Zoos Should Be Banned

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.

Zoos across the world claim to be safe, suitable homes that replicate habitats of animals that are usually found in the wild. However, there is no possible way for wild habitats to be replicated well enough for animals in captivity to thrive, animals are often separated and withheld from living as they would in the wild. Despite their argument of being educational for visitors, the only thing they are teaching the public is that it is ok to take animals out of the wild and lock them up for their own enjoyment. Regardless of these claims, zoos are inhumane.

Many people argue that they should be allowed to be kept in the small enclosures because they are well taken care of. This isn't the case. They may be healthy physically from being in a small enclosure, and not having any responsibilities besides getting up to eat or drink, but they are being destroyed mentally. Their enclosures are too small for them to have a normal life. Animals should have adequate space to live and raise their offspring, which means that the animal has enough space to perform its natural functions, happily. Zoo’s do not allow animals the proper space that they need, thus causing many issues. For example, zoo enclosures for polar bears are one-millionth the size of its range in the wild, which can reach up to 31,000 square miles. In addition, cramped enclosures for elephants create stress and dangerous situations. This is mainly because they are forced to be in close quarters with other elephants that may

Animals are deprived of their natural habitat when transferred from the wild open space of the wild only to be fenced inside a limited habitat. Peta.org explains “Elephants typically walk up to 30 miles in just one day, but Lucy, the lone elephant at the Edmonton Zoo, is locked inside a barn… spends most of her time indoors…”. This doesn’t only apply to elephants, but to many other animals. Preventing them from thriving, because of the limited space provided per animal. Additionally, this leads to health problems because of the restricted amount of movement, health problems like arthritis. However zoos are not only causing physical harm, but mentally making animals sick causing many cases of depression. Trapping animals in cages stressed them out and can make them unhappy taking matters into their own hands trying to kill themselves according to

As claimed in the LCA article, ”Animals in zoos are forced to live in artificial, stressful, and downright boring conditions”(User, Super). Evidence shows time to time that animals are being affected by zoos. There are many things hidden behind the facilities, that many people do not know about. The animals are being held in conditions that no animal should ever live in. Even though some zoos do focus on helping the animals, they are not as beneficial to the animal because they are not provided with the proper care and attention they need and zoos do not try to fix their problems.

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.

Countless land and aquatic animals are held captive in zoos. However, are zoos really conserving wildlife like they say, by putting animals on display? Negative. Zoos are unsuitable environments for wild animals, and therefore should be eradicated. Zoos should cease to exist for three main reasons: animals deserve just as much freedom and happiness as humans, enclosing them in confined habitats harms them, and imprisoning them infuriates them.

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.

I love zoos, I could spend hours in the zoo because of all the cute animals in there, but do you really think that zoos are suitable for our animals? Are we hurting them or making them secure? It’s really tough to decide because we really don’t know what’s right or wrong for our animals. In my opinion, it could go either way. I am looking at both sides of arguments, debates and articles to really know if zoos are right or wrong.

Zoos across the world claim to be safe, suitable homes that replicate habitats of animals that are usually found in the wild. However, there is no possible way for wild habitats to be replicated well enough for animals in captivity to thrive, animals are often separated and withheld from living as they would in the wild. Despite their argument of being educational for visitors, the only thing they are teaching the public is that it is ok to take animals out of the wild and lock them up for their own enjoyment. Regardless of these claims, zoos are inhumane.

According to the Captive Animals Protection Society, In 2010, an undercover investigator filmed sick animals left untreated and dead animals to rot on floors at Tweddle Farm Zoo. The problem with this World is that humans can force things upon innocent creatures just for entertainment and money. As stated in an article from Buzzle.com, animals have their own, natural rights and capturing them for any reason is wrong. For example, elephants are known to travel long distances when they are the wild; in fact, they follow migratory routes and travel in herds called 'bond groups'. Therefore, restricting their movements by keeping them in the confines of a zoo is unnatural. Wild animals are, in a way, connected to their natural surroundings and this bond is broken when they are put into artificial settings of a zoo.

In the past few years, a lot of controversy has been going on about whether zoos should be banned or not. Zoos should not be banned as they play a major role in preventing the extinction of some of the species help and in the protection of the animals. “In 1962 a campaign to catch three of the last living Arabic Oryx served to begin a breeding project at the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona.”[1]

It's true, we all love animals. We see them everywhere we look. Someone walking their dog on the street, seeing pandas on the national geographic channel or even having household pets of our own. It's a common sight and it's nothing new for us. We gush in awe at the very sight of them, their playful behavior is commonly watched and many fall in love with their adorable attributes. Animal lovers also frequently visit zoos and aquariums where they can fulfill their desire to see their favorite animals behind cages. In fact, every major city has a zoo or aquarium. 1 According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), there are over 10,000 zoos worldwide. We may love visiting zoos and witnessing animals and their antics, but there is an ugly side to these animals and the way they are kept. It may be hard to believe for animal lovers, but over 750,000 animals are kept in captivity, whether in zoos, aquariums or institutions with over a million clueless people visiting these captive animals every year. The debate over whether or not animals should be kept captive is a hot topic, one that generates passionate arguments both for and against. Banning the captivity of animals is important because their species are not preserved effectively, they also can't be used to conduct effective research and they should be free like any other wild animal.

Have you ever been to a zoo? Did you watch an enormous roaring lion or a mischievous little lemur? Did you want to learn more about these animals after seeing them? As a type of entertainment for humans zoos have been around for centuries, but recently questions have arisen about the rights and welfare of these animals. Although zoos may seem inhumane to many, zoos should stay around for the reason that these places help keep endangered animals safe, provide great care for animals, and helps all across the globe through donations.