Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? "Animals in zoos suffer tremendously, both physically and mentally. 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. Carl Hegenbeck, a German exotic animal importer, introduced the modern model of more natural habitats for animals instead of obvious cages at his Animal Park in Hamburg in 1907. 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. Wrong! That's not a record that justifies tens of millions of wild animals kept in zoos. As a late Gen-Xer-cum-early-Millenial, my childhood was rich with trips to visit zoos. Life expectancy is controlled by both the mental and physical health of most animals. These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. They could either bite, peck, scratch, kick, or flap their wings. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Animals also lose their genetic diversity especially due to inbreeding. Boycott businesses that profit from cruelty to animals. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species. Many people consider zoos amoral and cruel while others have the notion . In 2014, the director of the E.A.Z.A. For many wild animals, this is a vital part of their life, and they can struggle to redefine their footing. Visiting a zoo is a chance for many people to see exotic animals they would otherwise be unable to see. Why the world needs zoos | Dr Dave Hone | The Guardian Id like to think these kids, now in their early 20s, are working for a conservation organization somewhere. 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. 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. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. Here is an example of just how harsh it can get when an animal is being trained to perform tricks. Copyrights 2023. The required standard of care for wild animals, such as those held by zoos, is wide-ranging and nigh on impossible for zoos to provide. Lack of Sufficient Space No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it can't meet the space requirements for most of its animals. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. According toAnimal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, fleeing or running away is the most popular reaction of animals towards humans. 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. These experiences are often harmful to wildlife and dangerous for you. Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity Persuasive Essay Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. Emma Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. However, it does not change the fundamental fact that as the world changes, we must also become more aware of the darker side of such animal sanctuaries. However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. This is how animals get physical and psychological scars from abuse. In the 1980s, a group of orangutans escaped several times at the San Diego Zoo. Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. Crustacean Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating World of the Crab, Pet Food Manufacturers and Who Rules the Roost in a Growing Market. Eventually, the only animals on display would be a few ancient holdovers from the old menageries, animals in active conservation breeding programs and perhaps a few rescues. The fewer than two dozen non-participants include North Korea, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Turkmenistan. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. Some are in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos, others live caged at private homes. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to quantify. Terrifying, Pre-Historic-Looking Fish Captured in the Ocean's Twilight Zone; What Is It? Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. 2. 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). 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. Roadside zoos dot the American landscape. 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. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. 17 Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity - ConnectUS Grizzly Bear vs Black Bear: Whats the Difference. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. Zoo elephants tend to die young. 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. The practice of killing surplus animals is kept quiet by zoos, but it happens, especially in Europe. I do not doubt that some people had their passion for a particular species, or wildlife in general, sparked by zoo experiences. Thats true, he said. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. Though some zoos plan on reintroducing the animals into the wild after a while, living in zoos makes it impossible for some animals. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. Zoos protect against a species going extinct. If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. Here are some tips. 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. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats. 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. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. It is always best to stay away from wild animals to prevent disastrous interactions. "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. Zoo owners go to great lengths to build enclosures that have a wild aesthetic and give paying visitors a taste of the wild world. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. We have good models of captive wild animal protection laws outside of this country as well. This is only one of the Acts limitations. In 2014, the Animal Legal Defense Fund successfully brought a lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act against a roadside zoo called the Cricket Hollow Animal Park, that was mistreating protected animals. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. Most zoos or animal sanctuaries dont have the space or the facilities to truly recreate the wild. It is expensive and difficult to keep wild animals in captivity. [WATCH]. Zoos are expensive to run, often have a very tight budget, and cannot afford to maintain and support animals that do not pull their weight in terms of attraction. What if they sent all the animals that need really large areas or lots of freedom and socialization to refuges? However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. 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. 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. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. The Endangered Species Act: The Endangered Species Act, the ESA, is a federal law that protects fish, mammals, birds and plants listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. and beyond. Zoos shifted just slightly from overt demonstrations of mastery over beasts to a narrative of benevolent protection of individual animals. A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. Today, nearly every country in the world is a member of CITES. Your email address will not be published. Animals are forced to sleep, eat, and defecate in the same small area. So when they. If you dont have people that know how to care for them, know how to breed them successfully, know how to keep them in environments where their social and psychological needs can be met, then you wont be able to do that, he said. Photographs by Peter Fisher. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Claws N Paws, Looking for case and legal resources? Little Joe, a gorilla, escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston twice in 2003. 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. It is not humane to keep large mammals like orcas, dolphins or elephants in zoos or theme parks. It is impossible to read these stories without concluding that these animals wanted out. Why? These are highly intelligent animals with complex social constructs that scientists have studied for . Required fields are marked *. Non-native animals are held in conditions that vary greatly from what they are used to living in. 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. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. Investigators found sticks and pine cones inside the exhibit, most likely thrown by the boys. (This law does not affect zoos or circuses.). Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. In addition, baby animals that are deemed excess to requirements find their way into black market sales. They argue that no animal should be forced to spend their life in an unnatural environment and perform. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. His father works for a large national Cat charity in the UK, and Alex has regularly taken part in fundraising events for them through the years. Why Are Puppy Mills Bad: The Numerous Reasons Why They Must Be Stopped And How You, yes you, Can Help! This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. To many people, a trip to the zoo is a fun day out for the family. There are a great many negative effects of zoos on animals.When we visit zoos, we can see they often go to great lengths in order to recreate the animals natural habitats. Local laws are often most effective in governing the private possession of exotic animals. