 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. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife But then theres the pacing, the rocking. When in their natural environments, wild animals are not used to being confronted by humans. Animals are an important part of nature and should have the right to live in their natural environment. Here's What Experts Think. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. Animal rights activists argue that hunting, capturing, and putting animals on display is unethical. There are dozens of other countries around the world with similar prohibitions, including Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore. As humans, we have no right to hunt and lock up animals for our enjoyment. Why Zoos and Aquariums Are Beneficial - Association Of Zoos And Aquariums For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. A 2014 study by the Society for Conservation Biology found that of over 2,800 children surveyed following visits to London Zoo, 62% showed no positive learning outcomes. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. A few zoos are famous for their conservation work. Since most countries dont have any regulations on how to handle animals in zoos, these business people can do whatever it takes to make the most profits possible. The practice of killing surplus animals is kept quiet by zoos, but it happens, especially in Europe. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. The Link Between Fasting And Mental Health: Can It Improve Mood And Cognition? The researchers divided the odd behaviors of captive animals into two categories: impulsive/compulsive behaviors, including coprophagy (eating feces), regurgitation, self-biting and mutilation, exaggerated aggressiveness and infanticide, and stereotypies, which are endlessly repeated movements. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. See Related: Endangered Species in California. Yes, it is time consuming and it is expensive, but if it is possible, we have to try, simply because is the right thing to do.". Anyone can read what you share. Why Animals should not be Kept in Zoos? - StudyDriver.com Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. 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. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. The AWA only applies to some captive wild animals. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. The A.Z.A. The allure of baby animals and the crowds they pull can lead a zoological garden director to increase them to keep attracting customers. Zoos are held to their word of conserving animals and releasing them back into the wild when they are ready. Visitors will hammer on the glass or clamor around an animal enclosure, calling and shouting for the creature to perform for their pleasure. Why Are Puppy Mills Bad: The Numerous Reasons Why They Must Be Stopped And How You, yes you, Can Help! WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY - Adobe Slate An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. We say zoos are bad because animals are forced to live in unnatural, stressful, boring environments, leading to a lack of mental and physical stimulation. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. Their sleeping quarters can get overcrowded and this can lead to the animals harming each other. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. The most recent addition to the family, Willow, a cockapoo puppy, has settled straight into family life and now controls who sits where on the sofa. They are just some of the millions of wild animals living in captivity across the United States. Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. This is due to the fact that many zoos want to keep as many animals as . But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. For them, the best option is to fight back. In zoos vets and biologist help to prevent inbreeding. People dont go to zoos to learn about the biodiversity crisis or how they can help. Some zoo animals try to escape. Once again, a change of this magnitude can cause captive animals to exhibit changing behaviors, which include self-destructive acts and unrelenting restlessness. Why Are Zoos Bad? Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos Thousands of animals are captured and put in zoos and aquariums for tourist attractions every year. It is impossible to read these stories without concluding that these animals wanted out. Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage! Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. Groundhog More than Just a Weather Prognosticator! By playing dead, they would deceive predators into leaving them alone. Not surprising, perhaps, considering the typical polar bear enclosure is one million times smaller than the area they would naturally roam.". The window to the world of. Profits are also gained through the selling of animals to other zoos or circuses. These wild animals are sold at auctions, pet stores or over the internet. Cons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. Taking your family for a day out at the zoo has been a sort of tradition for a very long time and given recent statics the number of visitors is growing. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. But theres no unambiguous evidence that zoos are making visitors care more about conservation or take any action to support it. Copyrights 2023. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. To update your payment information, visit our Member Center. The first efforts to keep wild and exotic animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in . Elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and such. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. The others ran, and she pursued them, ignoring all other humans in her path. A criticism is that protections are less robust for species that are economically valuable, and that CITES is not as transparent in its decision-making or enforcement as would be ideal. Things like ensuring animals arent caged and treated less than they deserve. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. The surpluses are then sold off to zoos, aquariums, or even circuses. Another serious problem is that the chronically-understaffed USDA conducts inspections infrequently. Sanctuaries occupy a "gray area," says Tanya Espinosa, a . For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. Its said that Texas has the worlds second-largest tiger population, due to private citizens propensity for keeping these big cats as pets. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. She could then climb the wire without being shocked. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Some are in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos, others live caged at private homes. But that incident has triggered conversations on the negative impacts of marine parks and aquariums on wild animals. Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. What if they sent all the animals that need really large areas or lots of freedom and socialization to refuges? There is no end to the risk of cross-contamination and disease spread, especially when considering the fact that lots of zoos fail to provide the correct standard of care. This may be true to some extent; however, many zoos are running breeding programs for their own benefit and have no interest in releasing their animals back into the wild. Animal Legal Defense Fund,National Headquarters William Randolph Hearst created his own private zoo with lions, tigers, leopards and more at Hearst Castle. 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? Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. An animal lover, Alexs family, have all been involved in various animal welfare charities. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. Lawsuit to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals Upon License Revocation, Demanding USDA Strengthen and Enforce AWA Licensees Recordkeeping Requirement for All Animal Deaths, Demanding USDA Revoke Animal Welfare Act License from Pennsylvania Roadside Zoo Claws N Paws, Big Cat Public Safety Act Passes the U.S. Senate in Victory for Animals, USDA to Strengthen Tracking of Animal Deaths at Licensed Facilities Following Legal Petition, Lawsuit Seeks to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals When Agency Revokes Licenses. [WATCH]. The Brutal Truth About Seal Clubbing: Because Everyone Needs Dead Seal Pups (Not)! There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. Captive Animals - Animal Legal Defense Fund Zoos | Freedom for Animals Giraffes endlessly flick their tongues. 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, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. This support of the exotic pet trade also results in a lot of preventable animal deaths. 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. The forerunners of the modern zoo, open to the public and grounded in science, took shape in the 19th century. In addition, when animals are removed from their natural habitats, they are also removed from their family structure and social hierarchy. What if zoos stopped breeding all their animals, with the possible exception of any endangered species with a real chance of being released back into the wild? In addition, a costlier but more educational option is to make arrangements to view animals in the wild. Little Joe, a gorilla, escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston twice in 2003. Whats Causing Their Decline? Life expectancy is controlled by both the mental and physical health of most animals. Keeping endangered animals in zoos infringes on those individuals' rights to freedom. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. Zoos also have the power to euthanize their animals when they themselves deem it permissible. Instead, they will hire generalists with a degree of knowledge specificity and run with that. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. Its zookeepers who arent fond of animals that go around hurting animals even when they havent been provoked. Animals are forced to live in artificial habitats that arent anywhere close to their former homes (the wild). A day may come, he said, when we need to breed elephants or tigers or polar bears in captivity to save them from extinction. And Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo has an on-site Wildlife Hospital to save sick and injured native species. Many animals in zoos are not used to confinement. This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. 12 Reasons Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Zoos - Our Endangered World They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. Drugs given to animals include sedatives and antipsychotic drugs.