Wildlife experts said that the incident was just another proof that wild animals should not be kept captive because it would not happen had the dolphin was only in the wild. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. Articles on why animals should not be kept in zoos. Why Animals 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. 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. Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Important to protect endangered species from extinction. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. For many wild animals, this is a vital part of their life, and they can struggle to redefine their footing. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are under stress. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. Wild animals have certain behaviors that are uniquely influenced by their environments. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. Things to Know. Power-mad men from Henry III to Saddam Husseins son Uday to the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar to Charlemagne all tried to underscore their strength by keeping terrifying beasts captive. This conservation focus must be a key component for institutions that want to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization that sets standards and policies for facilities in the United States and 12 other countries. This may be true to some extent; however, many zoos are running breeding programs for their own benefit and have no interest in releasing their animals back into the wild. As a result, many zoos breed animals. That's not a record that justifies tens of millions of wild animals kept in zoos. In his Animal Park, which opened in 1907 in Hamburg, he designed cages that didnt look like cages, using moats and artfully arranged rock walls to invisibly pen animals. We use cookies to help ensure the best experience on our website. And it is true that the territory size of an animal like a wolf depends greatly on the density of resources and other wolves. Alex shares his life with his wife (to-be), children and stepchildren, a herd of guinea pigs, and numerous tropical fish, frogs and snails. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. 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. Zoos often do more harm than good, creating unnatural environments that look realistic enough to make any potential return to the wild all but impossible. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. When wild animals shouldn't be in captivity. The AWA only applies to some captive wild animals. Keep on reading. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. Ive heard and read some of their stories. But theres no unambiguous evidence that zoos are making visitors care more about conservation or take any action to support it. Step away from the selfie stick. How Does Saving Water Help Climate Change? What Cause Extinction What Can We Do To Stop It? Meanwhile, small changes at the officemight be one good way to cut significant emissions, writes Carlos Gamarra. It is these boastful collections of animals, these autocratic menageries, from which the modern zoo, with its didactic plaques and $15 hot dogs, springs. "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. 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. William Randolph Hearst created his own private zoo with lions, tigers, leopards and more at Hearst Castle. An animal lover, Alexs family, have all been involved in various animal welfare charities. They often display neurotic behaviour, like repetitive pacing, swaying, and bar biting. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. These refuge-zoos could become places where animals live. State laws vary considerably, with some states banning the ownership of wild and exotic animals while others have virtually no regulation whatsoever. Grizzly Bear vs Black Bear: Whats the Difference. 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. That claim is up for debate. 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.. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. But then theres the pacing, the rocking. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. Most zoos or animal sanctuaries dont have the space or the facilities to truly recreate the wild. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . Why zoos are good | Zoology | The Guardian Many zoos create attractive enclosures to attract visitors. Photographs by Peter Fisher. YES. There is considerable variation from state to state and among cities and counties, as to how much legal protection is offered to captive wild animals. Many people consider zoos amoral and cruel while others have the notion . A 2000 survey of U.S. and Canadian zoos found that nearly half of respondents were giving their gorillas Haldol, Valium or another psychopharmaceutical drug. A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. Lack of learning valuable animal life skills such as hunting and social structures eventually leads to the alteration of the said animals behavior. 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. Visit animal sanctuaries instead of zoos, marine parks or circuses. 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? Private individuals with the financial means use their money to procure rare or exotic animals from zoos to add to their own private collections. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. However, it does not change the fundamental fact that as the world changes, we must also become more aware of the darker side of such animal sanctuaries. Elephants arent the only species that try to flee a zoo life. Orcas don't do well in captivity. Here's why. - Animals However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. Wild Animals Should Not Be Kept In Captivity - Medium CITES does not directly address living conditions for captive animals. Chimps pull out their own hair. For example, the typical enclosure designed for a polar bear is about a million times smaller than its natural roaming grounds. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. 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. