The Role of Zoos in Conservation: Ethical Considerations Essay

According to the passage “The Impact of Animal Protection” it says “In the wild, animals share territory with other species, and the idea of survival of the fittest is very apparent.” it also mentions that the innate instincts they have to survive can be hurt and sometimes gone if they are kept in captivity for too long. The animals are more likely to be hurt by predators because they forget the their natural ways from when they were wild and untouched by the human kind. Others may say that it’s great for many of the to be in the animals to be in zoos mainly for the entertainment to them when they go to see the animals. However I still feel that it is not necessary for them to be locked away in the captivity of zoos for human needs they have their own needs to you

Why We Should Put an End to Animal Captivity In May 2016, a critically endangered gorilla was shot dead by zoo officials after a young child slipped into its enclosure. The incident created an uproar, with the public debating either the mother’s parenting skills or the justification of killing in an emergency situation. The public outrage was of no avail, to an incarcerated animal who had no choice but to die at a place it never belonged. It is now more crucial than ever to question the relevancy of keeping animals captive in zoos and aquariums.

In the article “Zoos Are Cruel and Unnecessary,” Earth Times posed a question, “With the internet, as well as DVDs, 3D TV, etc., are zoos really necessary to teach people about animals in the 21st century?” In the response given by Liz Tyson, director of the Captive Animals’ Protection

“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

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

1. Introduction to Research Essay & Thesis Statement: Since their very beginnings, zoo’s around the world have been at the forefront of ethical debates. Animal ethicists, animal liberationists and proponents of the land ethic raise considerable questions about the nature of zoos in a moral and ethical context. Drawing on animal rights claims, the questionable moral status of animals and the land ethic, this essay seeks to argue that zoo’s; a place in which wild animal’s are held in captivity, are inherently unethical. Though animal liberationists tend to include domesticated animals and agriculturally farmed animals, the scope of this essay will focus solely on the ethics of zoo’s and those animals within. Citing experts in the animal ethics

Thesis statement: 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:

Given that over five million animals are kept in zoos and aquariums around the world, ethical questions about keeping animals in such environments should be given serious consideration (Garner 2005: 140). In this essay, I shall evaluate the practice of keeping animals in zoos and aquariums from a utilitarian

Zoos present a certain blend of nature and culture. They have always provided a way to bring natural wildlife and urban Americans together as a means of entertainment. Yet, throughout the years the role of zoos have changed. Though once used for amusement, zoos are now being used for education on preservation and the welfare of endangered species. One may wonder where and how the idea of zoos started and just how they, and the environment around them, have changed throughout history.

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.

Animals In Captivity Wild animals are known as “wild” animals for a purpose. If wild animals were intended to be kept shut up in a jail, also known as a zoo, then what exactly is the point of contacting them wild animals anymore? Zoo authorities use many justifications to back up their place that having wild animals in captivity is necessary, but those justifications are neither moral nor necessary enough reasons to deny animals of their organic right to independence. Even under the best of conditions at the best of zoos, captivity cannot even begin to evaluate up to wild animals’ organic settings. At zoos, animals are often avoided from doing most of the things that are organic and essential to them. Zoos educate individuals that it is

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

Is it Morally Acceptable to Defend a Zoo? Zoos are often a sore subject amongst many now that in this era a portion of the population considers animals outside of the human race to be moral agents. Since the beginning of the idea of zoos, institutions considering themselves have come to have a different mission behind the captivity of animals. Normally when the word zoo is used, people would probably think of a small enclosure made of cement and steel bars. But did you know that are technically two types of zoos? The terms accredited and non-accredited zoos will be used throughout this essay, but what do those words entail? A zoo is either considered accredited, where they go through habitual inspections to make sure everything about the facility is up to par to ensure the healthy living of the animals taken care of by staff, or nonaccredited, which would most likely fit the idea of a roadside zoo. Accredited zoos are

The roles of Zoos in conservation The main aim of zoos is to protect and conserve global biodiversity and wildlife. To do this they have four roles to play which are; research, conservation, education and welfare.

The majority of the people in the US have visited a zoo and seen the many creatures within the walls. But is this right to do? To capture animals, injured or not from their natural habitat and confine them to small limited area to which they begin to lose their natural instincts? An article written by Alison Benjamin and Toby Moses named “Should Zoos be Banned?” goes into detail about their opinions on zoosa and whether or not zoos should stay or be banned. Their article argues both point, the pros of staying by Benjamin and the cons of banning by Moses. A few key points they point out are: the educational purpose, animal behavior, breeding and human enjoyment.