Does humanity treat animals humanely?
Introduction
For this project I will be fully researching and sharing my thoughts, opinions and knowledge on the affects humanity has on animals. I will be talking about how we keep animals in captivity in places such as the famous sea life amusement park “SeaWorld” and its controversial effects on Orcas – commonly known as Killer Whales. As well as this I will also be talking about animal testing. Throughout this assignment I will be sharing cold hard facts and disturbing information about the captivation of animals as well as showing the benefits and how it educates young people, although my main goal for this topic is to explain why humanity should change their treatment towards animals for the better.
The topics of SeaWorld, captivity and animal testing are all very important parts of this project and they are also close to me personally as well. The main reason for me being so vocal is that I feel enormously protective towards animals and I am an advocate for animal welfare.
From initial research I have gathered I have reason to believe there is both a strong argument for and against these issues, and although currently more and more people are starting to see how badly animals are actually being treated - this does not stop it.
Discussion
The first issue I will be addressing in this discussion is SeaWorld, a world famous sea life amusement park. SeaWorld is a very controversial business as one half of the organisation is to protect sea life around the world, such as stopping large mammals from being stranded. Although this sounds very heroic and like it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s actually not. Some mammals are re-released back into their natural habit straight away or ta...
... middle of paper ...
...el this planet as our own. We came and viciously invaded their territory when we ourselves came from animals. And now, we are destroying their home for the sake of amusement? My point? Stop seeing animals as objects and start seeing them as equals. We have no right to direct their lives and SeaWorld is doing just that.
The Life Span of an Orca – Wilderness VS Captivity
In the wild, female killer whales have an average life span of 50 years and their maximum life span is 90. The oldest known killer whale was named “Granny” also known as J2, and she lived to be around 104 years old. Male killer whales have an average life span of 30 – to 60 years in the wild, whereas in captivity – both male and female orcas usually only live to around age 25 – 30. Sometimes 40. This is rather upsetting as they could live a long, healthy life if they were not trapped in captivity.
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
But there are more disadvantages than its advantages. Marine parks offer people to have a glance of the natural beauty of Australia. According to me, that is not at all natural. An animal can be best observed in its wild habitat. Most of the people would agree on this fact. Most people would agree on this matter. There is no need of gaining a little profit by pushing the growth of the society and the balance of the environment into a state of danger. Moreover, I also want to assert that we should feel the pain the captive animals go through. If we consider ethically, then it can be seen as an opposition to the basic level of humanity. I strongly agree with Daly and I think that the marine parks should be closed
The most effective piece of this documentary, however, was neither the structure of the film nor the specific questions that one is forced to answer regarding the ethical treatment of these killer whales, but the overall questions of whether or not these corporations should be allowed to continue their cycle of abuse toward the animals and whether or not we, as patrons, should encourage their behavior by giving them a monetary profit every day, every month, and every year. Ignorance is forgivable, but with the knowledge given in this documentary: the final two questions raised should be able to answer themselves.
The fact that the animals in Seaworld are depressed and angered means that kids are going to see animals not only in an unnatural state. Unfortunately, they will also have the potential to see aggressive Orcas. Children are going to absolutely terrified by these animals when they are actually very calm. Peaceful animals. Plus, the facts that Seaworld gives their guests about all the animals are downright false! If we were going to compare Seaworld to anything, then I would compare it to a judge sentencing an innocent man to life in prison. Places like this truly show us that mankind is downright evil! Now, let's look back, what are our kids truly learning
SeaWorld a leader in the captivity and use of killer whales for entertainment has counterattacked the points made by the documentary Blackfish, which brought many points to light. For example, SeaWorld asserts “that while research suggests that some wild killer whales can live as long as 60 to 70 years, their average lifespan is nowhere near that,” (source). In the wild, average lifespan is 30 for males, 50 for females, and can live up to be 80-90 years old. In captivity, in such environments as those at SeaWorld, most orcas die in their teens or 20s and only a handful survive past 25. The annual mortality or death rate for orcas is 2.5 times higher ...
