Zoochosis For Animals

Ever since the dawn of human civilization, people have enclosed animals for their own personal enjoyment. In modern times, animals are now kept in zoos and aquariums not just for entertainment, but also for preventing the extinction of a diversity of species. For the past few decades, animal rights activists have been disputing whether or not if these captive areas have been benefiting the animals or if they are just depriving them from their natural rights. Even though supporters of zoos and aquariums argue that these isolated environments improve animals’ lives; the emotional state, habitat, and nutrition change drastically causing problems for the captive animals.

First of all, amongst the numerous supply of careers located in zoos and

Similar to the human illness Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), zoochosis is related to animals that have been captured from their native habitat and placed into a restricted exhibit in zoos and aquariums (“Animal Facts”). Significantly, zoochosis can reduce the overall management of stress and could decrease the overall life expectancy of an animal. The assistance of animal caretakers does not benefit the animal in certain situations as well. Illnesses that are not prevailing in the animal’s initial environment are developed inside the captive walls. Unfortunately, the animals are incapable of developing any form of resistance to these viruses (“Zoos”). Likewise, the treatments animals are faced with hurt them both emotionally and physically. Nevertheless, animal nutritionists have been improving the diets of animals, including the extension of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. “Besides ample quantities of fresh food, substantial effort is made in preparing a diet that is adequate and healthy for the animals.” (Haque 334). Considering the transition from an abundant amount of diverse foods, animals need a replacement in their diet, which increases their health.. Regardless of this positive enhancement in the zoo, animals still suffer due to the overcrowded and limited environment, and lack of treatment or care for the

Scientists have been researching methods to generate food that has similar qualities to the food that animals receive in the wild. Despite the attempts of improving nutrients, animals are expecting the food to come to them; they are not hunting. In their native habitats, animals would search, daily, for their food source. In these containment centers, animal trainers feed the animals based on positive reinforcement, which devalues their hunting skills (“Wild vs. Captivity”). Consequently, responding only to positive reinforcement only causes the animals to lose an extensive amount of daily exercise, and it increases stress. In addition, due to nutritionists and animal caretakers investigating and improving meals, the standardization of arranging said meals was created. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Institution, known as A.Z.A for short, gathered guidelines which designate directions to the Institution for the conservation of feeding programs. These feeding instructions include: preparing a nutritional diet that is consumed frequently, requiring a diet that represents the natural feeding cycle, and having the diet be economical to feed ("AZA Nutrition"). The AZA Nutrition Guidelines may be in place; however, a majority of zoos and aquariums are not taking the additional step into changing