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Recommended: The importance of zoos
Zoos have been with us throughout our history, and can provide a good barometer of public beliefs and values at any given time. Therefore it seems necessary to explore whether in today’s society contemporary zoos are a means of educating and conserving or still seek to control and exhibit animal others for human benefit. In order to make this assessment there are a number of contributing factors. Firstly it is important to establish context by considering the history of zoos and looking at the changes from the early menageries to contemporary zoos who strive to be institutions of refuge for animals facing twenty-first century global challenges. This links into how the physical space of zoos has changed over time and whether these advancements have made any crucial difference to the welfare of animals. Following this conservation, education and scientific research will be explored in detail in order to assess whether they provide good enough motives for keeping animals in captivity. I will seek to argue that although attempts have been made to point zoos in the direction of conservation and education, in my opinion the concepts of dominance and human superiority are still at the core of modern zoos.
The history of change regarding the varying displays of animals has been gradual yet profound. A clear shift has been evident surrounding the role and nature of a zoo’s position within society. When assessing zoological history it seems that there are three distinct phases. From the early collections where animals were kept and used for religion, hunting and entertainment to the private menageries in which wild animals were contained as a sign of wealth, dominance and privilege and more recently the development of zoos as modern ins...
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...es to places to display animals for curiosity and education, to parks where animals can be seen in their more natural habitats. The perception around enclosures and cages in general is often criticised, with Bartay and Hardouin believing that “every aspect of humanity’s relationship with nature can be perceived through the bars of the zoological garden: repulsion and fascination; the impulse to appropriate, master and understand… linked to vast parallel histories of colonization, ethnocentrism and the discovery of the other… to tour the cages of the zoo is to understand the society that erected them.” (Bishop, 2004: 107). This suggests regardless of an enclosure’s size, nature or specification it is a direct indication of humanity’s desire to control and exhibit animal others. Malamud agrees with this view, arguing that all practises of animal containment “convince
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.
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
I’ll repeat… Imagine a zoo and tell me what do you really know about them? What is its purpose? Where do the animals come from? Why are they there? How are they cared for? What really goes into building and running of a zoo? If you were to ask me those questions in my more innocent years my answers would look rather simple. I thought of the zoo simply as an unusual type of farm considering I lived on one myself. I remember assuming they were all born in a zoo or too injured to be released back into the wild, so of course, they all now live there. How zoos were created though were left for older minds and even then it wasn’t something I thought about until I was randomly gifted this book by a fellow student whom I had told I wanted to work in a zoo someday. It turned out to be one the defining stories I have ever read. Reveling a world I had only glimpsed at but apparently knew very little about. Thomas French is a Pulitzer winner and the author of the book ‘Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives.' Within the pages of this fascinating book, he attempts to unveil that behind the scenes world, answer those questions in far more detail and change the way we all view a visit to the zoo. Is it truly the refuge most of us believe or truly the prison that some criticize?
If families and children come along to zoos as often as the figures say then ideas will be put in their heads that it’s okay for animals to be trapped in small cages and that they are only there for our entertainment and not our educational needs.
"Do We Need Zoos?" : An All Creatures Animal Rights Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2015.
For countless periods some animal’s defenders see the zoos as an entertainment place for people. Zoos are supposed to be parks which exhibit faunas, with the principal resolutions of providing for the public recreation or education. But is that what really occurs? Zoos -hypothetically- are humanitarian’s recreations of what they now name a “habitat”.
Millions of grandparents, parents, and children attend one of the 10,000 zoos located worldwide (Fravel). Zoos are purposeful through amusement or entertainment and education to children and adults. Overall, zoos are perceived as a happy, fun, and educational place, although, according to National Geographic, they are locations for holding wild animals captive for the purpose of studying and breeding them as well as to protect the endangered species (Society). Even though society might learn a few facts in a zoo, are they actually beneficial to the animals? An animal's life depends on the decisions humans make, it depends on our morals regarding captivity, liberty, and if they have a legitimate purpose.