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. The United Kingdom, for example, has announced a plan to phase out all circuses featuring wild animal performances by 2020. Display would be incidental. 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. T he video above shows the tragic reality of how animals in captivity are mistreated and never get to experience freedom, or live how they were . Elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and such. 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.. Yes, it is time consuming and it is expensive, but if it is possible, we have to try, simply because is the right thing to do.". Why? Climate change around the world: In Postcards From a World on Fire, 193 stories from individual countries show how climate change is reshaping reality everywhere, from dying coral reefs in Fiji to disappearing oases in Morocco and far, far beyond. Unlike in the wild where these endangered species have to worry about staying safe, in these breeding programs they get taken care of. There are a few exceptions. So when they. Animals in captivity can struggle to adapt to their new environment. It gets even worse for the animal if the trainer is impatient, the poor beast will have to endure beatings over commands they dont understand. Animals need physical stimulation and a level of interaction with nature that we, as humans, cannot understand, let alone interpret and recreate. Your email address will not be published. These experiences are often harmful to wildlife and dangerous for you. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. Are Zoos Ethical? Arguments for and Against Zoos - Treehugger Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. This support of the exotic pet trade also results in a lot of preventable animal deaths. Many suffer from arthritis and other joint problems from standing on hard surfaces; elephants kept alone become desperately lonely; and all zoo elephants suffer mentally from being cooped up in tiny yards while their free-ranging cousins walk up to 50 miles a day. In 1898, the reason was cited by the New York Zoological Society when it resolved to inform the public of the continued decline in animal populations, to stimulate sentiment in favor of animal protection, and to cooperate with scientific organizations to ensure the preservation of species. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. See Related: War and the Effect on Wildlife. From there, it was an easy leap to protecting animal species. Zoos can be productive when it comes to reviving an animal species on the brink of extinction. [WATCH]. Zoos are home to many animals. The polar bears in Winnipeg have disco poo. People are fascinated by animals. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. Visiting a zoo is a chance for many people to see exotic animals they would otherwise be unable to see. By playing dead, they would deceive predators into leaving them alone. 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. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. 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. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. For example, if the number of lions is drastically reduced in an area, their prey will thrive. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. Severe arthritis and foot infections are common in captive elephants due to standing on hard, unnatural surfaces all day without room to roam. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Should Zoos Keep Endangered Species? - Treehugger The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. The required standard of care for wild animals, such as those held by zoos, is wide-ranging and nigh on impossible for zoos to provide. 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 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. Local laws are often most effective in governing the private possession of exotic animals. Reasons Why Animals Should not Be Kept in Zoos - GradesFixer She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States Here's What Experts Think. Earlier this month, footage of a dolphin attacking its trainer in Miami Seaquarium went viral. 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. Persuasive Speech: Why Animals Should Not be kept in Zoos. Unfortunately, this is done under the guise of conservation and to protect endangered species. In one escape, they worked together: One held a mop handle steady while her sister climbed it to freedom. 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. Your email address will not be published. It is always best to stay away from wild animals to prevent disastrous interactions. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. Zoos | Freedom for Animals The problem is that these large predators control the population of herbivorous animals in their domain. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY By "Phillip" Hungry, depressed, and unable to connect. But that day of release never quite seems to come. The fewer than two dozen non-participants include North Korea, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Turkmenistan. However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. When a female gorilla named Johari kept fighting off the male she was placed with, the zoo dosed her with Prozac until she allowed him to mate with her. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. Welfare of Wild Animals in Captivity | RSPCA With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. 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. Bears, lions, and other animals languish in roadside zoos across the country. [WATCH], Armored Dinosaur Magnificently Preserved After Face, Skin, Spikes Survived Fossilization. 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. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. For them, the best option is to fight back. "Zoos are prisons for animals, camouflaging their cruelty with conservation claims," Mimi Bekhechi, director of international programmes at PETA, explains. Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. Copyright 2023 The Science Times. A.Z.A. Animals are often bored and, as a result, some become aggressive and can lash out at other animals or zookeepers. As humans, we have no right to hunt and lock up animals for our enjoyment. Captive animals need better laws, and better enforcement of those laws. Artificial environments. