Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. Should zoos exist essay: Should Zoos Still Exist or Not? The Arguments Infringing the rights of individuals because it benefits the species is wrong because a species is not an. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. See Related: War and the Effect on Wildlife. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Reasons why people think keeping animals in zoos is bad for their welfare: the animal is deprived of its natural habitat; the animal may not have enough room; the animal is deprived of its natural . Elephants bob their heads over and over. An example of these associations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which represents over 240 businesses across the globe. As a late Gen-Xer-cum-early-Millenial, my childhood was rich with trips to visit zoos. This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. The real question is, how can we change things? Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. The same applies to elephants. Some are in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos, others live caged at private homes. Required fields are marked *. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Do not reproduce without permission. Few federal laws protect the millions of wild animals who live in captivity in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos in the U.S. The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. Slow animals with minimal to zero predators such as elephants have brief life spans in captivity. Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. NASA's DART Mission Successfully Changed the Trajectory of Space Rock Dimorphos, Asteroid Ryugu Richly Harbors Building Blocks of Life, Scientists Reveal, SpaceXs Crew-6 Astronauts Aboard Dragon Capsule Endeavor Will Arrive at Space Station Early Friday [WATCH LIVE]. Such a transformation might free up some space. Zoos, aquariums, water parks, and other facilities can help to maintain the viability of endangered species when humanity does not do a good enough job of protecting the animals in the wild. Breeders: How to Stop Puppy FarmsPermanently. India bans the keeping of elephants in circuses and zoos. The Dark Truth behind Bear Bile Uses: Hidden Costs of Traditional Medicine, The Untold Story of Factory-farmed Cows the Consequences for Animal and Human Health, Are Giraffes Endangered? (The culling of mammals specifically in E.A.Z.A. The AWA only applies to some captive wild animals. Especially not for the broad spectrum of species they have in their park. Carl Hegenbeck, a German exotic animal importer, introduced the modern model of more natural habitats for animals instead of obvious cages at his Animal Park in Hamburg in 1907. Lack of Sufficient Space No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it can't meet the space requirements for most of its animals. Private individuals with the financial means use their money to procure rare or exotic animals from zoos to add to their own private collections. In the end, he said, we live with our own constraints. He added, We are all captive in some regards to social and ethical and religious and other constraints on our life and our activities.. This is due to the inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. Zookeepers are not mustache-twirling villains. Read more: Should I worry about chemtrails? 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. Wild dolphins swim up to 40 miles day with the other members of their pod, while captive dolphins are forced to swim in tiny pools with unfamiliar dolphins day after day. Non-native animals are held in conditions that vary greatly from what they are used to living in. But this is not the norm. Why the world needs zoos | Dr Dave Hone | The Guardian A quick google search reveals that a zoo is an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation, or display to the public. "Animals in zoos suffer tremendously, both physically and mentally. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. But is there a reason why animals should not be kept in zoos? Lack of learning valuable animal life skills such as hunting and social structures eventually leads to the alteration of the said animals behavior. This isnt always guaranteed since the breeding practices could be insufficient or even produce animals that are not suitable for survival in the wild. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. 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. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. For the unlucky ones that end up in the circuses, they are always in for a wide awakening. People dont go to zoos to learn about the biodiversity crisis or how they can help. Here are some tips. Fighting is a sign that they are threatened, especially when an animal has no way of getting away quickly. His father works for a large national Cat charity in the UK, and Alex has regularly taken part in fundraising events for them through the years. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. He also found many examples of zoo elephants hurting or killing their keepers and evidence that zoos routinely downplayed or even lied about those incidents. Most people arent always comfortable seeing animals that are kept in zoos. Since most countries dont have any regulations on how to handle animals in zoos, these business people can do whatever it takes to make the most profits possible. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. There are dozens of other countries around the world with similar prohibitions, including Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore. [WATCH], Armored Dinosaur Magnificently Preserved After Face, Skin, Spikes Survived Fossilization. Going to the zoo is often quite affordable. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. When it comes from unsustainable sources it is a key cause of deforestation, impacting many species like orangutans and tigers. Apes are excellent at escaping. Zoos and circuses are among those who fall under this act. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. Many visitors will disturb and disrespect the animals in a zoo simply because they feel as though they are owed a performance of some sort. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. YES. The confined living areas are a big contributor to animal stress and lack of physical stimulation like would be gained from a nice sprint. With their apes, elephants, big cats, and other large and smart species gone, they could expand enclosures for the rest of the animals, concentrating on keeping them lavishly happy until their natural deaths. The Enigmatic Wombats: Surprising Facts and Myths Debunked. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. I once overheard two schoolchildren at the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington confess to each other that they had assumed that elephants were mythical animals like unicorns before seeing them in the flesh. Boycott businesses that profit from cruelty to animals.

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