In most places owning a dog or cat is second nature, but what about a tiger, bear or maybe python? Exotic pet ownership is far from having a clear right or wrong answer but it is in need of a ban for both the protection of animal and owner. For exotic pet owners, owning a wild beast insures a sense of power and uniqueness. It is also their way of contributing to the conservation of a species by having a “backup population” once human population growth and habitat destruction has resulted in extinction (Slater 113). But in reality the ownership of wild animals as pets only helps to damage already fragile ecosystems, both the one from which they came from and the new one in which they find themselves. Captivity strips an animal of a natural life in the wild, free of confinement and unsuitable care. Finally, the risks to humans are very large; injuries inflicted from exotic pets are dangerous and possibly deadly. Bans vary from state to state, ranging from no ban to partial ban to complete ban, but even in states with full bans, exotic pet ownership still occurs. Private ownership of an exotic animal as a pet should be banned in the US, due to disruptions in ecosystems, the dangers that wild animals are exposed too, and the risks to the owners of these pets.
When animals are voluntary or involuntary let into the wild many native species can become threatened by animals that, in the foreign ecosystem, have no natural predators. The ecosystem from which an animal comes can be damaged by the severe depletion of that species. Today there are more tigers in captivity then there are in the wild in Asia (Slater 106). Exotic animals can also feast on species to a point of extinction if there are no natural predators to maintain the wild exot...
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...of exotic species, inadequate confinements and risks that the animals are exposed to, and the dangerous risks to humans. Millions of animals are illegally smuggled into the United States each year; this produces grave consequences, resulting in the possible destruction of fragile ecosystems. Equally important is the suffering that animals face when they are impulsively bought, just to be discarded when they become too big a burden. Finally, when exotic animals are held in private residences human safety and health are in jeopardy. There is no denying the magnificence of a wild animal, but what if it is removed from nature to be made a pet in a cage? Does it still hold that same beauty? The answer is simple, no. Nature can never be seen in an animal staring behind bars, because the moment it is placed in a cage our connection through it to the natural world is lost.
Many people consider animals as a part of the family. Pets are fun and can be a great addition to many homes. Although, owning an animal can come with many added benefits other than just having a cute and furry friend to play with. People who own pets, may see an increase in their overall quality of life compared to non-pet owners. Pets are a great way to improve the physical, social, and mental health of their owners.
Throughout the world, wild cats, reptiles and primates live peacefully in their natural habitats. Despite this, every year more and more of these exotic animals are becoming domestic pets. Keeping exotic animals as pets is unsafe and should therefore be made illegal. They pose as a risk of injury, disease and are an invasion the natural environment. Some people believe that keeping a pet does not pose a risk if properly kept and trained. However, these arguments are not corroborated by the information available. Keeping exotic animals as pets is dangerous, and should be made illegal in Canada.
The debate on storing animals in zoos became controversial, and I came to the final decision that animals do not deserve to live in zoos. Animals are meant to live in their natural habitat, just as humans thrive in their naturally industrialized environment. Living in captivity can also cause the animal’s lifespan to decrease, and it may be due to the failure to satisfy their emotional needs. Human interaction to wildlife and its animals is every expanding, and this probably makes manmade disasters the main cause of the transaction of wild animals from the wild to zoos. On the other hand, zoos have the potential to raise awareness and the support from public donations to fund animal conservation projects, but people do not need to physically see an animal provide their support. Since there are many solutions to this debate, there is no direct answer. From a wild animal’s point of view, humans may be seen as immoral beings with countless evil intentions. What they do not realize is that we have the potential to do good and make big, positive
For years tigers have been a symbol of grace, power, and majesty (“Tigers Threatened,” 2006), exhibiting mesmerizing beauty and limitless strength that has been recognized throughout the world. Because of this, tigers are highly valued, as their body parts are prized and worth an enormous fortune, consequently resulting in 3 of the 8 subspecies of tigers into extinction (“Tigers Threatened,” 2006). The remaining five tiger species went from hundreds of thousands, to only 3,000 – 5,000 combined, and one subspecies has been targeted tremendously for their prestigious status. In particular, Amur commonly referred to as the Siberian tiger, now face a great deal of danger, as poaching increases and destruction of their homes persist, leaving Amur on the brink of extinction as well. With approximately 500 left in the wild (Sartore, 2014, p. 1), the imperiled mammals status signifies severe endangerment, where recognition and assistance are in desperate need to put an end to prohibited hunting, and mindless deforestation. The following paper will incorporate aspects of both hunting and destruction of the ecosystem, as they are the two driving forces causing rapid tiger demise.
The first point of view from this issue is the side that believes humans, zoos and other facilities should be allowed to keep animals. The places that captivate animals believe that they are doing a favor to the creatures. They believe that they are saving them from being killed by humans. They say that if they would not have taken in these animals they would have died in the wild. They say they’re giving them a fresh new start and a place to live without worry. For example, in this article they state that zoos try and h...