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. After being captives of the pandemic for more than a year, we have begun experiencing the pleasures of simple outings: dining al fresco, shopping with a friend, taking a stroll through the zoo. Fish and Wildlife Service, suggested that learning how to breed animals contributes to conservation in the long term, even if very few animals are being released now. In addition, baby animals that are deemed excess to requirements find their way into black market sales. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. 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 . Drugs given to animals include sedatives and antipsychotic drugs. The trade in wild animals involves tremendous suffering at every stage of the process. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. Tatiana the tiger, kept in the San Francisco Zoo, snapped one day in 2007 after three teenage boys had been taunting her. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. Copyrights 2023. Boycott businesses that profit from cruelty to animals. Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. Animals are forced to sleep, eat, and defecate in the same small area. See Related: Are Humans Animals? All things considered, animals should not be kept in zoos or aquariums. Fighting is a sign that they are threatened, especially when an animal has no way of getting away quickly. In most cases, animals in zoos lead very unhappy lives. In states without tight enough regulation, local jurisdictions oftentimes adopt ordinances that ban or restrict the display of captive wild animals. Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. or the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria have studbooks and genetic pedigrees and carefully breed their animals as if they might be called upon at any moment to release them, like Noah throwing open the doors to the ark, into a waiting wild habitat. The Enigmatic Wombats: Surprising Facts and Myths Debunked. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. 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. According to an article inPlant Based News, marine parks and aquariums are a billion-dollar industry that exists to entertain the public by catching fish and sea mammals from the wild and using them as live exhibits. Elephants figure prominently in his book, in part because they are so big that when they escape it generally makes the news. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Dramatic Hour-by-Hour Changes of Dart Mission Slamming on an Asteroid, Can Humanity Deflect Potentially Hazardous Asteroids? 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. Many zoo animals are forcefully removed from their natural habitat. Though some zoos plan on reintroducing the animals into the wild after a while, living in zoos makes it impossible for some animals. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. 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. No, most likely not. 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. Older menageries existed as far back as 2500 BCE, in Mesopotamia. Some, however, argue that children benefit from zoos. 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. 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. 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. This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. Its said that Texas has the worlds second-largest tiger population, due to private citizens propensity for keeping these big cats as pets. It is not humane to keep large mammals like orcas, dolphins or elephants in zoos or theme parks. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. Opinion | Zoos Are Bad for Animals - The New York Times Animals begin to display erratic behaviors, self-mutilation, and an inability to settle. See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. Here are some tips. So when they face a threat, wild animals believe that they should survive by fleeing, fighting, flirting, or freezing. Animals held captive in zoos are in very small environments such as cages, and they have no freedom. 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. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. They go to get out of the house, to get their children some fresh air, to see interesting animals. I find one statistic particularly telling about their priorities: A 2018 analysis of the scientific papers produced by association members between 1993 and 2013 showed that just about 7 percent of them annually were classified as being about biodiversity conservation.. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. There are a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. A study by Bristol University found that many British zoos fail to provide animals with the required minimum standard of care. I do not doubt that some people had their passion for a particular species, or wildlife in general, sparked by zoo experiences. Children leave most zoos with a misconception about how animals behave in the wild and what it takes to truly care for endangered animals. Some populations in the wild are weakened by endogamy too. Crustacean Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating World of the Crab, Pet Food Manufacturers and Who Rules the Roost in a Growing Market. 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. The confined living areas are a big contributor to animal stress and lack of physical stimulation like would be gained from a nice sprint. Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. At the Los Angeles Zoo, a gorilla named Evelyn escaped seven times in 20 years. Zoo animals, this new narrative went, function as backup populations for wild animals under threat, as well as ambassadors for their species, teaching humans and motivating them to care about wildlife. What people can do: Justin Gillis and Hal Harvey describe the types of local activismthat might be needed, while Saul Griffith points to how Australia shows the way on rooftop solar.