Although the practice of collecting animals have been present since 2500 B.C (Dunlap and Kellert), efforts to keep animals in a safe and natural habitat have been poorly consummated. Psychological manipulation has consequentially drawn chimpanzees to mental illness, as in the article “How Abnormal Is the Behavior of Captive, Zoo-Living Chimpanzees?” Lucy P. Birkett and Nicholas E. Newton-Fisher wrote, “Many chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) kept in laboratory housing settings show a variety of serious behavioral abnormalities, such as, repetitive rocking, drinking of urine, or self-mutilation.” Social and maternal separation for the benifit of reasearch are linked to psychological traumatic as well (Dunlap and Kellert). Although through history the service of zoos have been for entertainment, it is a trivial reason for holding chimpanzees in confidment. Subsequently, it is inhumane to take primates from the wild and place them in a zoo, commercial, or laboratory setting, which strips them of their ability to act naturally.
Primates housed in organizations like zoos and laboratories have developed catastrophic behavior; due to the lack of their natural habitat and the lose of freedom to pursue their own lives. Chimpanzees have directed themself to attempt abnormal and often revolting behavior. During their life in captivity they exibit biting themselves, drinking urine, eating feces, pating genitals, rocking, plucking hair, and fumpling niples (Birkett and Newton-Fisher). Another factor that gives chimpanzees the urge to display eccentric habits through physcological suffering is advocated within their captive conditions. As Dunlap and Kellert explain, “Despite improvments in exhibit design, many animals remain confined in dirty,...
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...eportedly the chimpanzee became an endangered species in 2002. Vital funds for zoo affiliated research and field work should be found elsewhere, because fooling around with another's life – human or animal – is not ours to manipulate.
Freedom is important in the life of chimpanzees to sustain a sane and healthy lifestyle. Being born and raised in the wild is where chimpanzees should remain. Far away from cruel research and taunted to preform in unnatural manners. As Jane Goodall explains, “. . .there is really no justification for forcing these amazing creatures to suffer for our amusement or gain.” Once a rescued chimpanzee is returned to their natural habitat, the glow seen in their presence is unreal. Stopping the industry that uses chimpanzees as entertainment and testing is truly a dire issue and more publicity about their conditions should be broadcasted.
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
Goodall argues that her readers have an ethical obligation to protect animals from suffering, but she also implies that it might be necessary sometimes to abandon that obligation. She points out that animals share similar traits with human beings: they have a capacity for certain human emotions, and they may be capable of legitimate friendship. Goodall’s evidence for this claim is an anecdote from her research. She recounts that one chimpanzee in her study, named David Greybeard, “gently squeezed [her] hand” when she offered him food (62). Appealing to readers’ emotions, Goodall hopes to persuade readers that the chimp is “sociable” and “sentient,” or feeling (62). According to Goodall’s logic, if researchers are careful to avoid tests that cause human suffering, they should also be careful to avoid tests that cause suffering for other life forms.
Thesis Statement: Despite the rampant protests of animal welfare organizations on encaging primates in zoos since primates typically show abnormal behavior, zoos in the National Capital Region claim that human interaction and enrichment programs help alleviate the stress and trauma primates experience.
In primates such as chimpanzees it is imperative to look at their culture to understand their intelligence. Culture in this circumstance means a specific set of behaviors obtained through learning in a population/species. Chimpanzee’s intelligence is quite unique how they interact with their environment and use it to their benefit just like humans. They have the ability to overcome the obstacles of everyday life through learning and the ability to use tools to create a better quality of life. The complexity of their intellect is different from any other animal ever seen. A significant part of chimpanzee intelligence that sets them apart from other primates and puts them closer to humans is the way they exhibit social learning within their culture and interactions within their environment.
Viewing and observing primates at the zoo and using them as a research subject is crucial to help with the understanding of how humans came to be. Since humans and primates are onwards of 95% genetically similar (Why are Humans Primates), observing them is a great tool to better understand humans and the relationship we share with primates. Though some research done on primates has questioned the morality of such a thing, by not observing our closest ancestors, we would not have many of the answers about humans that we have today. Non-human primates can teach us many things about ourselves, from evolution,to behavioral and social characteristics.
Chimpanzees portray their emotions through a number of facial expressions and mannerisms. Just like humans, they undergo mood swings, jealous rages, and laughter. For instance, Goodall observed during her research that a male gorilla “would threaten [me] with an upward and backward movement jerk of his head…” Some of their emotions are easy to read, while at other times we have to look at multiple places on their faces to understand their feelings. A chimpanzee also uses its facial expressions and sounds to communicate with each other, such as hoots and yells.
Homosexual acts are especially common among female bonobos, which they use to create strong emotional bonds and maintain social control over the males. In fact, bonobos have peaceful, female run communities of people. Chimps are led by a strongest male in a group and occasionally kill each other. Chimp groups keep very strict edges, which they in an evil and violent way defend. In contrast, bonobos allow for overlap in their land areas controlled by someone and will even mate across community lines.
