Argumentative Essay About Zoos

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.

The ASPCA, people see their commercials all the time, using your emotions to help donate or contribute to the change of animal cruelty. Most of their commercials they use domesticated animals such as dog, cats, etc. and when people see this they know it is wrong and they care. Why is it though when people see the psychological torment or physical damage to a wild animal they don’t bat an eye? You would think seeing something like that is pretty obvious and would call someone to action but this isn’t the case. In fact people all over the world are actually supporting this financially in various ways. Millions of people every day go to support animal captivity in the forms of zoos, circuses, and aquariums for their own human entertainment. Contrary to the belief zoos have many positive effects, is actually quite false, in fact zoos or any other for of animal captivity cause more harm on wild animals that good.

Some people go to zoos to see the wild animals, but that’s not all that they are for. People in groups such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) may think that zoos cannot provide the needs to wild animals as the wild can. Zoos help animals. They have improved, helping to repopulate species and save animals in the wild.

The first modern zoo to be founded was in Vienna, Madrid and Paris in the eighteenth century and later on in London and Berlin in the nineteenth century. The first zoo to be established in America was in Philadelphia and Cincinnati in the 1870s. In today’s America there are thousands of zoos. Humans like to be entertained regardless of how they are being entertained, whether that is walking through the park, watching a show, listening to music or simply going to the zoo. There are truth behind zoos that many don’t see, for example, many zoos don’t show the death rates that many zoo animals have after being transported from their natural habitants or the experiences that the zoo keepers provide to the animals being kept in captivity. To what extent are we okay with animals being tortured or being aware that animals are being killed just so humans can be entertained? While there are benefits to keeping animals in captivity, scholars agree that there are more negative effects that are damaging to the animals. The purpose of zoos can be more than just keeping animals in captivity and creating significant health or mental problems, zoos also can have a positive outcome, zoos can help keep endangered animals safe from others who are trying to kill them for what they are worth. Jamieson explains and gives one example of when people started putting animals in captivity. The Romans is the example that Jamieson uses, the Romans “kept animals in order to have living fodder for games.” Jamieson continued to explain how over the years the use of animals historically grew in popularity and how the idea continued to “thrive until at least the eight century.” Jamieson also mentioned that keeping a large amount of animals showed who had power.

In the article The Future of Zoos, Justin Worland discusses the future of zoos so animals will be more comfortable in their environment. The Zoo360 is trying to change animals captivity by adding walkways/bridges for tigers. Animals are smarter and fell more than we knew and may suffer and may suffer when removed from their habitat in the wild. Coe developed a strategy to give animals natural vegetation, room to walk/roam, and big amounts of light. Hancocks has improved zoos a lot so that the animals are more comfortable in their environment.

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” -Albert Einstein. Thousands of people are in the debate if zoos should be legal. Zoos must not be legal because the animals can get an illness from being in captivity and get hurt or mistreated by the owners and workers.

There are zoos all over America. Some of these zoos are being targeted for holding the animals captive and many believe that zoos are a waste of resources. But zoos are actually very important for society. Zoos are important because they are educational, they treat the animals very humanly, and they have saved many species from going extinct.

Zoos hold animals in confined spaces compared to the wilderness that may be only a few miles away. What makes it more fun and amazing to go find animals in the wilderness is the adrenaline rush. Humans are taking away that rush when we place animals behind glass or inside electrified cages and so many other forms of containment. Some zoos even treat their animals like they are Death Row inmates in max security prisons. Sure the caretakers and owners of the zoo try to make their enclosures and as close to the wilderness as possible, but if there is a rifle pointed at the animal, they would hardly even show.

In the argument weather zoos are moral or immoral there are two sides. The first side states that zoos help protect species that a near extinction and gives visitors and a passion for these animals. The second side states that zoos are immoral because they restrict animal’s rights.

A Lot of people say that we should keep zoos. Zoos are fun, you learn a lot , and love seeing your favorite animals. Zoos also provide protection, conservation for the animals and education for the visitors.

Animals are everywhere. Even if you don't notice them, they are there. Animals are very popular and one of the reasons why they are beloved is because of zoos. Zoos are great places for animals to live and a great place for people to learn. Zoos allow kids and adults to explore the little world of creatures that live a similar life. Zoos are a lot safer place for the animals to live than the woods or the public. People destroy animals habitats and wipe out their health. When people leave trash by animals habitats the animals think that it is a special food delivery and try to eat your trash, now that can cause health problems for the port little animals now do you want that, probably not. and neither do zoos so that's one of the reasons why zoos are here in the present.

Virginia Mckenna, a British stage and screen actress, author, and wildlife campaigner, once said “We would consider it cruel to confine a dog permanently in a kennel. Yet we visit zoos where hundreds of wild animals are kept permanently in the equivalent of a kennel.” On average, 6,126 animals are kept in enclosures (Statistic Brain). Of those 6,126 animals, only 1,041 are endangered. The 5,085 are kept in tight, confined areas for “educational purposes.” Zoos date back to as far as 2500 BCE with evidence that rulers and people of higher class used exotic animals as a way of showing the ruler's power and wealth. In later years, the idea of containing animals in a confined area was adapted by scientists and taken into effect to help guide research during the Enlightenment Era. Zoos may be viewed as educational establishments, but the negative realities overpower the positive.

The death of a Cincinnati Zoo gorilla named Harambe, as a result of a young boy falling into its exhibit, has brought a major controversy on the roles of zoos in modern society. Some people consider zoos to be unethical, conversely, zoos can be both beneficial to humans as well as the animals. “Zoos are not Prisons, they Improve the Lives of Animals” and “The Case for the End of the Modern Zoo” are articles that explore this topic and provides insight for both parties of this debate. Zoos should continue to exist because they can bring endangered species of animals out of their extinction, provide valuable knowledge to humans, and zoo animals can live longer and healthier lives.

Many thought zoos were just for attraction, but they are meant for more than just that.

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.