Living conditions are crucial to an animal’s survival. Captivity cannot begin to replicate what it means to be free. Living in an enclosed prison cell, animals are prevented from natural activities like running, roaming, flying, climbing, foraging, choosing a partner, and being with others of their own kind (“Pitiful Prisons”). Zoos also cannot provide the amount of space animals have in the wild especially for species who roam larger distances in their natural habitat. “Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than would in the wild. Polar bears have one million times less space” (10 Facts About Zoos). The federal Animal Welfare Act establishes only the most minimal standards for cage size, shelter, health care, ventilation, fencing, food and water. A zoo is no place like home.
Zoo’s enclosures and parks have been around for quite a while now, and it is the duty of the public to go to these parks to explore a new world and experience the “true” animals. People are attracted to new experiences and to learn about exotic animals and see them in their “natural” habitat, or so owners try to present zoos to the public in that way. The seller ideas to get the public to continue to go to the zoos is gaining new exotic animals that you wouldn’t normally see around your house or near civilization. As stated by DeLuca and Slawter-Volkening, zoos are used to “bringing a taste of wilderness” to its public (3), trying to give a false reality of the wilderness. Later in the same article, they stated that “fundamentally zoos exist to amuse people…..animals are reduced to actors in the play/world created by humans for humans” (DeLuca and Slawter-Volkening 4). This statement shows that humans do in fact enjoy the “fake” over the real, and that animals are only objects or toys used to amuse the people.
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.
Zoos are perhaps one of the most popular forms of museum on the planet. Some of these vast, sprawling landscapes are filled with species from every continent on the planet, representing a vast portion of life found on the earth. A child from Iowa can get the opportunity to see a polar bear, a zebra, and rare species of birds, insects, and countless other animals all in the course of a day. Zoos truly provide a unique and profound experience for those with an open and curious mind. But, the nature of a zoo is not purely entertainment. These collections of creatures big and small also serve the purpose of education, conservation, and research. These reasons are enumerated well in the mission statement of the St. Louis Zoo as “To conserve animals
The feeling of being trapped in a confined space is the reaction animals have towards being put into zoos. Since the middle ages, Kings and Emperors kept undomesticated animals to symbolize power in one’s household. Very little entertainment was available and people put animals into arenas to fight to the death. Due to injuries from the confrontations, they were not treated well. Since zoos have existed for a long time, new purposes were invented. In my opinion, zoos should not exist unless for rescued animals. In this essay, I will discuss why zoos should not exist because of their inhumanity, inconsistent behavior, and that we should only have zoos that contain animals that can no longer survive in untamed environment.
How would you react if you were caged and taken somewhere where you don’t belong only to be looked at by the savages that trapped you? This is a situation that many animals are being put into everyday as zoos take them out of their natural habitats to be enjoyed by the public. Zoos are very cruel to animals because they cause a loss of habitat, and give them unsuitable enclosures. Zoos also make the animal used to the city life so when (and if) they are released into the wild they will not be able to survive. Zoos also give the animal many cruel diseases and disorders due to overall unsuitability. It is important for the reader to know that zoos are very cruel to animals because if they don’t then they will simply keep going to zoos and enjoying the undercover abusing of animals.
Does a zoo offer the proper and necessary environment for the animals’ basic needs? Most people think that the zoos are doing the captivity animals a favor with the concept that the zoos are trying to save endangered species. Zoos suggest that by bringing those captivity animals back to the zoos environment can bring animal advantage such as being safer and health care benefits. Each individual can have a different opinions and perceptive on this argument subject, but many might disagree with the concept that animals are born to have the survival skill to protect themselves. Every single day, animals are being held captive and have no freedom, and those animals might be tortured without people knowing about it. Many people should make a statement and protest against this controversial issue. Even the zoos,
Zoos are in a struggle of survival because they are very experience to maintain; every animal has special needs and zoos do not receive a large amount of money and are in lack of funds. They have helped many animals by sheltering them and helping them recreate their original habitat. Some zoo experts predict that zoos, as convinced today, could disappear someday (“Zoos Face the Challenges”). While some people see zoos negatively, zoos provide valuable resources for society because even though zoos are expensive to maintain they offer many programs to citizens, allow people to see animals in their natural environments, and protect endangered species. Zoos are ranked last on the list of priorities to our community because they are just considered a center of entertainment which is not really necessarily important. Expansion, remodeling, and maintenance cost is extremely expensive at a time when economy is faced with many problems that make