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Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. They go to get out of the house, to get their children some fresh air, to see interesting animals. These are highly intelligent animals with complex social constructs that scientists have studied for . Are Zoos Ethical? Arguments for and Against Zoos - Treehugger According toAnimal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, fleeing or running away is the most popular reaction of animals towards humans. I do not doubt that some people had their passion for a particular species, or wildlife in general, sparked by zoo experiences. In a study done on 40 chimpanzees in six different zoos, all of the chimps exhibited behavior their counterparts in nature did not. "An even smaller proportion are part of captive breeding programmes and, of those, a tiny fraction have been released back into the wild. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. Zoo elephants tend to die young. There is no wild animal census in the United States, and many states have lax oversight, so any estimates about the population of wild animals in captivity is at best an educated guess. The Endangered Species Act: The Endangered Species Act, the ESA, is a federal law that protects fish, mammals, birds and plants listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. and beyond. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. Tell lawmakers you support animal-friendly legislation and local bans on using animals in entertainment. CreditPhotographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction. Pros and cons of zoos: Should animals be kept in zoos? The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. Its protections are minimal as well. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Cleaners and feeders spend a lot of time with the animals, and understanding the situation one is getting into can be very helpful. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. And Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo has an on-site Wildlife Hospital to save sick and injured native species. The first efforts to keep wild and exotic animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in . They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. The most recent addition to the family, Willow, a cockapoo puppy, has settled straight into family life and now controls who sits where on the sofa. Fewer and fewer states are allowing residents to keep captive wild animals without a permit. The problem is that these large predators control the population of herbivorous animals in their domain. This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. William Randolph Hearst created his own private zoo with lions, tigers, leopards and more at Hearst Castle. But theres no unambiguous evidence that zoos are making visitors care more about conservation or take any action to support it. Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. Outside of providing sufficient space to allow natural behaviors to develop, issues such as climate, diet, and the formation of a social hierarchy where appropriate make running a zoo a difficult task. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. Deforestation will be the next problem when animals such as moose, elks, and deer start eating everything even young trees. Having seen a majestic leopard in the zoo, the visitor becomes more willing to pay for its conservation or vote for policies that will preserve it in the wild. Keep on reading. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. If an animal cannot be given sufficient space or is suffering from stress and not behaving as expected, the zoo is within its right to kill the animal(s). Orcas don't do well in captivity. Here's why. - Animals These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. While researching my book on the ethics of human interactions with wild species, Wild Souls, I examined how, exactly, zoos contribute to the conservation of wild animals. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. We say zoos are bad because animals are forced to live in unnatural, stressful, boring environments, leading to a lack of mental and physical stimulation. Black-footed ferrets and red wolves in the United States and golden lion tamarins in Brazil all endangered, as well have been bred at zoos for reintroduction into the wild. Ive spent many memorable days in botanical gardens, completely swept away by the beauty of the design as well as the unending wonder of evolution and theres no uneasiness or guilt. That's not a record that justifies tens of millions of wild animals kept in zoos. Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. Whats Causing Their Decline? Zoos often have insufficient knowledge of animals. Mr. Hribal documented many stories of elephants making a run for it in one case repairing to a nearby woods with a pond for a mud bath. Should Zoos Keep Endangered Species? - Treehugger From there, it was an easy leap to protecting animal species. Few federal laws protect the millions of wild animals who live in captivity in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos in the U.S. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. A peer-reviewed 2017 study in the . They argue that no animal should be forced to spend their life in an unnatural environment and perform. Just as we humans are free to do whatever we want so long as we follow the law, then it shouldn't be different for animals. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. Alas, theres plenty of heartbreaking evidence that many are not. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. All Rights are Resvered. This is only one of the Act's limitations. See Related: Best Books on Endangered Species. Some sad facts about zoos are that at times, the people hired to take care of and protect these animals arent very qualified. Lack of learning valuable animal life skills such as hunting and social structures eventually leads to the alteration of the said animals behavior. All rights reserved. Not investing enough when designing a habitat for your animals to save money. Here are some of the major ways that these jurisdictions are protecting wild captive animals under the law: Restricting Private Parties From Keeping Wild Animals: Some states ban the keeping of wild and exotic animals. There are dozens of other countries around the world with similar prohibitions, including Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. It is impossible to read these stories without concluding that these animals wanted out. Lawsuit to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals Upon License