In the wild, animals almost always stick with their own species, but in captivity, some animals prefer animals that are not related to them. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park a Rhodesian ridgeback, Raina, and a shy cheetah, Ruuxa, formed a lifelong relationship with each other. The two wrestled, chased, and cuddled together since they were less than 2 months old when they met. There are very few of these types of relationships around the world, but these connections can be very unique. Finding relationships like this is quite rare and almost always occurs in captivity. In China, a pigeon and a lone monkey became companions. Several squirrel monkeys and capybaras, the world’s largest rodents became friends in a zoo in the Netherlands. A fast
Considering the many challenges animals face in the wild, it is understandable that people may be eager to support zoos and may feel that they are protective facilities necessary for animal life. In the article “ Zoos Are Not Prisons. They Improve the Lives of Animals”, Author Robin Ganzert argues that Zoos are ethical institutions that enrich the lives of animals and ultimately protect them. Statistics have shown that animals held in captivity have limited utilitarian function resulting in cramped quarters, poor diets, depression, and early death for the animals thus, proving that Zoos are not ethical institutions that support and better the lives of animals as author Robin Ganzert stated (Cokal 491). Ganzert exposes the false premise in stating
Jeremy Rifkin in the article " A Change of Heart about Animals" argues on the fact that as incredible as it sounds, many of our fellow creatures as like us in so many ways. For example, in a movie named Paulie a young girl that suffers autism gets attached to a parrot. The girl struggles to talk but she just can't. Time passes by and then the girl starts talking because the parrot helped her. An incident happened so the little girl's parents decide to let the parrot go. The parrot ends up in an animal testing lab but somehow he managed to escape. The parrot begins to miss his owner because he formed a bond with a human being. Obviously, this proves Rifkin is right when he states that animals experience feelings like human beings.
Donna Haraway’s (2008) ‘When Species Meet’ is a post human analysis of the categorisation of the world into human and non-human, questioning the divisions that define contemporary Western society. Chapter twelve, ‘Parting Bites’ summarises her work, a critical evaluation of the dichotomy between animals seen as companion animals and pets, and animals that aren’t. She focuses on the ‘technocultural’ climate of today, proposing the notion of ‘companion species,’ a coming together of more than just humans and animals; technologies, organisms and landscapes are among those that she argues ‘break bread’ together with humans (Haraway 2008:95). This comes under her main goal - ‘alterglobalisation’ and ‘autre-
A wolf and a leopard is able to be with a little child while the lion eats straw. The image that I see when I read this is one where all these animals are together underneath a tree smiling and playing together. The wolf and leopard are lying next to the child as the child sleeps, the calf and young lion are playing in the distance, and the cow, bear, ox, and lion are all feeding on straws. This unity between cross-species is the pinnacle of coexistence of all species. Dwyer also acknowledges this when he says, “It is a vision of peace where childlike friendliness is validated, allowing for concord among humans and all other animals” (630). Ironically, this is also what humans want. Humans actually desire to be with animals, according to Dwyer and Dr.Bekoff, a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology (Goode, 1). In Erica Goode’s essay, “Learning from Animal Friendships,” Dr. Bekoff says that, “Humans are craving to be re-wildered. They’re craving to be reconnected to nature” (Goode, 1). For example, we visit zoos in order to be closer to animals, to connect with nature, and the petting zoo exists in order for us to actually physically connect with the animals. However, the zoo is not the only way for humans to connect with animals. This is one of the reason humans keep pets. Human’s relationship with pets is a prime example of the desire to connect with nature. But, as
For the purpose of this paper I visited the Los Angeles Zoo, on October 23, 2015. Luckily I was able to visit all of the animals in the short amount of time I had. I primarily stayed at the Gorilla and Chimp exhibit to understand their behaviors and how they act like us.
Throughout history we see humans bonding to all species of animals. At first they believe animals were used to hunt alongside their human but now they are mostly for companionship. In H Is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald, a woman finds her way through the torments of grief by bonding with a Goshawk.
Over thousands of years, humans have domesticated animals for various reasons. Among these domesticated species companion animals hold multiple questions, from why do humans have companion animals to how certain desired behavioral traits developed. When observing closely related species or species with a common ancestor one can clearly see the difference along with similarities among a variety of traits. Behavior, just like any other trait, can also be observed and related to closely related species or species with common ancestors. The main focus of this research is to understand these similarities and differences among closely related species or species with a common ancestor at a genetic level. The connection between genetics and behavior
Did you know that two animals from different species, or sometimes even the same, can develop special relationships between them? We have proof of this from the wild and domesticated animals of our world. Crabs give anemones a ride on their back across the ocean floor so that they can get food from the hermit crab fare and get sanctuary from starfish and other animals that could pose as an attacker, so in exchange for the ride, the crab gets protection from predators while going to get food. The crab and the Anemone both get a benefit from this relationship which makes them continue to have this deal. Even though they are different species, they work together to survive. Another example of a strange relationship is a giraffe and an ostrich. The giraffe cleans the ostrich and the ostrich provides warmth for the giraffe while they sleep. I think a dog that just had puppies might
Balaban, Tanith, and Katherine Hessler. "Exotic animals as pets." GP Solo July-Aug. 2009: 42. LegalTrac. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
Although animals in captivity are provided with their basic needs to survive and more, wild animals are more likely to thrive and reach their full potential.
Animals should not be kept in captivity for any reason unless they have been harmed and need to receive treatment but they should be released as soon as they are healthy and capable of taking care of themselves again. The use of a captive animal for research, education, or entertainment is just wrong no creature deserves to have their life taken away for our benefit. Would you want to be captured and put in a tiny box or a fake little ecosystem, or abused and tortured because apparently that’s the only possible way to train an animal? How about just knowing that your real life is over and now all you get to do is put on a show for people? That is what we put these animals through for our entertainment we tear children away from their parents. In what way is that right? It’s just like kidnapping we put humans in jail for that but only when it’s another human. People act like just because they aren’t human that its ok and they lie to themselves telling themselves that its okay and that the animal will be taken care of, fed, and have a nice little “fake” forest or desert to live in. Just think of it as having a zoo full of humans, or stealing other humans to make profit or teach someone something new by doing something totally wrong and unethical.
Most people love to go to zoos and aquariums because they believe it’s educational and they’ll be able to see interesting, exotic animals. However, is keeping wild animals in captivity really moral? A zoo or aquarium is an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, in enclosures, to display to the public.The concepts of zoos and aquariums have been around for centuries and the standard of care for animals has certainly gone up in the United States, but this does not mean that those animals should still be restricted to small enclosures. The animals you are so excited to see are often even depressed or being driven insane because of their unstimulating and meager artificial habitats. These animals have no freedom in their lives
There are billions of animals in captivity around the world. These animals are in zoos, breeding centers, and research laboratories. All those animals lead to out lash because of the stress of being in a small confinement habitat. Is it ethical to keep animals in captivity for research, breeding, or for our enjoyment? Over the years keeping animals in captive has not changed in safety and the well-being of the animal.
Animals can be perceived in many different ways. While some humans consider animals to be mindless machines programmed with instinct, others view them as spiritual creatures capable of coherent thought and emotions. I feel that animals are somewhere in the middle. Although they rely heavily on instinct, the ability to feel emotions shows that their mental capacity is not far from that of a human.
Human beings are very similar to both animals in the wild and those in captivity much like the characters portrayed in “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee. Born with a primal instinct like wild animals they will both defend their territory, their honor and their pride. However, we also relate to those in captivity and at times caged by things like our fears, insecurities, and selfishness.