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Throughout the years, wild animals in captivity has been a topic of great controversy. The debate lies within the animal itself; some people believe that having animals in captivity strips them of their natural instincts and thus ruins the animal. In contrast, other people believe that keeping certain animals in captivity can save the animal from the cruel world it would have been forced to live otherwise. In the novel A Lion Called Christian, the latter opinion had taken on a unique twist and was brought to life through Anthony Bourke, John Rendall and their lion, Christian. When Anthony and John decide to purchase an African Lion from a vender in the Harrods mega-market, they decided that by temporarily keeping the lion themselves and eventually finding a place for him to be released back into the wild, they would ultimately save him from living a probable life in a zoo. Later on in their adventure with Christian, they become friends with a well known, who helps them find an area in Africa to rehabilitate and release Christian. Anthony and John were not only able to save Christian from living a possibly terrible life in a zoo, but properly care for Christian and prepare him for the life he was to lead in Africa after his rehabilitation was complete.
Zoo maintenance has been a controversial topic for many of years, and the world has made large strides in improving it. Despite this, even in this day and age, there are still a multitude of problems with regards to animal welfare. Although zoos do gather information about the animals the have in captivity, they fail to apply that gathered information into improving the lifestyles of the animals they have. Among other things, the problems zoos face are as followed: making sure the...
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...istian from turning into the “house cat” he essentially was in his first few months. Anthony and John properly cared for Christian, and prepared him for independent wild cat life in Africa, all while saving him from the captured zoo life.
Works Cited
Hayward, Matt W., and Rob Slotow. "Temporal Partitioning Of Activity In Large African Carnivores: Tests Of Multiple Hypotheses." South African Journal Of Wildlife Research 39.2 (2009): 109-125. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Nov. 2011.
Rapson, Jackie A., and Ric T. F. Bernard. "Interpreting The Diet Of Lions (Panthera Leo); A Comparison Of Various Methods Of Analysis." South African Journal Of Wildlife Research 37.2 (2007): 179-187. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Nov. 2011.
Zamir, Tzachi. "The Welfare-Based Defense Of Zoos." Society & Animals 15.2 (2007): 191-201. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Dec. 2011.
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
Soniak, Matt. “The Life and Times of the MGM Lion.” Mental Floss, 21 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. .
After hearing rumors of other animals held in terrible conditions Anthony made numerous trips into very dangerous territory putting his life and that of the workers under him at risk. Some raids were a huge success, like when he was able to the camel, Sudan’s Lions, and a few bears. Others were a disaster, like when they rescued a few peacocks and birds which were then stolen and killed by Looters within hours of them residing in the zoo. The group of animals that turned the tide for the zoo was the Arabian horses. When these animals were safely in the custody of the Baghdad Zoo, Thousands upon thousands of dollars became available to help fully restore the zoo. The largest however came from Baghdad itself who offered money to help the zoo in order to reestablish a sense of order and civilization in the war-struck city. With this money and new found support the zoo was able to fix the walls, cages and plumbing. Hire full time workers, and veterinarians to help look after the animals. When the lions were first found there was uncertainty on whether or not they would stay at the zoo or be released into the wild, a
Armstrong, Grace M. "Rescuing the Lion: From Le Chevalier Au Lion to La Queste del Saint Graal." Medium Aevum 61 (1992): 17-34.
Have you ever seen an animal sitting in a cage all alone with nothing to do. Well, zoos are trying to change that fact. They will allow the animals to live in an environment that is like their home. Many people don't realize this, but zoo are keeping and breeding these animals because they would not survive in the wild alone. In the three passages, ¨The Stripes Will Survive,¨ ¨The Zood Go Wild from No More Dodos,¨ ¨Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment.¨ All of these articles present one claim, that is that the role of zoos is no longer to keep animal, but to protect them.
Animal rights have become a very serious issue here in the United States over the last few decades. One issue that has been discussed is whether or not zoos serve a good purpose or are they just a torture chamber for the animals. Locked up in small cages so people can yell at them and stare. Or are zoos the key to save our species in an ever growing human population. Rachel Lu, a philosophy teacher and senior columnist, writes the article, “Let’s Keep Zoos: Learning stewardship is a good thing.”, published April 18, 2014, argues that zoos are worth keeping. Rachel Lu uses her personal experiences to appeal to her audience that zoos are valuable to people especially young children because it gives them a perspective on nature.