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. WorldAnimalFoundation.org is reader-supported. By playing dead, they would deceive predators into leaving them alone. Many zoos give children the wrong lessons about wild animals and how to protect animals. Ms. Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. 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. 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. 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. This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. 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. Most people arent always comfortable seeing animals that are kept in zoos. Articles on why animals should not be kept in zoos. Why Animals Some zoo animals try to escape. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to . Sadly, most of these associations end up protecting the interests of their members, and not the animals they should be protecting. Wild animals have certain behaviors that are uniquely influenced by their environments. I dont see any problem with holding animals for display, Mr. Ashe told me. I once overheard two schoolchildren at the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington confess to each other that they had assumed that elephants were mythical animals like unicorns before seeing them in the flesh. Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States When factoring in the number of zoos breeding animals and the risk posed to baby animals, the change of disease skyrockets further. In his Animal Park, which opened in 1907 in Hamburg, he designed cages that didnt look like cages, using moats and artfully arranged rock walls to invisibly pen animals. But theres no unambiguous evidence that zoos are making visitors care more about conservation or take any action to support it. For them, the best option is to fight back. or the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria have studbooks and genetic pedigrees and carefully breed their animals as if they might be called upon at any moment to release them, like Noah throwing open the doors to the ark, into a waiting wild habitat. Some surplus animals or injured animals are even fed to predators as a means of life-cycle maintenance. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. In one escape, they worked together: One held a mop handle steady while her sister climbed it to freedom. A few zoos are famous for their conservation work. Climate change around the world: In Postcards From a World on Fire, 193 stories from individual countries show how climate change is reshaping reality everywhere, from dying coral reefs in Fiji to disappearing oases in Morocco and far, far beyond. Climate change has become a very real threat for the next and even current generations. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. 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. Should animals be kept in captivity? - The Current Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. When she caught up with the boys at the cafe, she mauled them before she was shot to death by the police. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. There are a few exceptions. However, not all of them are suitable for captivity and are better left alone in the wild. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. This is due to the fact that many zoos want to keep as many animals as . Artificial environments. An example of this is a snake that will bite whatever is threatening them since they are not as good at running away as other animals. ViewResources. However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. 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. The statistics on the number of big cats alone that have died in captivity between 1990 and 2021 is 126. Fighting is a sign that they are threatened, especially when an animal has no way of getting away quickly. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY - Adobe Slate Animals are stressed when they get separated from their packs or herds, especially when they end up as the only one of their kind in their new homes. ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. And it is true that the territory size of an animal like a wolf depends greatly on the density of resources and other wolves. There were five such states until 2017, when South Carolina passed a law banning wild and exotic animals to be kept as pets. That doesnt mean there havent been criticisms. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and "cold-blooded" animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. The Brutal Truth About Seal Clubbing: Because Everyone Needs Dead Seal Pups (Not)! 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.. The polar bears in Winnipeg have disco poo. But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. Zoo animals sustain both physical and psychological scars from harsh zookeepers. Animals live in cruel conditions, confined to small cages without the enrichment they need to lead full, happy lives. Important to protect endangered species from extinction. Outside of providing sufficient space to allow natural behaviors to develop, issues such as climate, diet, and the formation of a social hierarchy where appropriate make running a zoo a difficult task. Cleaners and feeders spend a lot of time with the animals, and understanding the situation one is getting into can be very helpful. 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. The U.S. became a signatory to CITES in 1975. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. Zoos are home to many animals. "An even smaller proportion are part of captive breeding programmes and, of those, a tiny fraction have been released back into the wild. These refuge-zoos could become places where animals live. 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? The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. This goes to the detriment of the animals in zoos and puts them at risk of receiving inadequate care. Likewise, consuming sustainable seafood provides a valuable source of food for people and helps promote sustainable jobs. This treaty is credited with helping foster international cooperation to protect some endangered and vulnerable species. Not investing enough when designing a habitat for your animals to save money. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept In Zoos - AnimalLoveTalk.com In zoos vets and biologist help to prevent inbreeding. When the zoo replaced the bars with thick glass, he started methodically removing the putty holding it in. The United Kingdom, for example, has announced a plan to phase out all circuses featuring wild animal performances by 2020. Going to the zoo is often quite affordable. 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.. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. Breeders: How to Stop Puppy FarmsPermanently. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. A 2000 survey of U.S. and Canadian zoos found that nearly half of respondents were giving their gorillas Haldol, Valium or another psychopharmaceutical drug. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. 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. 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. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. Your email address will not be published. In most cases, animals in zoos lead very unhappy lives. But relatively early in their evolution, a German exotic animal importer named Carl Hagenbeck changed the way wild animals were exhibited. People are always attracted to exotic animals such as grizzlies, lions, wolves, tigers, and alligators among others. 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. Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. On the other hand, the researchers reported, there were no significant differences in survey responses before entering an exhibit compared with those obtained as visitors were exiting., A 2008 study of 206 zoo visitors by some members of the same team showed that while 42 percent said that the main purpose of the zoo was to teach visitors about animals and conservation, 66 percent said that their primary reason for going was to have an outing with friends or family, and just 12 percent said their intention was to learn about animals., The researchers also spied on hundreds of visitors conversations at the Bronx Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. 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. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. Display would be incidental. The A.Z.A.s policies allow for the euthanasia of animals, but the president of the association, Dan Ashe, told me, its very rarely employed by his member institutions. Should zoos exist essay: Should Zoos Still Exist or Not? The Arguments

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