why animals should not be kept in zoos articles
Some surplus animals or injured animals are even fed to predators as a means of life-cycle maintenance. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to . All Rights are Resvered. Do not reproduce without permission. Fighting is a sign that they are threatened, especially when an animal has no way of getting away quickly. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. There are dozens of other countries around the world with similar prohibitions, including Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Dramatic Hour-by-Hour Changes of Dart Mission Slamming on an Asteroid, Can Humanity Deflect Potentially Hazardous Asteroids? The Arabian oryx, an antelope native to the Arabian Peninsula, went extinct in the wild in the 1970s and then was reintroduced into the wild from zoo populations. Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. After all, more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide every year, and biodiversity is still in decline. Animals need physical stimulation and a level of interaction with nature that we, as humans, cannot understand, let alone interpret and recreate. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. While zoos can definitely be exciting places for families to visit, the fact remains that they are bad for animals. Don't be suckered into supporting companies that offer experiences like hugging a tiger, swimming with dolphins, riding elephants, or kissing sharks. If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. There are zoological park associations that were formed to keep zoo owners on their toes. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. Many zoos and aquariums offer behind-the-scenes tours and informative talks on animal welfare. 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. Such a transformation might free up some space. These refuge-zoos could become places where animals live. Alas, theres plenty of heartbreaking evidence that many are not. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. 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. However, they are really just teaching children about caring for animals in captivity. The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals in bare tanks do not present a realistic image of natural behaviors or natural habitats. The others ran, and she pursued them, ignoring all other humans in her path. Can captive animals ever truly return to the wild? | BBC Earth worldanimalfoundation.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Other Programs, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the Partners. But few federal laws protect these animals, who may be forced to perform or kept confined in small cages with little to keep their minds occupied and bodies well. Check out more news and information on Wild Animalsin Science Times. Should zoos be banned? | National Geographic Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. Theyre generally small menageries where wild and exotic animals like lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, and others are kept in captivity, and often suffer badly. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. The Animal Welfare Act: The Animal Welfare Act, or AWA, is the primary piece of federal legislation regulating captive wild animals. Animals held captive in zoos are in very small environments such as cages, and they have no freedom. Ive heard and read some of their stories. ", Published in the June 2017 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK), What to do in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, How to plan and book an Indian rail odyssey, Four of the best luxury sleeper trains in India, How Miami is re-embracing its modernist architecture, Where to eat in Clitheroe, the Ribble Valley's culinary hotspot, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. Kept in barren cages rarely larger than 20 by 20 feet, bears in roadside zoos spend their days pacing, sleeping abnormally long periods of time, and bobbing their head all indications of extreme psychological distress. Severe arthritis and foot infections are common in captive elephants due to standing on hard, unnatural surfaces all day without room to roam. A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. Kings would keep hippos, baboons and large cats. This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. 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 culling of mammals specifically in E.A.Z.A. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. Display would be incidental. Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States They are kind people, bonded to their charges and immersed in the culture of the zoo, in which they are the good guys. When she caught up with the boys at the cafe, she mauled them before she was shot to death by the police. Some populations in the wild are weakened by endogamy too. Keep on reading. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. Will we ever see all zoos closed down? In the 1980s, a group of orangutans escaped several times at the San Diego Zoo. Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. The researchers divided the odd behaviors of captive animals into two categories: impulsive/compulsive behaviors, including coprophagy (eating feces), regurgitation, self-biting and mutilation, exaggerated aggressiveness and infanticide, and stereotypies, which are endlessly repeated movements. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Non-native animals are held in conditions that vary greatly from what they are used to living in. Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. By playing dead, they would deceive predators into leaving them alone. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. In fact, while animals will have almost unlimited space in the wild, they are often caged in rather confined areas in zoos. Private individuals with the financial means use their money to procure rare or exotic animals from zoos to add to their own private collections. When big predators are brought up on dead meat and never have to hunt for themselves, mingle with the prey they cant hunt, and entertain humans with tricks, they get further from their natural behaviors. The Enigmatic Wombats: Surprising Facts and Myths Debunked. Here is an example of just how harsh it can get when an animal is being trained to perform tricks. 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. The Link Between Fasting And Mental Health: Can It Improve Mood And Cognition? There are a few exceptions. Elephants bob their heads over and over. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. Animals kept in an unsuitable environment or fed the wrong diet can suffer, and this can lead to illness or death. Nature reserves, bird watching, going on a safari. In the past five years, the number of zoos has been gradually going up. 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. For the unlucky ones that end up in the circuses, they are always in for a wide awakening. ViewResources. Here's What Experts Think. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. Your email address will not be published. Mr. Hagenbecks model was widely influential. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. The lack of enough vegetation will then lead to global warming due to less carbon in the atmosphere. What began as a way to pass time soon became a compulsion. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. People are fascinated by animals. With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. Copyrights 2023. ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". 12 Reasons Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Zoos - Our Endangered World Few federal laws protect the millions of wild animals who live in captivity in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos in the U.S. Opinion | Zoos Are Bad for Animals - The New York Times She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. Zoos often have insufficient knowledge of animals. In one escape, they worked together: One held a mop handle steady while her sister climbed it to freedom. Some, however, argue that children benefit from zoos. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. Animal rights activists argue that hunting, capturing, and putting animals on display is unethical. Another serious problem is that the chronically-understaffed USDA conducts inspections infrequently. The environment that these animals are kept in isnt natural to them more so the animals that are taken from the wilderness and kept in zoos. A Brief History of Zoos . Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Animals in captivity can struggle to adapt to their new environment. See Related: Animals With the Best Sense of Smell. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. Another similar behavior of flirting is freezing, in which an animal does not move when there is no way of escape, like being caught in a trap or net even though they are terrified. More tigers live in cages in this country, than exist in all the wild. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and "cold-blooded" animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. Why? "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. The confined living areas are a big contributor to animal stress and lack of physical stimulation like would be gained from a nice sprint. "An even smaller proportion are part of captive breeding programmes and, of those, a tiny fraction have been released back into the wild. Unlike in the wild where these endangered species have to worry about staying safe, in these breeding programs they get taken care of. Bears and cats pace. They often display neurotic behaviour, like repetitive pacing, swaying, and bar biting. 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 . When the zoo replaced the bars with thick glass, he started methodically removing the putty holding it in. Others allow private parties to keep animals like tigers or primates with a permit. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is rated four-stars by Charity Navigator, is a Platinum Level GuideStar Exchange participant, a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, and an Independent Charity Seal of Excellence awardee, ensuring that we meet the highest standards of accountability, efficiency, and impact. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Properly curated and interpreted, a well-run garden can be a site for a rewarding outing with friends or family, a source of education for the 27 percent of people who read signs and a point of civic pride. However, only a certain number of each species are really needed, and so should breeding result in a sharp increase, these numbers are reduced via various methods. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. Deforestation will be the next problem when animals such as moose, elks, and deer start eating everything even young trees. Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. Crustacean Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating World of the Crab, Pet Food Manufacturers and Who Rules the Roost in a Growing Market. However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. In addition, a costlier but more educational option is to make arrangements to view animals in the wild. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. ALSO READ: Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner. Whats Causing Their Decline? Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. 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. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. The Los Angeles Zoo has used Celexa, an antidepressant, to control aggression in one of its chimps. Step away from the selfie stick. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Things to Know. 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. Pros and cons of zoos: Should animals be kept in zoos? Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. Giraffes endlessly flick their tongues. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Learn More. See Related: Endangered Species in California. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. 17 Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity - ConnectUS 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. The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Early in the pandemic, the Neumunster Zoo in northern Germany coolly announced an emergency plan to cope with lost revenue by feeding some animals to other animals, compressing the food chain at the zoo like an accordion, until in the worst-case scenario, only Vitus, a polar bear, would be left standing. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. The role of our leaders: Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States, found reasons for optimismin the Biden presidency, a feeling perhaps borne out by the passing of major climate legislation. In addition, when animals are removed from their natural habitats, they are also removed from their family structure and social hierarchy. There is more to natural environments than just looks. 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. Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. By designing these enclosures so that many animals could be seen at once, without any bars or walls in the visitors lines of sight, he created an immersive panorama, in which the fact of captivity was supplanted by the illusion of being in nature. (707) 795-2533 |info@aldf.org Lets get into the nitty-gritty details of why keeping animals in zoos is bad: Wild animals often suffer in captivity because they were meant to be free. This could cause problems for the animal. To update your payment information, visit our Member Center. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. Most zoos or animal sanctuaries dont have the space or the facilities to truly recreate the wild. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. says that its members host more than 50 reintroduction programs for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, a vast majority of zoo animals (there are 800,000 animals of 6,000 species in the A.Z.A.s zoos alone) will spend their whole lives in captivity, either dying of old age after a lifetime of display or by being culled as surplus.. The better alternatives to zoos are the options that dont result in animals being held in conditions that are unsuitable and forced to live in natural environments. In 2014, the Animal Legal Defense Fund successfully brought a lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act against a roadside zoo called the Cricket Hollow Animal Park, that was mistreating protected animals. Infringing the rights of individuals because it benefits the species is wrong because a species is not an. People may behave eco-friendlier after going to the zoo. Read more: Should I worry about chemtrails? First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. Animals are removed from their natural habitats. It is not possible to have zookeepers versed in a detailed understanding of every single species. Today, nearly every country in the world is a member of CITES. Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction. The United Kingdom, for example, has announced a plan to phase out all circuses featuring wild animal performances by 2020. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. An increase in the populations of herbivorous animals such as deer and buffalos isnt a good thing, especially not for the vegetation and ground cover. When an animal is not on the endangered list, capturing it doesnt serve any purpose to the animal. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. 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 animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. There have also been reported cases of zoos not properly disposing of dead bodies when animals die on their premises. I remember well the awe and joy on their faces, 15 years later. William Randolph Hearst created his own private zoo with lions, tigers, leopards and more at Hearst Castle. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. 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). Animals begin to display erratic behaviors, self-mutilation, and an inability to settle. The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. In normalizing captivity zoos, and teaching animals to perform tricks for human entertainment, zoos and animal sanctuaries are spreading the message that animal captivity to normal, healthy, and fully acceptable. There is no end to the risk of cross-contamination and disease spread, especially when considering the fact that lots of zoos fail to provide the correct standard of care. 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. Captive animals are forced to spend their lives swimming endlessly and aimlessly instead of traveling up to 100 miles a day at fast speeds in the wild.