As Paul McCartney says, “You can judge a man's true character by the way he treats his fellow animals.” This famous quote applies to Dr. Randy Malamud, an animal ethicist who believes strongly in the idea that zoos are no place for animals. In the interview “Please Don’t Read the Animals: An Interview With Dr. Randy Malamud,” conducted by Professor Anna Schachner, Dr.Malamud clearly explains that wild animals should be kept in their own habitats. Rather than forcing animals into a box with metal bars around them, in order to be used as entertainment. Within reason, I do support Dr. Malamud’s opinion concerning this topic because when analyzed, the only benefit aside from food that humans see in animals is through zoos, circuses, and experiments. Animals can’t defend themselves against mans power. I believe animals’ lives should not be demeaned or played around with like a child plays with a toy. I support organizations and movements that promote animal rights in order to prevent man’s continual mistreatment towards animals, bringing more cultural awareness to the sensitivities needed for mankind to live in better harmony with our fellow creatures, and applaud the on-going work and struggles of animal rights activists across the world, appreciating what they have contributed to society.
"Do We Need Zoos?" : An All Creatures Animal Rights Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
Every pet owner knows there are enormous responsibilities that go along with having a domestic pet. In order to keep ones pets physically healthy they must be feed and given exercise properly and played with on a regular basis. It is also important to protect other people, property, or pets from your own animal. There is another responsibility that not all pet owners think about, however: spaying or neutering, or “fixing.” What does “fixing” your pet mean? Spaying- removing the ovaries and uterus of a female pet (Merriam-Webster, par.1.). Neutering- removing the testicles of your male pet (Merriam-Webster, par. 1.). This surgery solves more problems that pet owners may not be aware of. Due to overpopulation of homeless and animal sheltered
It is said that in order to protect the wildlife, we need to be educated about the wildlife that inhabits our planet. As humans, and the superior species on Earth, we put exotic animals, aquatic and terrestrial, in zoos or aquariums where people can go to see them to learn more about them in order to protect them. It just so happens that by putting these animals into captivity, we are causing more damage to them, just as damage is occurring in the wild and more species are becoming extinct. Animals should not be held in captivity; it does not save them from going extinct, but helps kill them off.
Many people in the world today suffer with problems such as anxiety and depression. As a way to treat these problems, those people should use animal-assisted therapy. Animal-assisted therapy (also known as pet therapy) is used in many hospitals and is growing more every day.
One reason that these wild creatures shouldn’t be pets is because of the unexpected dangers they could release. People claim that their wild animals are “tame” and “safe”, but you can never predict what these creatures will do. According to an editorial by USA TODAY, “In 2009, a 2-year-old Florida girl was strangled by a 12-foot-long Burmese python, a family pet that had gotten out of its aquarium.” The family might have bought the snake, believing that it was harmless, but you never know what an animal, especially a wild one.
Can you imagine keeping your dog in a small fish bowl, or keeping a person in a cage? How do you feel if you see rare animals which you may expect to see in wildlife, but you see them in someone’s backyard instead? These are similar to what people do when they keep exotic animals as their pets. Firstly, exotic pets are rare or unusual animals which are not native to the country, but kept in captivity within human households. These animals are generally considered as a wild species, and are not typically kept as pets. According to Born Free USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated in animal protection, only thirteen states ban the private ownership of exotic animals. Millions of them are still allowed to be privately possessed in the U.S without restriction, which showing how poorly these regulations are enforced. Several government-based organizations have also opposed the individual possession of exotic animals (“The Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets”). Although the owner can take a good care of their welfare, people should not be allowed to own exotic animals because it causes the animals to suffer, it is dangerous for public safety, and it harms public health.
In Wilcove’s article, it is examined within the 50 states the four types of animals being discussed such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians with the possibility of becoming extinct or critically imperiled determined by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). David Wilcove states that, “A total of 2,490 imperiled species, subspecies, and populations fit these criteria” (Wilcove, Rothstein, Dubow, Phillips, & Losos, 1998, p. 607). In response, within these 2,490 animals at risk the science of these problems is that their home is destroyed, and when introduced to a new environment they cannot adapt to the normal life in the same manner. Native animals cannot compete with the new species discovered and...
There has been a long-standing debate surrounding the nature of zoological parks. In recent years, the concern over the health and safety of animals in captivity has grown significantly. This is due, in part, to the rise in attention people have started paying towards the way these animals are treated and held captive within zoological parks. On the news, more cases pop up yearly involving animals that have been abused, neglected, and even killed. Furthermore, animal rights groups have become larger in numbers and more outspoken regarding the problematic existence of zoos. Though despite these facts, there has not been a decline in the amount of people visiting zoos, the economic revenue is as strong as ever, and the establishments are still
Places like Zoos will argue that they are keeping these animals in cages to protect their species from extinction. A study done shows that when a pack of wolves was reintroduced to Yellowstone after being absent for nearly 70 years, that it had a tremendous effect on the ecosystem. The wolves helped to control the deer in the area so the vegetation could flourish. Other animals began to migrate to the park, so there was more animals helping the ecosystem grow. So, keeping animals in cages actually has an impact on the environment they are meant to be in.