Running Head: Trapped Behind Bars 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 …show more content…
77 elephants were examined at a British zoo, and only 11 of them were able to walk correctly. It is said that advancements are being made to improve elephant environments in captivity, but numerous zoos have shut down their elephant attractions (Smith, 2008). Many people are attracted to keeping wild animals as pets. They believe the wild animals to be interesting and exciting. At a young age, the animals may seem easier to tame, but the older these animals get, the more aggressive they tend to become. Many problems can develop from keeping a wild animal as a pet. Wild animals have specific needs that have to be met, in order for them to prosper. “Only the most exceptional zoos and wildlife centers provide a living area that somewhat resembles the natural habitat of these animals, but it is virtually impossible to provide sufficient space for larger species”(CFHS). In captivity animals do not lose their wild instincts. They can be extremely unpredictable, and if provoked they can cause severe harm to people. Some wild animals, such as reptiles and hedgehogs can actually carry bacteria called salmonella, which is very easily transmitted to humans. Exotic animals can be very social, and need to have a companion of the same species living with them. If the animal is kept isolated from its kind, then it can suffer psychologically (CFHS). Many wild animals that are kept as pets often get abandoned because the owner was not able to meet of its needs. Others try to
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.
Secondly, zoo animals are kept in enclosures that don’t allow them to live their lives in a natural way. The elephant, Happy, from the Bronx Zoo is kept in solitude which is not ideal for elephants. Tullis says, “Happy has lived alone, separated from the zoo’s two other elephants. Her solitary confinement is quite unlike the life of a wild elephant. In nature, elephants live in closely bonded matriarchal families.” Moreover,
Should animals in Captivity be allowed? Animals in Captivity should be allowed because they get the medicine they need, animals can live longer, and the animals can get smarter. The first reason animals in captivity should be allowed is that animals can get healthy. There are rehabilitation programs that nurse animals back to health.Veterinarians can prevent and control a disease. Second, animals can live longer in captivity. In the article, by Hannah J. O’regan and Andrew C. Kitchener states, “Gorillas live for more than 50 years in captivity compared to 35 years in the wild” (223). The animals diets also help them live longer. Lastly animals can get smarter. Animals in captivity do more activities making them smarter. For example, “Rats raised in enriched environments had larger brains”(O’regan and Kitchener 224). Animals in captivity should be allowed because they are able to get healthier, their lifespan increases, and they get more intelligent.
Studying animals in captivity allows scientists to achieve up-close research that cannot be obtained from animals in the wild. Seaworld helps “provide researchers the unique advantage of animals that are trained and able to cooperate”.This type of research is crucial to protect the species in the ocean, especially those that are endangered. Observing captive animals can be done on a daily basis for longer periods of time. It also gives researchers a “controlled setting for science that is impossible to replicate in the wild”. By working with universities and government agencies, Seaworld is enhancing their knowledge and understanding of killer whales in order to help protect the species in the wild. Seaworld’s vice president of veterinary services
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.
An animals life in a zoo is dreadful.”A 40 year long study showed that polar bears - along with lions, tigers and cheetahs- exhibit great evidence of stress in captivity.” Zoos have replaced crowded cages and poor diets with spaced out cages and well-researched
One of the most controversial animals in captivity is elephants. According to National Geographic “there is no ethical way to keep elephants in captivity.” Zoos cannot provide the basic needs for elephants such as room to roam, having hard surfaces such as concrete enclosure that can cause foot disease and arthritis, the amount of food they are exposed to usually leads to obesity, and most animals develop zoochosis from being held in captivity. Zoochosis is a form of mental illness in animals that develops as a result of being in captivity. Any animal is capable of having symptoms. Polar bears will swim in
The animals are not accustomed to the closed off environment that they are put in and tend to lose their natural instincts. Despite all the planning that goes into these enclosures living in a zoo can never compare to being able to roam free. Wild animals are being held captive and being transported across the globe commonly ending up in an environment
Even though some argue that zoos are actually beneficial for animals, zoos in reality produce a toxic and cruel impact on species. When animals are confined in spaces for entertainment purposes, they are more likely to develop mental illnesses and strange behaviors. For instance, the term “zoochosis” was coined by Bill Travers in 1992 after witnessing abnormal behaviors such as pacing, head banging, self mutilation, regurgitating, and many more actions that animals displayed in zoos that were not found in the wild (“Travers”). These findings are able to prove that the behavior shown in zoos is not normal for these species. With evidence such as recordings that show animals displaying these shocking behaviors, it is impossible to claim that
Animals in captivity are incapacitated, therefore they should stay in the wild and out of zoos. The writers at the largest animal rights organization in the world, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, P.E.T.A., explain that animals in captivity “are often prevented from doing most of the things that are natural and important to them, like running, roaming, flying, climbing, foraging, choosing a partner, and being with others of their own kind”(“Zoos”). It is a constant challenge for animals in zoos to execute activities that come naturally. Imagine a cheetah that cannot run, a bird that can only fly 20 feet in the air, or a lion that cannot hunt. A four year study of animals in captivity at Oxford University shows that “observing animals in captivity and in the wild found that animals such as polar bears,
The public have always been a lover of zoos and safari parks, as they allow people to get closer to beautiful and exotic animals that they typically wouldn’t see in my day to day life. Though, as children become older, they often become more aware of the darker truth of animals in captivity. Now, going to the zoo has always made people happy, but that happiness is only temporary. You gain maybe three to five hours of happiness from going to the zoo. Yet, the sadness that animals in captivity have to deal with is not temporary. It could potentially last their entire lives. Is it worth it to have these wonderful animals suffer so that we can get brief enjoyment out of them?
When animals in the wild are endangered or appealing to humans we will capture them and put them in captivity, but humans are really oblivious to what they are actually doing to these animals. When kept in captivity animals are treated poorly, stripped of all their rights, and eventually suffer major behavioral changes. The public is completely unaware of all the harm they are doing to these animals rather than helping them. Animals are being treated wrong in captivity and being stripped of any rights because of this they endure severe behavioral changes when kept in captivity.
Lions, tigers, bears-Oh my! Many mighty creatures crowded around to be shown to the world! Cubs crawling and snakes slithering, all the exotic animals happy and at peace in their home away from home, a loving zoo. For some, Animals in captivity is a touchy subject. Many say it is inhumane,
Imagine if you were thrown into a cage, or beat for no specific reason, or being forced to do something you didn’t want to do, all for the entertain of humans. Animals have been used for entertainment purposes in both the past and present. The total number of animals in captivity for the sake of entertainment of humans is 751,931. There are many different types of Animal abuse. Some examples of different types of animal abuse are poor living conditions, inhumane rearing practices or purposeful execution of violent and harmful acts against the animals, such as, dog fighting. Some major contributors to animal cruelty around the world are, animal testing, fishing and slaughterhouses. Animals in captivity are forced to perform silly tricks under
Animals living in captivity often lose many of their innate abilities, do not have enough space, and become isolated from their natural homes and communities. When animals are contained in zoos, they lose innate abilities such as the ability to hunt, fighting skills, the ability to avoid predators, finding shelter, and many other survival skills. This is the exact opposite of what zoos and sanctuary keepers, who try to keep the animals’ best interests in mind, want for the animals. Though it is a good thing that they are protecting injured animals, the animals eventually become dependant on the humans and lose their survival skills. This can lead to the animals being in danger, and in some cases, it can lead to the animals dying.