Animals in Captivity
Zoos have been around for many years, the first one opening on July 1, 1987 in Philadelphia, USA. Although the quality of zoos has changed and developed over the many years since then, some people believe that the zoos shouldn’t exist, including organisations that strive to close down zoos and return the animals back to their natural habitat.
Even though some zoos have billions invested into them they will never really be able to compete with an animal’s natural habitat. Zoos attempt to replicate an animal’s natural habitat but in reality all they’re doing is subjecting the animals to a life in captivity where they’re unable to perform most of their natural instincts, such as hunting, flying, foraging and even choosing their own partner. Increasing numbers of zoos are using breeding programmes in an attempt to avoid the extinction of various animals, but the problem behind this is that the animals who are being bred do not get to choose their own mate and under some circumstances needed to be artificially inseminated.
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Zoochosis is where an animal, in captivity, begins to become stressed or uncomfortable with the environment that they are subjected to. This can cause the animal to become unwell with zoochosis; the symptoms of zoochosis can include bar biting, coprophagia which is where an animal consumes and is playing with excrement, self-mutilation such as the animals pulling their own fur out, scratching themselves or causing themselves pain and injury, swaying, rocking and pacing. These are some of the most common symptoms of zoochosis and this happens simply because the animal is in captivity and they’re unable to express themselves in the way they would usually be able to, if they were in their natural
"Zoos have improved a lot in the last 4,000 years. These days, most zoos create friendlier environments for animals. ... Now, however, they get their animals through captive breeding programs and other zoos." This is an understandable concern, however, but this is not the case. Animals are not meant to be kept in captivity for human entertainment, animals are meant to be wild, the artificial surroundings in zoos an cause Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Zoos play an important role in conservation. It is important to realize zoos have breeding programs that help restore threatened species. As a result of those breeding programs, the Los
In the article “The Reality of Zoos”, author Michelle Carr mentions a condition common among zoo animals called “zoochosis”, which is characterized by actions such as swaying and rocking due to the loneliness and disinterest these animals feel after being taken from their natural environments. “This condition is so rampant in zoos that some zoos give animals a mood-altering drug, such as Prozac, because the public has started to catch on,” states Carr. In some cases, zoo animals go as far as to risking their lives in an attempt to escape. Carr also discusses an example of a gorilla named Jabari that tried to break free from his enclosure, only to end up getting shot by a police officer. “A witness later confessed that teenagers were taunting him by throwing rocks,” reveals Carr.
Endangered animals can be brought out of possible extinction. This is done by, “Using robust and sophisticated breeding programs, these institutions fund and facilitate countless initiatives to propagate species and preserve genetic biodiversity, and then reintroduce critically endangered or extinct species into the wild,” according to Dr. Robert Ganzert (“Zoos are not Prisons, they Improve the Lives of Animals”). The world today is encountering a major catastrophe in which many animals are extinct or brought to near extinction. Therefore scientists can now grasp that this is an extensive issue in which humans are the major cause of this complication. Zoos can slowly breed back the endangered animal to a stable population. Researchers in these zoos can help come up with ways of preventing and
This underscores the tangible role that zoos play in actively working towards the preservation of species. This also indicates it is from experts and highlights the practical impact of zoos on conservation efforts. Hutchins strengthens the credibility of his argument by presenting a compelling case supported by scientific and tangible evidence. In addition to emotional appeals and appeals to authority, Hutchings presents logical arguments to demonstrate the practical benefits of zoos. He highlights how zoos contribute to conservation efforts by breeding endangered species and conducting research, as he states, “In 2002, over 140 million people visited AZA zoos and aquariums.
As the animal rights movement has developed and grown substantially in recent years, there has been an increased focused on the welfare of captive animals. A popular institution that has received much attention for keeping animals captive is the zoo. Because of this focus, zoos have responded by publicizing their positive benefits for existence in order to justify keeping these animals on display. Since the term “zoo” can have a wide variety of meaning and characteristics, it is important to define what constitutes a zoo in this essay. Zoos are defined as a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and
The world stripped of human intervention was created by God to be a magnificent place, which glorified God. We, as beings made in the image of God, were given dominion over the earth. However, where does our rule become unjust? Where do we overstep our boundaries? Throughout history, humans have strived to gain ultimate control of a planet they did not create. Some aspects in nature should be left to its own devices to be beautiful and glorify God, their intended purpose of creation. Humans have no right to captivate orcas because we cannot provide for their needs and we force them into a world they did not want. We force orcas into tanks not nearly large enough, we force them to mix with orcas not from their social pods, and we force them to perform for our entertainment.
