Ethics About Zoos

Drawing on animal rights claims, the questionable moral status of animals and the land ethic, this essay seeks to argue that zoos; a place in which wild animal’s are held in captivity, are inherently unethical, because they violate the ethical and moral standard in which animals have a claim to. Citing experts in the animal ethics field, this essay will be supported by firstly establishing that animals do in fact have “animal rights” and similarly, that they have a claim to a moral status relative to that of humans. Following this, this essay will show that the animal rights, which zoo animals are privy to, allows us to set an ethical standard on which humans have a duty to treat animals, especially when held in captivity. Analyzing this ethical standard with which me must treat zoo animals, we can deduce that zoos are in fact not ethical in nature and in practice.

Zoos, rehabilitation institutions, and many other environmental centers provide opportunities for the public to witness animals that cannot be seen on a daily basis. Whether to keep animals in captivity is morally hard to decide, especially for me personally. In the essay, “Against Zoos,” by Dale Jamieson, he writes about the positives zoos provide, and then reiterates them; making positives turn into negatives. Jamieson makes statements about humans being superior over animals, and how we should not be thinking that we are better. We tend to take a lead role over other species, because of our “higher intelligence.” That should not mean that we treat wildlife as if they are something lower than us. In more ways than one, we as humans are

“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen thought. That’s the problem.” - A.A. Milne. I feel that this means some people command the animals to work, while not understanding what the animal also wants or needs. In the debate, “Are Zoos Bad News?”, written anonymously, the author reports the ethical and unethical reasoning between zoos. This came after the attack on three victims. In my opinion, the existence of zoos should endure seeing that it educates people, zoos can alter the behaviour of people to animals and zoos promote wildlife conservation.

One of the most fun, visually amazing functions to visit are zoo's. Growing up as a kid going to the zoo was so much fun and basically guaranteed a great day out. People have been complaining and questioning the role of zoo's for a long time now. Some claim that it actually kills the animals off faster. Others claim that zoo's actually help protect and preserve the lives of these animals. Only one can make a reasonable argument by studying sources, and finding out statistics. Based off of the articles, "The Stripes Will Survive", "The Zoos Go Wild", and "Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment", we can truly get in-depth analysis about the role zoo's play.

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

Zoos are internment camps for animals, and it should be shut down because of all the mistreatment and bad effects it has caused on animals. These bad effects and mistreatment can be summarized to three major points, which are:

Zoos may seem fun to visit and exciting to see the animals; but what you don’t see is the suffering and depression that lies in these helpless creatures. There are many arguments whether or not zoos are good or bad, and if they should be removed or kept. Several think that zoos should be abolished or at least very much improved, due to animal cruelty. While, others want zoos to stay because it is beneficial for the animals and people. I strongly believe that zoos aren’t good for both the public and animals for numerous reasons.

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.

The topic of zoos and whether or not they’re humane have quickly become one of the biggest controversial topics in the past twenty years. There is not much of a ‘middle’ perspective in this debate, rather people tend to lie on two completely opposite ends of the spectrum when displaying their beliefs pertaining to the zoo debate. I chose to research this topic because though I have strong beliefs, I think that, on this matter specifically, people often jump to a certain side without any prior research or actual education on the subject. I think that it’s important to understand both sides of the argument of zoos before sustaining a side. Another reason why I chose this topic was to moreso educate myself and to make sure that the knowledge I

The Doctor Chris Parsons, former Director of the Society for Conservation Biology, explains animal welfare groups accept the use of animals for some human interests like clothing, food, recreational need, or scientific experiments, as long as the animal is free of stress and pain . The influential groups, the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, recognize on their website some zoos are beneficial to animals supporting conservation programs, participating in the preservation and restoration of endangered species, and promoting education about the importance of wildlife. However, this statement holds under certain conditions. First, the Humane Society recommends zoos to be organized around “a core mission that educates the public about the needs of the animals and the threats they face”. Also, zoos should provide animals with humane care and adapted to their physical, social and psychological needs. Finally, ASPCA indicates, zoos should “participate in tightly controlled breeding programs” and their display “should stress the themes of endangered species, wild habitat destruction and reduced biodiversity”. Unfortunately, many zoos are not falling under this description, but they can act on several factors in the intent to work towards the animal welfare activists’ demands.

The death of Harambe has sparked a debate whether or not zoos are beneficial for animals. I have been too many zoos including “The Cincinnati Zoo”. Although many people argue that zoos are unnatural and healthy for the lives of animals, I believe that these are humane because they provide educational opportunities, animal care, and animal conservation.

There are many different viewpoints to animals being housed in zoos or sanctuaries for the entertainment of human beings. My personal outlook on this issue, and what I will be discussing in Project 4, is that animals are not in any danger in zoos as long as they are in healthy and comfortable environments. Zoos would tell you that they save endangered species and entertain the public, but animal rights activists would say differently. They say that the violation of the rights of animals is insulting.

There are about 6,000 different species of animals that are placed in zoos and held captive each year. Many exotic animals are captured and forced to stay at zoos for most of their lives. These animals deserve to be free, but at the same time people need jobs and money needs brought into the zoos. Without trapping these animals, the zoo would fail to bring in any money; however, the animals are becoming psychologically damaged due to captivity and its many consequences. Yet, zoos can also save exotic animals who do not have a place to live, or cannot find their own food to eat. Both sides of this controversy are extremely important and have many different ways of looking at the issue of trapping many animals each year. Some people believe that trapping exotic animals at zoos is beneficial in many ways while others do not.

This collection of sources includes mostly online articles as well as several news articles and books. The sources range from the discussions of the lifespan of numerous animals tothe reasoning behind study observations and research. In “Zoos’ Involvement in Wildlife Conservation,” Ramsey begins by explaining the comparison between the beginning of animal captivity to the modern-day characteristics. He describes the very first zoos as having the focus to gain profit from the public, rather than the concentration being towards the welfare of the animal. Today, the well-being of animals is the top priority in many programs across the world. Not only does this article also describe the challenges that the programs must face, but also the difficult decisions the leaders are required to make to continue their success in advanced research and conservation. Some of which include the decision on whether or not to offer predators live prey to exert their natural hunting instincts. The source concludes by informing the audience that some species could not have survived without the help and involvement of zoos. Vittania.org emphasizes the effects on animals in captivity in its’ article “21 Pros and Cons of Zoos.” This source explains how zoos provide educational learning, preservation of endangered animals to prevent extinction, humane treatment towards the animals, readily available veterinary care. In addition, zoos also serve as an economic resource for the community by providing jobs and increasing tourism statistics. It goes on to explain the negative impacts such as changes in their natural behaviors. Elephants, for example, need larger enclosures than a zoo can accommodate. Restricting the animals natural need to migrate results in a shorter lifespan in captivity and also a more aggressive temperament.Another negative impact

Imagine walking through the zoo as a child, thinking how awesome it is to see all of those big interesting animals you would never get to encounter in the wild. Now think of walking through the zoo when you are older seeing these same animals in a very different light. Instead of seeing animals happily living their lives you see animals wandering aimlessly around their small enclosures looking bored to tears and depressed. Is it fair that we keep these animals cooped up specifically for our own entertainment? What right do we have to capture, contain, and breed these precious animals as we please? Why should we get to control their lives when they could obviously be living a better life elsewhere? Often these questions are meet with responses of conservation and education, but in reality those defenses have little backing. No animal should be forced to live in captivity for its whole life, which is why zoos should be banned since they are truly unjust to the animals living in them.