How To Survive After Captive Breeding

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.

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

Being placed in a zoo can dramatically help endangered animals receive the care that they need which may not be accessible in the wild. In William Dudley’s Animal Rights, author John Ironmonger was quoted as saying, “Certainly, zoo animals do tend to live longer lives, to feed better, and to suffer from fewer parasites or diseases. They live without fear of predation; they live without famine” (72-73). His quote supports the argument that endangered animals are provided for in captivity. In the wild, animals under threat of extinction fear starvation, poachers, disease, and predators. Placing these animals in zoos can give them rehabilitation and a perseverance of their lives. Another author, Kevin Hile, supports the claim that endangered animals are preserved in zoos by discussing the evolution of zoos. When zoos first started, they were merely used to bring in revenue. Now, zoos play a role in helping save endangered animals from extinction (Hile 133). Zoos

To answer this complex question, philosophy professor Bryan Norton poses some additional concerns relevant to this issue. He notes that if in fact keeping these animals in captivity is ethical, then we must also discuss what specifically humans want to conserve (Norton 15). Is it limited just to animal species, or can it extend to populations, ecosystems, and natural processes? If we simply identify wild animals, then we must ask ourselves if we are preserving a wild species if the animals themselves are forced to spend their lives in captivity? He mentions a common analogy used among zoo professionals who refer themselves to a modern day Noah’s ark, preserving each species by removing individuals for conservation. If zoos represent a sanctuary from extinction, then we must also address if there will ever be a natural habitat to reintroduce the animals into, or if they be forced to remain on the zoos “Ark” indefinitely (Norton 16). Though the work of various ethical scholars and philosophers may not be able to provide a concrete answer to all of the respective questions, I will discuss the concept of reintroduction when analyzing the third argument of this essay.

One of the reasons why we should keep animals in captivity is because animals are simply safer in zoos than in the wild as said in the article, Animals Locked Up. Another one of the reasons why we should keep animals in captivity is because the zoo and safari park are great places for people to explore the animal kingdom that is close to their homes. For example, if I wanted to go to see

Scientists, zoologists, and the staff at zoos all agree that by keeping species in captivity, the species is benefiting from it. For some species, captivity is the only reason why their species is surviving. For example, the amount of tigers that are owned by private individuals

SSP programs focus on animals that are in danger of extinction in the wild. SSP(s) are instilled when zoo conservationists believe captive breeding programs may be their only chance to survive.

Imagine being locked in a cage, have thousands of people each day watching, taunting, and provoking you. That image of what just came into your mind is exactly what captive animals feel like all the time, every day. “The original idea of a zoo was to inform people, common citizens with knowledge on the rare creatures that we would not normally see every day” (Dosomething, 2017, pg 1/3). Somewhere along the way, that was changed. Zoos are not the only captive environment for animals. “There are also circuses, aquariums, and rodeos. Circuses are being observed because of the videos of the abuse that is being done to elephants and other animals in the show” (Tripp, P, 2003, pg 6). Animal captivity should be banned because of the abuse, the effects it has on the animals, and financial gain. If humans are born equally then animals should also. Humans need to learn the signs of neglect and learn how to help and look for the neglect. “It says humans everywhere, no matter who they are, are born free and equal” (Tripp, P, 2003, pg 7). The sources that were used to find all this information was online sources and book sources.

The main goal of captive breeding is to help conserve animals that are endangered or threatened in the wild so that a species does not become extinct. By holding the worlds species in captivity, we can save their genetic material from complete elimination. Other advantages of captured breeding include the following: “A recreation of the natural habitat, protection from predators, and a decrease in illness or malnutrition” that they would otherwise suffer from in the wild (Primrack, 361). Breeding programs also enrich the populations of animal species. Cross breeding can increase the gene pool of an animal’s species, and most importantly, animals that are hurt, injured, or need intense care will receive it in captivity. Captive breeding focuses mainly on threatened species with low diversity. For example, there are many bird species that are declining in population more and more every day. The threats that have led to their decline include habitat loss, degradation, invasive species, and exploitation. Researchers found that, “Sixteen species of birds would have gone extinct in the absence of conservation intervention” (Butchart, 268). Overall, captive breeding slowed their rate of decline and prevented extinction by successfully addressing main threats, such as habitat destruction and pollution. Captive breeding may be a last resort solution however, with the rapid increase of natural

Despite the positive areas that may benefit from the elimination of captivity, others hold a strong opinion that by keeping the animals in captivity- this allows proper, and closer research to be performed on the mammals. Some research that’s done is providing children with learning information they

Captive breeding has effect the Society in a big way. Most of the animals in the world, were all captive

If we put animals in captive the will not have the chance to pick their own mate. In zoos and a circus they are forced into a relationships. They might not like the mate they are put with. This can cause mine problems with the animals. They can fight and hurt one another. They will not have offspring. If they are the last two of their species and they don’t have offspring they can become extinct. Every time I’ve been to the zoo or the circus to me all of the animals looked sad. Like they wanted to go back to their birthplace. Other people believe that they are “protected from extinction” in the article “The Impact of Animal Protection” paragraph 3 and 8, and people think they are happy being in captive. I still believe that they should be in the wild because if we take them to somewhere different we are hurting other animals.

When they are placed in captivity, it strips them of the capacity to grow with their offspring, make their own homes, and live the way they desire. The animals are taken from their habitat simply for money, and the interest of people, however, we rarely give them something good in return. Throughout the years, many animals have died due to an environment that is not natural to them. In zoos, aquariums, circuses, etc., the animals are placed in areas that do not benefit the animals, physically mentally, and emotionally. For example, " a survey of the records of 4,500 elephants both in the wild and in captivity found that the median life span for an African elephant in a zoo was 16.9 years, whereas African elephants on a nature preserve died of natural causes at a median age of 56 years"(Zoos: Pitiful Prisons). Hence, captivity does not save an animal from extinction, but it decreases survival. Furthermore, animals that are released back into the wild, but are born in captivity, and bred in captivity, have a small chance of survival in the wild. "Captive-bred animals that are reintroduced to the wild will mate with other previously captive-bred animals, thereby reducing the integration of their genetic material into the wild population (Lansdowne).This means the animals will be at a disadvantage because they will not have inherited the behaviors needed to survive in their natural habitat, leading to an increase in

Species such as the Arabian Oryx, Golden Lion Tamarin, Red Wolf, and the Freshwater Mussel are only a few of the several species that zoos have successfully protected from extinction. Critics argue that zoos should focus more on the underlying causes of extinction such as habitat destruction, poaching, and the exotic animal trade opposed to captive breeding. However, the idea of saving endangered species does not entirely rely on what zoos should pay more attention to because humane zoos are already encouraging natural habitat preservation and at the same time, are continuing to accomplish safe captive breeding and successful specie reintroduction. In the United States, captive breeding is typically done at selected zoos that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and these zoos follow the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a plan developed by the AZA in 1981. The purpose of the Species Survival Plan is to manage rare animal populations, increase genetic diversity and promote demographic stability (Dunlap and Kellert). They way in which accredited zoos and aquariums captive breed endangered species, proves that humane zoos truly care about all species and not just species favored by zoo visitors as critics

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.