Yet these people do not stop to consider what is going on behind the scenes when they are watching the dolphins and whales swim and dive through the water with their trainers. If one were to approach a trainer and ask about the abuse that these animals suffer every day in order for them to perform their shows and tricks, the trainer would say that it is an educational and necessary aspect to keep the animals in captivity. They would also defend these abusive acts by speaking of the information they are gaining of the animals and how they can use this information to help those in the wild. This is due to their own ignorance that they would say such terrible things about these intelligent yet helpless animals. These animals endure much more torture in captivity than most people would like to admit to themselves. Furthermore, the “facts” that the trainers tell the visitors of SeaWorld are untrue. For example, as one sees in the movie Blackfish, the trainers do not give accurate facts regarding life span in and out of captivity as well as the percentage of the collapsed fins
The whale Tilicum who is responsible for multiple deaths of trainers is still in captivity and still performs in shows. He now has no life left in him and for hours will still sit in the same spot. This is no way to treat a living thing and in no way should wild animals like this be put into captivity. The bottom line is that these animals are living mammals and should not be put into situations where they are starved and kept in extremely small spaces to live out their lives. Companies like Sea World should no longer have whale shows and should release all of the whales that will be able to survive into the wild. Sea World would be able to survive without their whale show, and even though it is one of the biggest sources of revenue the park can make money in other endevures.
In the Vancouver Aquarium, there are many aquatic animals that have been encaged for research purposes and entertainment. Some people may say animals have a right to life, and human have no right to interfere in their natural lives because they are living creatures just like us. However, Kant (239) suggests that “animals are not included in the moral community because they lack rational autonomy”. Based on this principle, in Kant’s view, disagrees having animal right that people do not have an obligation to treat animals as same as other human beings.
Thesis Statement: Closing SeaWorld’s doors would be unjust, however; SeaWorld can repair its image by providing excellent care for its current residents and by shifting the business model from entertainment to rescue, rehabilitate and release at all locations.
Animals are used today for many sources of protection, food, clothing, transportation, sports, entertainment, and labor, but millions of these animals die each year from abuse. “Most of the reasons that people give for denying animals rights are: animals do not have souls, god gave humans dominion over the animals, humans are intellectually superior to animals, humans are intellectually superior to animals, animals do not reason, think, or feel pain like humans do, animals are a natural resource to used as humans see fit, and animals kill each other” (Evans). It all started in the nineteenth century, when people began abusing animals by beating them, feeding them poorly, providing them with no shelter or poor shelter, left to die if they were sick or old, or by cruel sports. Most of the organized efforts to improve human treatment of animals all started in England. Around the 1800s, there was signs of rising concern for animal welfare in the United States.
Millions of people visit Sea World each year (The Fate). They crowd into Shamu Stadium to be entertained by the killer whales as they perform. Their eyes widen, and they sit in awe, as these enormous creatures effortlessly propel themselves out of the water. The children in the audience squeal with delight as the orca’s giant tail sends a wave of ice water over the crowd. But these fast-paced, high-spirited shows hide a darker reality. They are designed to mask the reality of the bare, cold concrete walls that the Orcas are forced to call home. It’s time for people to realize the plight of these mammals. Keeping Orcas in captivity is both harmful and cruel.
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.
“There can be many reason for animal cruelty, like any other form of violence, is often committed by a person who feels powerless, unnoticed, or under control of others. Some who are cruel to animals copy acts what they have seen or that have been done to them, others see harming an animal as a safe way to get revenge against--or threaten-- someone who cares about that animal”. (“Animal… Statistics”) Concerns towards abusing animals have gone up in the past. Although there are not many cases on animal abuse, many have occurred. Abusers are charged with Criminal Animal Abuse and then sentenced to life in prison. Some animals that are physically abused are sometimes rescued by Animal Control, and are taken it to an animal shelter. However, many shelters have not had the space to keep the animals so the workers would have to put them down (Carol Roach). Researchers have shown that the main animals getting abused are dogs, chickens, horses, and livestock (“Animal...
Research and testing have become more prominent and a strong concern to the public on the treatment of animals. Many activists today are trying to change the view people see toward the animal they have as a companion. Ethical issues are the many concerns about animals and the question always asked is,”who has the right to control the animal?”. For animal welfare and the causes of animal abuse, new research has been created. Since animal abuse is fairly a new subject, new research is constantly being brought up.
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”).