Analysis of Argument for Ethical Zoos and How They Benefit Animals Due to the recent events in the Cincinnati Zoo, arguments have been sparked about the ethics of zoos. Most articles try to argue against zoos and closed environments, but there are those that still support zoos and the programs that they provide for endangered species. The argument “Zoos Are Not Prisons”? They Improve the Lives of Animals” focuses on the positives of animal enclosures and fights for support to keep zoos in business. The author, Dr. Robin Ganzert, ties examples of programs that zoos help create and what type of research is conducted in the zoos, to support his claims.
... the newspaper. I really recommend you read the last chapter of the book, where John collect essential moral of his novel. He explained what animal could teach to the human. John wrote about his relationship: “Mostly he [Marley] taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty”.
There are many places where people can go to see live animals such as aquariums, zoos, and safari parks. A pleasant way to define a Zoo is to call it “an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals”. (Google def) Another way to say that is a facility in which animals are “enclosed in cages for public exhibition”. I believe zoos are ethical; however, changes need to be made to eliminate problems I have discovered. In this argumentative essay, I will be arguing the ethics of zoos and certain problems that need to be addressed that people are not aware of. Zoos are great places to take the family out for the day to have entertainment; however, problems such as captive breeding, length of life, and animal stress need to improve.
Lemonick, Michael D. “Who Belongs in the Zoo?” Time. Time, 11 June 2006. Web. 12 Dec.
Since approximately 1250 B.C., ancient Egyptians had created and practiced the capture and display of animals in what are now known as zoos (Fravel). Records describe such exotic animals as birds, lions, giraffes, and tigers in captivity (Fravel). Since then, zoos have continued to entertain millions with the exciting chance to view exotic animals up close and personal. Even in ancient Greece, exotic animals were on display in fighting arenas, and in enclosed viewing areas. Originally in America, zoos were just created so that royalty and the wealthy could flaunt their exotic animals to the public (Leolupus). Today, with species threatened and habitats disappearing worldwide, zoos are serving a new purpose other than the mere exhibition of animals – conservation. (Fravel). When you think of a zoo, you either think of a fun, entertaining place that provides close-up and exciting exhibits of wild animals that you would otherwise never get the chance to see, or a place where people keep suffering, unhappy animals captive just for entertainment and display. However, despite whichever view you hold, and despite the stereotypes, some zoos have evolved to serve alternative and helpful purposes. Although some zoos face controversy due to allegations such as lack of space and quality care, neglect, and cruelty, some zoos have programs specifically designed to help and protect animal species. For example, these zoos have programs that help such conservation efforts as breeding.
Some people may argue that zoos protect animals and species under this polluted world, however, do animals in zoos really need our “help”? Yes, but surely not that many. According to Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS), 79% of animals in United Kingdom zoos and over 70% of elephants in European zoos are wild-caught. It seems that zoos need them rather than they need zoos.
Even though some zoos have an endangered species exhibit with the intention of protecting and rehabilitating animals, many do not do an adequate job of protecting the animals. Zoos have been harmful to the very animals they have sworn to protect. Animals in captivity often suffer from anxiety, boredom and other severe issue related to prolonged confinement. Most animals are unable to thrive in small enclosure with unnatural weather and climates. For example elephants are known to walk as far as 30 miles per day, but the association of Zoos and aquariums only require a space the measures $0 feet by 45 feet, which is about the size of a three car garage, to house these large animals. (peta.org) the drastic difference in the amount of space their allowed ...
Supporters of zoos argue that they help to conserve endangered species, but in fact they are not very good at this. Even the world famous panda-breeding programme has been very costly and unsuccessful. Also, zoo life does not prepare animals for the challenges of life in the wild. For example, two rare lynxes released into the wild in Colorado died from starvation even though the area was full of hares, which are a lynx’s natural prey.