Giraffa camelopardalis, commonly know as the Giraffe. The tallest terrestrial animal on the planet, has a tongue as long as 20 inches. They are consistently one of the most visited attractions at many zoos, amusement parks and even on safaris in the wild. Their popularity is probably based on the fact that they are easy enough to manage and relatively friendly, gentle, and often quite interactive with zoo visitors. Their odd proportions and playful tongues might be a cause for inquiry and interest among animal lovers. But the circulating question is, how are animals in captivity, for instance, a giraffe, being affected by being put on display? And an even more important question, is it moral to do so? Considering a common event like the killing of an animal because of its poor breeding capability, is our society capable of providing adequate judgement on the habitats for these animals?
There are definitely benefits for many animals being held in captivity, such as giraffes. One of the biggest advantages of having animals retained in zoos is the quality education it provides to the public. Many zoos, such as the Boise Zoo, have Education Programs for children and parents that include fun activities, encounters and wildlife conservation participation. Average citizens having these unique interactions with many animals, who would not encounter them otherwise, provides them an experience with the infinite different kinds of animals. Many zoos often teach about what is occurring in the wild, information about the population, and current problems, all in addition to general information. It can give us humans a better understanding of what the world has to offer, or what we have to lose. Zoos often help people connect with the animals, ...
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... in captivity not only in zoos, but in wildlife parks, travelling zoos, petting zoos, even in roadside zoos. The business continues only because of the eager people who crave to see the ferocious tigers or lazy sloths that are put on display in a pathetic attempt at a natural habitat.
In order to answer the copious questions many people have about animal conservation and animals in captivity, one must look at both sides. Have the benefits of our efforts outweighed the drawbacks? There is certainly evidence for the positives of animal captivation, but a more hands off approach would benefit the masses. Conservation of natural habitats in the wild is a better option for most animals, who fail to prosper in a pseudo domain. Although our society is far away from upping the standards or even abolishing zoos, that step could be more realistic at some point in the future.
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
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.
The practice of keeping wild animals in a zoo or aquarium is looked at favorably in most aspects but what we fail to realize is that we have placed animals which at one point lived freely in wide open spaces into captivity. Society is assuming these animals are happy to be taken from their natural habitat and placed in pens and cages because they have every need handed to them. David Suzuki asked “What gives us the right to exploit other living organisms as we see fit?” (681). Through selfishness, people have justified zoos and aquariums to be an educational benefit to children, to help them learn about animals, their individuality and where they come from. Zoos and Aquariums are for society’s personal entertainment not for the good of the animals and should be closed down.
In all instances where varying species are kept under the control of an institution the justification of their captivity is under question. Zoos and aquariums both fall under this questioning,
On the other hand, animals kept in captivity not only have research done about them but it can also have a positive effect on their population. Being kept in captivity helps conserve the populations of endangered species. In a captive environment they are kept safe and away from harm. They can breed in captivity and keep the population growing. SeaWorld has bred many Orca Whales in captivity and hasn’t taken any out of the ocean in 35 years (Raja).
When people go on a trip to the zoo, it can be assumed that they do not think about much more than what they can see. Signals that make zoos unfair and sometimes unbearable for the captive animals are not visible to most spectators. This essay will explain how zoos are unjust and should not be supported. Animals should not be held captive due their negative behavioral changes, lack of natural habitat and the zoos failure to effectively preserve endangered species.
Zoo captivity does not benefit the animals trapped at the zoo is because it doesn't allow for the animals to be
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.
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.
Zoos display fascinating animals from all over the world for human entertainment, research, conservation, and education. Many scientists conduct studies on animals in captivity that they may not have been able to in the wild. Zoos educate all the visitors that come; they let people know everything that they know about the animals on display. We do learn a lot from these animals, but not all of the animals in the zoo are behaving like they normally would in the wild. Larger animals, such as elephants and orcas (commonly known as killer whales), have trouble with being confined in such a small area. However, many smaller animals benefit from zoos because they provide protection from predators, natural disasters, and poachers. They also benefit from conservation efforts; the babies being born get all the care they could ever need. Some animal rights activists are concerned that the conservation efforts are limiting the gene pool of the species. They argue that the small number of animals able to breed in captivity limits biodiversity and leads to weaknesses in the species overall. Zoos are wonderful places to study and learn about animals, but we need to improve the living standards for animals that struggle with captivity.
Envision yourself in an animal cage for the rest of your life. With no escape and no way of seeing your loved ones. There are better methods for education and conservation than keeping animals locked up in zoos away from their natural habitat. Visitors may learn more by watching a documentary or going to museums instead. Plus, if people want to see animals in person, they can travel the world and see the animals in their natural environment instead of going to man-made habitats. This is wrong because most animals are prisoners in their own cages, and they don't get to run free in the wild or eat as they like, therefore their food chain changes. However, animals may experience psychological trauma when they are separated from family members and locked away in isolation. Also, removing animals from the wild puts their entire species at risk for extinction.
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”).
Zoos are an unsuitable environment for wild animals and should, therefore, be abolished. Firstly, zoo animals are kept in a very confined area compared with their vast natural habitat. Secondly, breeding programmes are far less successful than zoos claim. Thirdly, zoo animals are exposed to many diseases and other dangers.
... danger too. A good reason for captivity is rehabilitation for an animal that is hurt or wounded and could be treated. Then having a second chance back out into the wild. Also by keeping endangered species from going completely instinct by figuring out genetics of an animal. So having zoos and farms do help animals but does put them at risk.
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.