...es to places to display animals for curiosity and education, to parks where animals can be seen in their more natural habitats. The perception around enclosures and cages in general is often criticised, with Bartay and Hardouin believing that “every aspect of humanity’s relationship with nature can be perceived through the bars of the zoological garden: repulsion and fascination; the impulse to appropriate, master and understand… linked to vast parallel histories of colonization, ethnocentrism and the discovery of the other… to tour the cages of the zoo is to understand the society that erected them.” (Bishop, 2004: 107). This suggests regardless of an enclosure’s size, nature or specification it is a direct indication of humanity’s desire to control and exhibit animal others. Malamud agrees with this view, arguing that all practises of animal containment “convince
The usage of tools among common chimpanzees in the wild shows their ability to make use of their resources and their capability to modify and perform these tasks. Captive chimpanzees are very different that wild chimpanzees because of the environment they live in. While wild chimpanzees would often need to hunt for food in order to survive, captive chimpanzees have food provided to them. Wild chimpanzees are usually more intelligent and more violent than captive chimpanzees because the need to depend on themselves for survival. The culture of chimpanzees are also different depending on the environment they live in. Similar to humans, the behavior and traits of chimpanzees are learned and cultural practices can vary among different
Inside the chimp habitat, I noticed a sign which read: Look here for a “zoo” born! When I saw it, I recalled that earlier during the day, a senior docent named Rhonda who worked with the gorillas had told me that there was recently a newborn chimp. She said to look very closely to find the baby because the mother was extremely protective of it. She had also mentioned that the newborn’s furless skin would be very pink. At first, I looked very keenly for the small new chimp who had just been born this year, but I couldn’t find it. I finally spotted the baby after I moved to a different position to view the chimps from the open air viewing area. The infant was just as Rhonda had described it: nestled in its mother’s arms as she shielde...
Chimpanzees are part of the non-human primate group. Though we share a common ancestor, evolution has pushed us in different directions. However this common ancestor causes humans to be curious about these creatures. As discussed in Jane Goodall’s video Among the Wild Chimpanzees we were once considered to be human because of our use of tools but once we observed these non-human primates using tools, this perception was changed forever. The question now at hand is if having the chimpanzees that we study in captivity makes a difference between studying wild chimps. These interesting creatures can be found naturally in the rainforests of Africa.
Animals held in captivity in zoos are deprived of everything that is natural and important to them. Taking animals out of their natural habitat makes them mentally ill. As a result, they become bored, lonely and depressed and many suffer from a condition called “zoochosis”. If you have ever watched captive animals in zoos pacing, chewing on bars or engaging in various of other abnormal behaviors, you have seen the disease close-up. Some animals are so depressed in their new environment they would tear holes in their own skin! Can you imagine doing that to yourself out of depression and loneliness? Zoochosis is so common that some zoos give animals a mood-changing drug, because the visitors have started to notice. Bears spend 30 % of their
Have you ever felt sorry for animals in a cage? Animals are held captive all over the world; approximately over 1,700 species of animals are in a zoo. The effect of an animal being in a zoo can vary; some animals end up dying, while others are left there in a cage with nothing to do. Zoos have been around since about 1250 B.C, most leaders would use animals as entertainment and for fighting. For example, bears and bulls were chained together and fight another. Over four hundred bears were killed in one single day. After zoos were for entertainment, animals started fighting the humans, so they caged them. Zoo expert, David Hancocks believes that zoos need to change their idea of keeping animal’s hostage before many species die out. David believes that most zoos do not prevent animals from being extinct; it puts an animal in misery. Because animals are kept in zoos, animals are treated as abused captures (Jennifer 2).
Various zoo animal welfare issues are joined in the creating field of mental prosperity in prisoner animals. This joins physical prosperity, common and hostage conduct, and participations with the separated territory environment. Natural enhancement is key some portion of this issue. While a huge part of the inside of ecological change has been on non-human primates. Zoo animal welfare encompasses a far-reaching scope of issues and concerns. The territories of etiology, presentation diagram, veterinary arrangement, animal development, ecological issues, and direction are a few the parts which incorporate zoo animal welfare. Societal qualities overseeing animal welfare issues are furthermore an energy to consider when directing such an extent.
When bred in captivity, animals are oblivious to their natural habitats and how to socially interact with their species. The article “Animals Used as Entertainment” lists rodeos, circuses, bullfighting, horse racing, cockfighting, dog fighting, and zoos as examples of the many ways animals are used in entertainment. Circuses and zoos are the two most relevant forms of animal mistreatment. Both of these are sources of entertainment for children and adults. Zoos declare that they are used for mostly educational purposes and preserving various species, but the reality is that they fall short on both (“Animals Used”).