Revocation, Demanding USDA Strengthen and Enforce AWA Licensees Recordkeeping Requirement for All Animal Deaths, Demanding USDA Revoke Animal Welfare Act License from Pennsylvania Roadside Zoo Claws N Paws, Big Cat Public Safety Act Passes the U.S. Senate in Victory for Animals, USDA to Strengthen Tracking of Animal Deaths at Licensed Facilities Following Legal Petition, Lawsuit Seeks to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals When Agency Revokes Licenses. Some animals are quite intelligent so keeping them in captivity should never be an option. In zoos, elephants are often given a small outside enclosure and an internal house. This is nowhere near enough space to provide an elephant with a life comparable to that of its wild counterparts. They are contained in small spaces, often made docile through drugs and other medications, and slowly strip away all autonomy and freedom from all animals. For example, the typical enclosure designed for a polar bear is about a million times smaller than its natural roaming grounds. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY By "Phillip" Hungry, depressed, and unable to connect. There are a great many negative effects of zoos on animals.When we visit zoos, we can see they often go to great lengths in order to recreate the animals natural habitats. Some surplus animals or injured animals are even fed to predators as a means of life-cycle maintenance. Bears, lions, and other animals languish in roadside zoos across the country. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. However, the truth remains that zoos often have insufficient knowledge of the animals they are housing. For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. Though some zoos plan on reintroducing the animals into the wild after a while, living in zoos makes it impossible for some animals. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. BBC - Ethics - Animal ethics: Animals for entertainment But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and "cold-blooded" animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats. It is not humane to keep large mammals like orcas, dolphins or elephants in zoos or theme parks. Id like to think these kids, now in their early 20s, are working for a conservation organization somewhere. Kings would keep hippos, baboons and large cats. Welfare of Wild Animals in Captivity | RSPCA In 2018, the Eighth Circuit issued a unanimous decision in Cricket Hollows appeal of that case, that it can be a violation of the Endangered Species Act when captive animals arent given proper care. The Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES): CITES is an international treaty that regulates the trade of wildlife for nations that are signatories to the treaty. The A.Z.A.s policies allow for the euthanasia of animals, but the president of the association, Dan Ashe, told me, its very rarely employed by his member institutions. The Enigmatic Wombats: Surprising Facts and Myths Debunked. That claim is up for debate. Zoo owners go to great lengths to build enclosures that have a wild aesthetic and give paying visitors a taste of the wild world. The Animal Welfare Act: The Animal Welfare Act, or AWA, is the primary piece of federal legislation regulating captive wild animals. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it cant meet the space requirements for most of its animals. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. PETA says: "People who care about protecting endangered species should donate to organisations that safeguard them in their natural habitats if a species' native environment has been destroyed, there's nowhere left for the animals to go. The law, adopted by Congress in 1966, protects so-called warm-blooded animals who are bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially or publicly exhibited, like in a zoo or circus. People are always attracted to exotic animals such as grizzlies, lions, wolves, tigers, and alligators among others. For some animals, reintroduction will always be difficult, such as baby elephants, or pet cheetahs, both of which habituate to human care very quickly, says Moore of IFAW. Four of the zoos and the aquarium in New York City, for instance, are managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which is involved in conservation efforts around the world. Boycott businesses that profit from cruelty to animals. An example of this is a snake that will bite whatever is threatening them since they are not as good at running away as other animals. However, the vast majority dont do enough to accurately replace an animals natural habitat. In the past five years, the number of zoos has been gradually going up. How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals, Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years, 9 Best Solar-Powered Computers to Buy Today, 10 Impactful Ways to Conserve Coral Reefs. Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos? | The Minimalist Vegan But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. Here they are relatively safe . Taking your family for a day out at the zoo has been a sort of tradition for a very long time and given recent statics the number of visitors is growing. A fine day out with the family might itself be justification enough for the existence of zoos if the zoo animals are all happy to be there. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. Sadly, once the small animals outgrow their cute phase, the zoo has to get rid of them since feeding and housing them all can get expensive. 32 Important Pros & Cons Of Zoos - E&C For the unlucky ones that end up in the circuses, they are always in for a wide awakening. The surpluses are then sold off to zoos, aquariums, or even circuses. For example, the law does not restrict the display or private ownership of captive wild animals or prohibit the use of controversial bullhooks, whips, electrical shock or other devices commonly used in circuses. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Pro and Con: Zoos | Britannica facilities report spending approximately $231 million annually on conservation projects. Thats true, he said. We use cookies to help ensure the best experience on our website. But that day of release never quite seems to come. Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States. Animals in zoos are easier to get various kinds of diseases because there are thousands of people around the animal every day. Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers don't get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 The first modern one was opened in Paris, France in 1793. One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year.