They argue that no animal should be forced to spend their life in an unnatural environment and perform. For example, the typical enclosure designed for a polar bear is about a million times smaller than its natural roaming grounds. Sanctuaries occupy a "gray area," says Tanya Espinosa, a . Grizzly Bear vs Black Bear: Whats the Difference. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. Pros and cons of zoos: Should animals be kept in zoos? Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. For them, the best option is to fight back. People dont go to zoos to learn about the biodiversity crisis or how they can help. 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. Will we ever see all zoos closed down? Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. 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. Slow animals with minimal to zero predators such as elephants have brief life spans in captivity. This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. There were five such states until 2017, when South Carolina passed a law banning wild and exotic animals to be kept as pets. By playing dead, they would deceive predators into leaving them alone. In the past five years, the number of zoos has been gradually going up. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States Depressed monkey They go to get out of the house, to get their children some fresh air, to see interesting animals. There is more to natural environments than just looks. Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Wild animals have certain behaviors that are uniquely influenced by their environments. Step away from the selfie stick. Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. Is Keeping Wild Animals In Zoos Unethical?: Arguments For - WorldAtlas We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. Zoo elephants tend to die young. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Animals are removed from their natural habitats. 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. Animals in zoos are easier to get various kinds of diseases because there are thousands of people around the animal every day. Ive heard and read some of their stories. We use cookies to help ensure the best experience on our website. The Brutal Truth About Seal Clubbing: Because Everyone Needs Dead Seal Pups (Not)! But that day of release never quite seems to come. 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. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. Animal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner, Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? 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. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. The forerunners of the modern zoo, open to the public and grounded in science, took shape in the 19th century. Unfortunately, this is done under the guise of conservation and to protect endangered species. Animals are an important part of nature and should have the right to live in their natural environment. 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. 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. People are always attracted to exotic animals such as grizzlies, lions, wolves, tigers, and alligators among others. 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 a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats. Wild Animals Should Not Be Kept In Captivity - Medium Some zoo animals try to escape. 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. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. Persuasive Speech: Why Animals Should Not be kept in Zoos. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. 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. 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. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. 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. Things like ensuring animals arent caged and treated less than they deserve. Elephants bob their heads over and over. If you dont have people that know how to care for them, know how to breed them successfully, know how to keep them in environments where their social and psychological needs can be met, then you wont be able to do that, he said. The A.Z.A. "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. Jason Hribals 2010 book, Fear of the Animal Planet, chronicles dozens of attempts. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. See Related: Endangered Species in California. A 2014 study by the Society for Conservation Biology found that of over 2,800 children surveyed following visits to London Zoo, 62% showed no positive learning outcomes. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. See Related: How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals. It is always best to stay away from wild animals to prevent disastrous interactions. Should We Keep Animals in Zoos? - Scholastic The daily stress and lack of stimulation often leads to abnormal and self-destructive behaviour - for example, pacing, walking in tight circles, rocking, swaying, or self-mutilation - a condition known as "zoochosis". Read more: Should I worry about chemtrails? Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. The U.S. became a signatory to CITES in 1975. 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. Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. These refuge-zoos could become places where animals live. It is not humane to keep large mammals like orcas, dolphins or elephants in zoos or theme parks. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. Giant Insect From Jurassic Era Found in Walmart Opens Deeper Ecological Questions, 3,500-Year-old Perfectly Preserved, Mummified Bear Might Lead to 'Breakthrough in Ancient Animal Study', Presumed Extinct Funji-eating Fairy Lantern Plant Found Emerging Again in Japan, How Did Missing Argentinian Man's Remains Get Into a Shark's Stomach? All rights reserved. Opinion | Zoos Are Bad for Animals - The New York Times According toAnimal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, fleeing or running away is the most popular reaction of animals towards humans. Zoos often have insufficient knowledge of animals. An orangutan at the Omaha Zoo kept wire for lock-picking hidden in his mouth. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. Some roadside zoos declaw tiger and lion cubs a serious surgical procedure in which a cats toes are amputated at the last joint. Visit animal sanctuaries instead of zoos, marine parks or circuses. The other argument zoos commonly make is that they educate the public about animals and develop in people a conservation ethic. 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. Throughout history, men have accumulated large and fierce animals to advertise their might and prestige. Polar bears have one million times less space. 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. Elephants figure prominently in his book, in part because they are so big that when they escape it generally makes the news. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. 32 Important Pros & Cons Of Zoos - E&C Copyrights 2023. Tell lawmakers you support animal-friendly legislation and local bans on using animals in entertainment. Artificial environments. But this is not the norm. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . The statistics on the number of big cats alone that have died in captivity between 1990 and 2021 is 126. They are kind people, bonded to their charges and immersed in the culture of the zoo, in which they are the good guys. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept In Zoos - AnimalLoveTalk.com Zoos can be productive when it comes to reviving an animal species on the brink of extinction. CITES does not directly address living conditions for captive animals. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. Zoos protect against a species going extinct. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. This isnt always guaranteed since the breeding practices could be insufficient or even produce animals that are not suitable for survival in the wild. An animal lover, Alexs family, have all been involved in various animal welfare charities. Whats Causing Their Decline? Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife