Animals Should Not Be Held Captivity

Do you think it is good to keep animals in captivity? I do, here’s why. Here is my opinion on this topic which will be explained farther into the essay. We should keep animals in captivity because the zoo is a great way for urban citizens to see wildlife on a tight budget, a great way of income for some city run zoos, and a great way of entertainment.

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 issue on whether or not to keep animals in captivity has been debated heavily for a long time. With species such as the panda on the verge of extinction to mistreatment of marine mammals in theme parks such as Sea World, keeping wild animals under the care of humans has been a struggle and a highly controversial topic. Even though many people believe that animals should not be kept in captivity because humans are incapable of fully understanding and providing specific needs for wild animals, certain animals can be kept happy and healthy in captivity, and these animals are an important educational tool for teaching people of all ages about biology, biodiversity, and the ecosystems of the world.

Zoos have become a very visited place over a person’s lifetime, whether it be for an educational school field trip or for a day of fun. It’s a wonderful experience to be able to see animals up close in a controlled environment, keeping visitors safe from these animals, however do visitors think of what the animals are going through? Zoos are not providing enough space for captivated animals to live causing numerous problems not only involving the animals, but some visitors as well. Zoos should not be allowed to hold animals in captivity unless they significantly increase the size of each cage (change cage into something else).

Most people have come across animals used for entertainment purposes, whether it be in zoos or theme parks like Seaworld. Zoos and establishments like Seaworld attract millions of people year round, because what is more interesting than seeing an elephant, or an orca whale up close? In our society, is has become common for the public to travel to these types of places. They are seen as the perfect place to vacation for a day, or to just spend time with family. Children especially love to see exotic animals in person, rather than just reading about them, or watching shows about them. People do not often think that the animals they see in captivity are abused, or have low standards of living. However, the truth is that the lives animals have

As a child, many people would often go to the zoo or to the circus and see animals in real life. In circuses, animals would often perform tricks and stunts, dazzling the audience. In the zoo, people would often see animals in their native habitat, or what looks like it. Children were mainly amazed with the animals and were always exited to go see the animals. As the years go by, they start to realize that some of the animals are suffering and are being mistreated, especially in circuses. They see that the animals in zoos are depressed and lonely and the animals in the circuses are chained up. What is worse is that animals in laboratories are often treated very poorly; more poorly than what Americans treat prisoners and refugees. There have been many debates on whether animals should be held in captivity. Some groups believe that animals should not be held in captivity because they have the same capacities as humans. They believe that animals can feel emotion and have a sense of morality. Animals in captivity are deprived of their natural habitat and their instincts. Animals raised in captivity tend to rely more on humans compared to animals raised in the wild. They also believe zookeepers and trainers are putting themselves at risk when taking care of the animals. There have been many incidents including the death of trainers by animals, one highlighted by the movie “Blackfish” by director Gabriela Cowperthwaite. There are others who believe that putting animals in captivity is beneficial for not only the animal, but for humans as well. Humans get more jobs if more animals are put into captivity because there is an increase in the amount of people needed. Another benefit of keeping animals in captivity is that it could help save a species who is endangered and close to going extinct. Another benefit is that it helps increase the amount of food available because some animals are raised for food. Putting animals in captivity wrong unless they are being used for the animal’s benefits.

Not many people think about how immoral it is for us humans to take animals from the wild and hold them captive for entertainment. Captive animals are often deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, and they experience captivity-related health problems as a result.

Living in a world behind bars, having no sense of freedom, no thought of living in an environment where the boundaries are set by mountains, rivers, deserts and oceans. This is the life of an animal living in captivity. What gives us the right to take animals from their natural habitats and put them in an environment or home that doesn't even compare to what their home is. They don’t take us from our home and lock us up in cages in the jungle, so why should we do it to them. Imagine the problems that could come from taking these animals away from their natural habitat. Always having the thought in their head that they are never going back home. This would drive me insane and it probably drives them insane, too. Therefore, Animals should be set free in their natural habitats, because keeping them in zoos is causing their health to go decline.

The article, “Is Animal Captivity Wrong?” by Tauriq Moosa, it talks about how animal captivity is wrong and immoral. For Example, not letting wild animal’s hunt for one’s own food is wrong, Moosa states to the reader “Food, shelter, health care are aspects that can be provided” (2). To illustrate one is given everything that he or she needs instead of hunting for it and one do not have the ability to do things on their own if one is set free. This is important because animals in zoos are really programed to hunt for food and shelter not be given it.

Lonely, captivated, miserable and isolated are all traits that describe how an animal held in confinement feels. These animals have a mother, a family and siblings. They don’t deserve to be taken away from that against their will, even if it’s for the sake of science or entertainment. The first time I ever visited a zoo I remember feeling horrible for all the animals kept in cages, exploited. They are living creatures, with feelings, just like us and I don’t see us humans placed in cages for everyone to see?

Freedom is everything to people, and animals alike. But animals in captivity are stripped from this. In SeaWorld and circuses, the animals are living their lives entertaining people and living their lives in cages or small enclosed pens. By keeping animals to remain in captivity people are taking away their freedom, forcing them to be used for entertainment, and not providing animals with the proper care.

Animal captivity has been an ongoing debate for over 60 years. There should be no question about whether animal captivity is wrong. “Hundreds of thousands of wild animals across the world are snatched from natural habitats, forced into captivity and subjected to abuse, both mentally and physically, in the name of entertainment and profit.” (World Animal Protection 1) Places such as the circus use abusive training methods such as, hooks, chains, whips, electric rods, and blunt instruments. (Born Free USA 1) Animals deserve to live freely in the wild. Their freedom is taken away the moment they are put in a cage. When animals are brought into

To argue against the use of animal captivity I will use Utilitarian, Peter Singer, who wrote an essay named ‘All Animals are Equal.’ Within this, Singer argues that humans are animals but language makes us forget this. Conventions and attitudes that we find hard to drop move us away from the idea that humans and non-humans are both equal and that we should not treat animals like they are any different to us. Singer wants a liberal rights movement for the rights of animals. This has to be about interests and the amount of pleasure or pain we feel. Furthermore, Utilitarian John Stuart Mill can also be used as an argument against animal captivity. He argues for the minimizing of suffering and pain and maximizing of pleasure and happiness of all interested parties. Including that of

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

With nearly millions of animals dying each year from being captive, or endangered species being hunted down and killed, we need to discover a new way of displaying that our world is full of beautiful animals and wildlife. Wild animals are suffering both physically and mentally from the lack of freedom that confinement imposes. These harmful environments are preventing animals from having the opportunity to live in, and be exposed to their natural habitats. Keeping animals imprisoned in cages and small enclosures just for the sake of human observation causes stress and frustration, which is risking animals overall health and well being. These morally unacceptable and cruel actions of retaining wild animals in captivity is certainly wrong.