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As a late Gen-Xer-cum-early-Millenial, my childhood was rich with trips to visit zoos. The surpluses are then sold off to zoos, aquariums, or even circuses. An estimated 20 red wolves are all that remain in the wild. A.Z.A. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. Especially not for the broad spectrum of species they have in their park. Why? Cons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. Things to Know. The Link Between Fasting And Mental Health: Can It Improve Mood And Cognition? I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. 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. Forests Under Threat: A Comprehensive Look at the Latest Deforestation Statistics, Puppy Mills vs. Animals live in cruel conditions, confined to small cages without the enrichment they need to lead full, happy lives. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. Animals also lose their genetic diversity especially due to inbreeding. Increasingly, animals were presented with the distasteful fact of their imprisonment visually elided. This is particularly true if the animal is there for entertainment. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. 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. This gives the poor pets a home and creates a revenue stream for the zoos. Zoos are held to their word of conserving animals and releasing them back into the wild when they are ready. 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. See Related: Animals With the Best Sense of Smell. 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. Such zoos might even be merged with sanctuaries, places that take wild animals that because of injury or a lifetime of captivity cannot live in the wild. 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. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction. In 1982, only 22 condors existed in the wild. zoos is usually not more than 200 animals per year, the organization said.) Unfortunately, this is done under the guise of conservation and to protect endangered species. Captive tigers pace back and forth, and in a 2014 study, researchers found that the time devoted to pacing by a species in captivity is best predicted by the daily distances traveled in nature by the wild specimens. It is almost as if they feel driven to patrol their territory, to hunt, to move, to walk a certain number of steps, as if they have a Fitbit in their brains. The environment that these animals are kept in isnt natural to them more so the animals that are taken from the wilderness and kept in zoos. The confined living areas are a big contributor to animal stress and lack of physical stimulation like would be gained from a nice sprint. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife Tatiana the tiger, kept in the San Francisco Zoo, snapped one day in 2007 after three teenage boys had been taunting her. How Does Saving Water Help Climate Change? Lack of learning valuable animal life skills such as hunting and social structures eventually leads to the alteration of the said animals behavior. Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. They could either bite, peck, scratch, kick, or flap their wings. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. Many zoos give children the wrong lessons about wild animals and how to protect animals. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. The common negative effects of zoos on animals are listed below. A Brief History of Zoos . In one escape, they worked together: One held a mop handle steady while her sister climbed it to freedom. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. Why the world needs zoos | Dr Dave Hone | The Guardian Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. PETA isn't alone. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY - Adobe Slate 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. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. 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. Their sleeping quarters can get overcrowded and this can lead to the animals harming each other. It gets even worse for the animal if the trainer is impatient, the poor beast will have to endure beatings over commands they dont understand. 9 Reasons Not to Visit Zoos - PETA UK 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. Such a transformation might free up some space. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. This alone increases the risk of disease, as animals are exposed to viruses they have never encountered before. 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. Likewise, consuming sustainable seafood provides a valuable source of food for people and helps promote sustainable jobs. In many cases, animals in captivity do not have the space or resources to roam and live as they would in their natural habitat. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) operates an accreditation system for sanctuaries, rescue centres and rehabilitation centres. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. Well, scat reveals all sorts of things about individual animals; information the keepers share with the scientific community. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. While researching my book on the ethics of human interactions with wild species, Wild Souls, I examined how, exactly, zoos contribute to the conservation of wild animals. Visiting a zoo is a chance for many people to see exotic animals they would otherwise be unable to see. People are always attracted to exotic animals such as grizzlies, lions, wolves, tigers, and alligators among others. Visitors will hammer on the glass or clamor around an animal enclosure, calling and shouting for the creature to perform for their pleasure. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept In Zoos - AnimalLoveTalk.com 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. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? See Related: War and the Effect on Wildlife. 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. For example, smaller and faster animals with a lot of predators in the wild tend to thrive in zoos. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. 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. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Ive heard and read some of their stories. 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. 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. 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. Many people consider zoos amoral and cruel while others have the notion . They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. But this is not the norm. See Related: Best Wildlife Conservation Jobs. The United Kingdom, for example, has announced a plan to phase out all circuses featuring wild animal performances by 2020. Why Animals should not be Kept in Zoos? - StudyDriver.com However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. In zoos, elephants are often given a small outside enclosure and an internal house. This is nowhere near enough space to provide an elephant with a life comparable to that of its wild counterparts. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. 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. Just as we humans are free to do whatever we want so long as we follow the law, then it shouldn't be different for animals. Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos? | KQED Education Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. 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. Privacy Policy. But theres no unambiguous evidence that zoos are making visitors care more about conservation or take any action to support it. Even though they might be getting enough food, if your animals are not okay mentally they might still not live to their full potential. Older menageries existed as far back as 2500 BCE, in Mesopotamia. Artificial environments. When it works out, breeding endangered animals has positive results that can be felt even in the human kingdom. The idea of conserving animals that are at risk of going extinct is a great one; the problem is that not most zoos live up to it. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. After all, more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide every year, and biodiversity is still in decline. 17 Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity - ConnectUS 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. At the Los Angeles Zoo, a gorilla named Evelyn escaped seven times in 20 years. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. But is there a reason why animals should not be kept in zoos? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. Why Animals Should not be Kept in Zoos? Essay A few zoos are famous for their conservation work. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 I remember well the awe and joy on their faces, 15 years later. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Their death can be caused by either: lack of space, physical problems, diet, and PTSD. There are dozens of other countries around the world with similar prohibitions, including Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore. An orangutan at the Omaha Zoo kept wire for lock-picking hidden in his mouth. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. 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.