Do you think that animals should be kept in captivity there whole life's. When people put animals in zoos or captivity that keeps the animal safe. Although keeping animals in captivity is bad because they don’t get to be themselves, they should keep animals in zoos or captivity because it helps them not go extinct, it brings happiness to families that go the zoo, and zoos bring in enough money to build better animal enclosures.
The zoo is packed with children, running everywhere. They laugh and smile as they watch the animals at the zoo sleep. What these children do not realize is that these animals are dying on the inside. Animals that live at the zoo are extremely depressed. These animals can suffer severe psychological disorders from being out of their natural environment. But others argue that keeping these animals in captivity will help keep endangered species alive. However, the disadvantages of keeping animals in captivity are becoming more and more serious, and more people are beginning to believe that animals should not be held captive. Animals should not be kept in captivity because of the negative impact it can have
Did you know that in 2018, The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus will be retiring their elephant act (Mendoza). The topic I will be discussing with you guys today is animals in captivity, or otherwise known as zoos and aquatic centers. We need to care about this topic because people and protestors are taking it out of hand. Some animals need zoos to care for them. I personally care for this topic because zoos are a fun thing to do with your family or friends. As long as they?re not hurting something they shouldn?t be, I don?t see why it is a bad thing. Today I will be arguing with Haylee on why animals in captivity isn?t a bad thing.
Zoochosis is caused by animals being in cages or small enclosures, lack of exercise and ability to keep their minds active. Animals with zoochosis will act strange, such as biting on the bars of their enclosure, hurting themselves and others. A number of symptoms can suggest that an animal is suffering from a psychological problem however zoochosis is something a zoo keeper does not want an animal to develop. In most cases once an animal develops zoochosis and they are unable to cure the animals they will need to put down which is why it is very important for the animal to not develop
Animals raised in captivity are the most unfortunate of all. They go through grave conditions with no chance of survival. Over 3000 animals die per second due to slaughter. Over 56 billion die because of slaughter per year (www.animalequality.net/food). The consternation behind the walls of slaughterhouses will leave you dumbfounded. The way animals are treated is atrocious. Animals raised in captivity are treated bestially from the time their born to the time they die.
“Before the early twentieth century, zoos would separate humans from the animals by using a series of moats. In the early 1900s, however, zoos “began displaying animals in realistic exhibits that mimicked actual habitats” (Gioielli, 2016, p. 1). Coupled with the more natural habitat is advancing care for the animals in captivity. More hospitals are being built for animals and better medicine is being created constantly. As a result of healthier and happier animals in increased popularity of animals in captivity. According to Carey (2016), “More than 10,000 zoos are now in operation worldwide . . . the central missions of zoos [are] not only to serve as attractions for recreation and amusement, but also to educate people and promote conservation . . .” (p. 2). Most people do not go to see animals in captivity for the sole purpose of entertainment, they also go to learn about the animals themselves. Both children and adults can learn about how to help protect endangered animals and their habitats. As a result, zoos and aquariums are continually gaining popularity. According to Gazert (2017), “Zoos and aquariums draw 181 million visitors per year in the United States--that’s over half the country’s population, and more visitors than the annual attendance of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB games combined” (p. 2). Unfortunately, some zoos and aquariums have been known to abuse their animals. While this is not true of all zoos, but the reports of abuse have increased leading to more controversy. Because of this the idea of keeping animals in captive is harder to accept. Still, the sad truth is that animals may have to be in captivity in order to save their species. “A recent report from the World Wildlife Fund warned that without swift and substantial human intervention, over two-thirds of the world’s wildlife could be gone by the end of the decade” (Ganzert, 2017, p. 1). Predictions
Now there are modern zoos in almost every city in the world that boasts different arrays of animals. With all these different zoos around the world, we see different approaches on how these animals are treated and what they are subjected to.
There have been a lot of problems with animals in zoos. It has gotten to the point where zoos are hated and looked upon as a places of animal torture. Are zoos really that bad? Turns out, they are. They do not have enough space, they do not allow the animals to communicate with each other, and they sell the animals to cruel circuses.