There are 8.7 million species in the world and there are now about 41,415 species on the red list. 16,306 of these animals are in danger of extinction (Black par. 1). Animals are victims of human’s power: with human animals are used to satisfy their desires, with animals humans’ actions are their death sentence. Animals should be kept in the zoo to get protected from extinction due to climate change, human consumption and to build human-animal interaction for educational benefit.
Since Industrial Revolution, human activities such as the development of agriculture, and deforestation for the economic purpose are causing serious environmental damage. Habitat loss caused by these activities lead to species extinction worldwide. Due to global
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Why do parents take their children to the zoo? A zoo is a great place for education, discovery, and appreciation. The zoo is a home of making a difference on animal experts, and connecting people to animals. There was a study of AZA showing that 61% the zoo visitors found that their zoo and aquarium experience reinforced their values and attitudes towards conservation. A majority 57% of visitors said that their visit experience strengthened their connection to nature (Marino par. 5). Zoo is a good place for families to spend time together, gain knowledge and emotionally ties to wildlife. It can provide the real picture of animals which we‘ve never heard of or just seen on television. It is not just making a memory, but a lesson of loving animals that each visitors learned is more important. Have you ever thought that going to the zoo with a kid is boring? But when we see a lion roar, all of us yell “wow, that’s the king of the jungle.” When we see gorilla’s family sat down, scratched each other backs, we get amused and say “that’s the dad, that’s the mom.” The zoo helps us having a chance to see animals directly, to hear their roar, to absorb their actions, and suddenly it creates a greater appreciation for wildlife inside each visitors. They aren 't just places to see wild animals in cages anymore. Most zoos offer educational programming including stories, songs, activities, and provide petting and feeding areas. Creating an opportunity to come face to face with animals, the zoo offers amazing benefits for both children and adults. A zoo is a great place for children to understand the importance of taking care of the environment and its significant impact on animals’
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
“For many wildlife biologists and conservationists, breeding and conservation-oriented research on captive wildlife are seen as essential activities that should not be halted on the basis of animal welfare and animal rights objections. The ethical imperative to save threatened species from further decline and extinction in the wild has for them a priority over concerns regarding individual animal welfare.” By breeding animals that are in captivity, these animals give birth to their offspring that are then raised in captivity, even if the breeding works these animals will never be able to return to the wild because they will not be able to fend for themselves. Lack of diversity within DNA in captivity is also a large issue. By breeding animals in captivity that have very similar DNA, you create inbred animals which, in most species, have an “infant mortality rate among inbred animals of 100%.” Another issue with breeding is that the DNA will change from what the animals have that are born in the wild, these animals have different traits that are not at all similar to the same animal that is bred in captivity. The largest issue is that many zoos advocate that they are in business to save the animals and are doing so by breeding, but they are only breeding animals that do not need help. We should be supporting “large scale breeding centers rather than conventional zoos, most of which have neither the staff nor the facilities to run successful breeding
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.
Zoos are a popular place to bring students for a field trip. Besides the entertainment value, children can learn about the different animals of the world and see how ea...
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
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.
Deforestation is fast becoming one of the world’s worst environmental/geographical occurring disasters known to mankind, and is due to humankind’s greed, ignorance and carelessness when considering the future of our environment.
Marseille, Mirko M., Birgit H. M. Elands, and Meike L. van den Brink. "Experiencing Polar Bears In The Zoo: Feelings And Cognitions In Relation To A Visitor's Conservation Attitude." Human Dimensions Of Wildlife 17.1 (2012): 29-43. Environment Index. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
Zoos, there are more than 10,000 in the world and more than 700 million people visit them annually each year (AZA). Some people go for entertainment, some go for work, and some go for studies. These facilities are normally owned by government, cities, or privately owned. Zoos are able to exist because of taxpayers, grants, funds, and annual visitors that come to zoos. One question has been lingering around about zoos though do they really benefit animals or are they human entertainment? This report will examine the effects of zoos on animals, on employment, and on the economy.
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.
According to World WildLife Fund, many ecosystems around the world are being destroyed, eliminating many plant and animal species that inhabit them (“Pollution”).
Many of the issues of biodiversity loss can be traced back to human interaction to the environment. One of the issues is alteration and loss of habitats. A lot of this issue is based on the destruction of habitats and for the land to be used for human consumption. The land is either used up for agricultural use or for neighborhoods. Destroying habitats and building them for our own use can have a positive impact on our way of living but a negative impact on the environment. We would gain land for building land for crops and communities to be built. The habitat for the animals would be destroyed and the species local to the land would either relocate or die. There are restrictions to deforesting land and there are organizations to help protect the land.
Nowadays it is common to read articles in newspapers and magazines regarding biodiversity issues. Human beings have been knowingly and unknowingly destroying biodiversity since their existence. Biodiversity is the measure of the variety of species of animals living in an area. Forests are usually areas with high biodiversity while deserts are the opposite. Human beings have always destroyed biodiversity either by deforestation, or by some other means. Biodiversity depletion is a natural phenomenon. But the present levels of biodiversity depletion are many times higher than the natural rate. Recently the levels of loss in biodiversity have started causing global concern. Some of the main causes for loss in biodiversity are alteration of habitats, increasing levels of pollution and human population growth.
The Zoo and Its Benefits Zoos bring humankind closer to wildlife. Though, sometimes that means taking the animal out of its natural habitat. Some animals have lost most of their habitat and are on the verge of extinction. In this way, the zoo helps the animals rather than using them as a form of human entertainment. Zoos also allow humans to study different kinds of animals more closely.