Value Of Animals In 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

There are significant arguments on both sides of the issue, but the real issues are keeping the animals in captivity, keeping them alive, keep the cycle of life continuing to grow and produce all that nature intended. Many believe for the purpose of learning more about ourselves as humans with have the right to explore our possibilities with the similarities of those of the mammal species. Theses people argue for the acceptable need for capturing the animals in the wild and keep them in a protected environment, there are several points to stated and generally cited. Theses include:

There are many pros and cons to animals being held in captivity. The animals are not worth the sacrifice or should not be test dummies to figure out what works and does not work. Scientists and activists need to come together to figure out how they can reserve all wild animals habitat instead of captivating them. Let the animals be able to be comfortable in their own homes at all times. If scientists want to study them, then they should go to their natural habitats with caution to study them. Furthermore, I strongly believe that there need to be a happy medium when it comes to keep animals captive. After completing this paper, I was able to truly see the costs and benefits of having animals in captivity. I do believe as time goes on, we need to evolve with society as well. Maybe there should not be any zoos at all. Or, maybe only endangered and threatened animals should be kept captive. Therefore, scientists, researchers, and organizations can work their hardest to get them off the list. There has been many successful conservation effects all over the world to help the different species. All the rest of the animals should be able to roam free instead of being considered entertainment. I strongly believe that majority of the animals, if not all, should be left in their natural habitat. China is trying to take efforts in the captive free zoos direction by letting the animals roam free. The

Imagine one minute running freely on the vast green terrain surrounding you, then the next locked up in a cold, hard, cage. It sounds horrible, right? Who would want to be locked up with minimal area to stretch your legs, and have people staring at you constantly? I for one, would hate that. I imagine that most animals locked up would share the same feelings. I personally, am against animals being caged. They do not deserve that kind of lifestyle and should not have to live with it just because humans pay money to see it. Animals are suffering greatly from being locked away. When an animal is bought, traded or given to a zoo, the animals rights are stripped away from them.

Although keeping animals in captivity is bad because they don't get to be themselves they should keep animals in zoos or captivity because it helps the species not go extinct, it brings happiness to families that go to the zoo, and zoos bring in enough money to build better exhibits. Even though zoos still have negative impacts on animals lives they should still keep animals in

Animals raised in captivity are the most unfortunate of all. They go through grave conditions with no chance of survival. Over 3000 animals die per second due to slaughter. Over 56 billion die because of slaughter per year (www.animalequality.net/food). The consternation behind the walls of slaughterhouses will leave you dumbfounded. The way animals are treated is atrocious. Animals raised in captivity are treated bestially from the time their born to the time they die.

The captivity of wild animals has been a highly debated topic for many years. Zoos and aquariums are huge attractions and can be found all over the world. Movies such as Black Fish and Unlocking the Cage showcase some of the troubling behaviors animals in captivity portray. Advocates for animal rights can use these movies to push their agenda and people who oppose these films say they are forms of propaganda. The fact of the matter is that it does not matter what side of the argument that you are on it cannot be denied that these moves spark mass discussion. The question can be asked are animals places on this earth for our amusement and entertainment or they here that we may cohabit with all aspects of life. Science has proven that some animals have shown signs of distress while being in captivity.

There are animal preservation groups that don’t require putting these wide ranges of species in captivity. Their sole purpose is to help injured animals or species that are going extinct, and release them back into the wild where they belong. I think that zoos should be abolished unless they change into sanctuaries where injured animals are taken in, helped, and released back into the wild immediately. Zoos would still be allowed to do this in front of public eyes. Animals should never be held captive and “research” is never an excuse. Animals can be researched while in the wild where they are in their most natural and happy state. Zoos do not do this. Zoos claim that they are helping animal species when in reality they’re hurting them and torturing animals to the point of depression and insanity. There is no justification for shooting animals when they act up because they shouldn’t be in those situations in the first place. Animal instincts should not change. Wild animals aren’t meant to be ‘tamed’ in order to provide entertainment to the public. Most zoo visitors say they don’t take away any real connection afterwards so zoos really don’t have any righteous or moral

keeping animals in captivity can have many effects upon the animals, some negative and some positive. An example of the negative impact is the orca whales that are kept in Sea World. Many of the orcas in captivity have collapsed dorsal fins, this is a result of many of the whales being either sick or injured. In zoos many animals develop a condition known as 'zoo chosis' which is similar to dementia, as a result of this many animals show distress when they are in their enclosures and often swim or pace in circles. Many animals in captivation often become anxious or aggressive due to being continually watched by the public and having no space to hide, animals often react this way because to them being watched all the time can be predatory and

“Captive animals are abused and exploited in a variety of settings, including research and product testing, the entertainment industry, fur farms, and the exotic ‘pet’ trade” (Born Free USA). Zoos are holding animals all around the world captive. Zoos are not letting them live in their natural habitats and roam free. Captive animals are are not healthy and it's not good for the environment. For example bornfreeusa.org states “Every year, captive exotic animals are involved in incidents in which humans are injured or even killed.” Animal captivity should not be allowed. Captivity affects animals mental health, they can’t get enough exercise and food that they normally get, additionally, these animals that are in captivity can get many diseases and could die.