The Zoo Controversy

1436 Words3 Pages

Everybody’s been to the zoo; they’ve either enjoyed a dolphin show, or fed the penguins. Zoos have been a part of American culture for centuries. At first, a zoo could be seen as nothing more than a jail cell for animals, but today, zoos are being completely transformed. What used to be confined cages are now being revolutionized into acres of land for different species to reside in. The opponents of zoos feel that they are inhumane and harmful to animals. However, zoos are beneficial for several different reasons, including, animal conservation and captive breeding, scientific studies, healthcare, and education.

Daniel Martin, writer for mailonline.com, wrote an article about Angela Smith who works as a Labor’s Charities Minister. Smith is strongly opposed to zoos and thinks they should be banned in Britain. Smith describes zoos as “cruel relics of the Victorian Era,” (Martin 1) forgetting about all the advantages that come with zoos. Martin writes, “Ms Smith, patron of the Captive Animals’ Protection Society campaign group, earlier this year boycotted an event because it was being held at London Zoo,” (Martin). This article touches on the moral injustice of keeping animals in captivity. In response to Smith, David Field, the director of the London Zoo, replied “To say stop bringing wild animals into zoos just shows Angela Smith’s incredible naivety about why zoos exist,” (Martin). Field goes on to say the remarkable things zoos are comprised of, including the incredible power zoos have to directly connect you with nature (Martin).

First off, opponents of zoos need to understand that zoos are not what they used to be. When zoos were first created, animals were treated like prisoners, locked up in small cages. But ...

... middle of paper ...

...c.galegroup.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/ic/ovic/AcademicJournalsDetailsPage/AcademicJournalsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Journals&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CA133108724&mode=view>.

"Minnesota Zoo takes education and conservation to the world of online gaming." Endangered Species Update 23.4 (2006): 156. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. .

"Research in Zoos." AZA Elephant TAG/SSP Homepage. Association of Zoos and Aquariams. Web. 02 Dec. 2011. .

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Zoos Are Not Prisons: They Improve The Lives Of Animals

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The American Family Life During The Progressive Era

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    Stotts uses scholarly articles, newspaper articles and historical monographs to show the changing ideologies and perception of zoological parks in America. He addresses the reasons adults and children alike were attracted to these parks. Stotts addresses the appeal of the zoo to American families, which extends upon the social history of the United States. Furthermore he addresses how zoos came to become sanctuaries, preservers and protectors of America’s wildlife for future generations.

    Read More

  • Stripes Will Survive Essay On Zoos

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Why Do Animals Live In Zoos

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • What Are Zoos?

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    Zoos have been very controversial lately with debate about animal cruelty and speculations shifting around the industry, so what is the truth about zoos? Zoos are known to be a safe area for animals and humans, entertain individuals and be a safe containment for endangered animals. Knowing this information it’s factual to say that this sounds like the perfect place for animals and humans, and they are.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Let's Keep Zoos '

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Argument For Ethical Zoos

    1643 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since the recent event with a gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo, people have questioned ethics. The author wrote this argument to explain why the safety of animals, as well as their survival in the future, depends on these enclosures. Some readers would accept that zoos and aquariums conduct a lot of research, but for those who are skeptical, the argument discusses that the “Zoological Society of London, for instance, is developing innovative methods to assess the risks of animals contracting disease when they are reintroduced into the wild” (2016, p. 2, para. 7). The effective evidence Ganzert brings in shows readers the benefits of zoos and aquariums in order to appeal to the value of the animals being well contained and protected while they are in the enclosures. Another strong example of Ganzert’s appeal to an audience that wants the facts is “The Phoenix Zoo helped lead the ensuing breeding and reintroduction programs, which ultimately birthed more than 200 calves from just nine individuals. Now between Oman and Jordan, there are about 1,000 Arabian Oryx living in the wild” (2016, p. 2, para. 4). In result, the audience receives information about an existing program as well as what has happened due to the creation of this program at the Phoenix Zoo.

    Read More

  • Ethics of Zoos

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Role Of Zoos

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    This does not change it as zoos are here as conservation and education; we are here to save the animals, and make more people aware of the situation at hand. I believe that we shouldn’t turn our heads or back to problems that zoos are suffering, going through misunderstanding or beliefs of what others say. This means propaganda, misinformation, or organizations; for example, PETA, should not matter on what actions we are to make. We have a job to do for these animals, and this world; because if we don’t take that first leap, then we have not just lost the fight but we have lost the

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: Why Are Zoos Are Good?

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, while zoos should conserve and encourage educational experiences within their parks, Allen points out it’s also important to take a compassionate approach in caring for each individual animal. As zoos focus more on education and conservation, they sometimes forget that animals are not alive in terms of population and individual welfare is important. Thus, it appears that Allen is taking a middle ground approach to the ongoing debate about zoos, because she is open to zoos, when they are compassionate, yet fully recognizes the downside of animal cruelty.

    Read More

  • Zoo's Efforts to Help Conservation

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Essay On Zoos

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    The park had animals such as deer, and grizzly bear and 120 other animals. Now, Henry Doorly Zoo is a home to over 17,000 animals, and different 962 species. However, with all of these different animals in the zoo, it upsets the animals’ native ecology. Even under the best circumstances at the best zoos, a zoo cannot start to replicate the wild animals’ habitat. Where a wild animal is free to roam and explore the world, one in a zoo is confined to a small area. Also, Zoos claim to want to protect species from extinction, but usually the zoos just want animals because they are exotic or popular. These exotic animals are put into an unnatural environment and upsets their native ecology. A zoo wants these exotic animals primarily for the purpose of promoting tourism and generating money. Zoos claim to want to protect species from extinction, which sounds good on the surface, but in reality only want to draw crowd and publicity. Also zoos claim that they are helping repopulate an endangered or exotic species, but the animals in the zoo are never going to return to the wild. Animals in the wild have to survive on a daily basis. They need to hunt, or gather food, and avoid predators. Animals in the zoos never experience any of this and would not survive in the

    Read More

  • Are Zoos Inhumane?

    2040 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the film, Madagascar, zoos are depicted as a sanctuary in which all the exotic animals are kept safe and are open for the public to view. But many would argue that zoos are inhumane, the charging of animals for our personal entertainment is unjustifiable. Those who believe that zoos are wrong and should be destroyed are animal rights activists; they believe that animals should be allowed to choose their own destiny. Those that believe that zoos are an important part of our lives are scientists and zoologists. This debate has gone on for generations and average folk are stuck in the middle, not knowing which side to stand on.

    Read More

  • Zoos are Doing More Harm Than Good

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    Zoos are public parks that claim to display animals for the purpose of education and procreation of endangered species; but in reality Zoos area actually doing more harm than good. Animals that live in zoos are more likely to suffer from illness or injury as opposed to those who live in the wild, and they also have shorter lifespans.

    Read More

  • Zoos Should be Banned

    344 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about The Zoo Controversy

Open Document