Important to protect endangered species from extinction. However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. But this is not the norm. However, only a certain number of each species are really needed, and so should breeding result in a sharp increase, these numbers are reduced via various methods. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. Some zoo animals try to escape. Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? Ms. Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. These laws help the animals and also people, since wild animals in captivity present a serious public safety risk. Capturing animals even smart ones like apes, for amusement shouldnt be going on anywhere. Jason Hribals 2010 book, Fear of the Animal Planet, chronicles dozens of attempts. The AWA only applies to some captive wild animals. They go to get out of the house, to get their children some fresh air, to see interesting animals. Privacy Policy. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. When big predators are brought up on dead meat and never have to hunt for themselves, mingle with the prey they cant hunt, and entertain humans with tricks, they get further from their natural behaviors. In some environments, we believe it's best not to keep certain wild animals at all, as their needs simply can't be met. For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. All Rights Reserved. Another similar behavior of flirting is freezing, in which an animal does not move when there is no way of escape, like being caught in a trap or net even though they are terrified. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. Zoo animals, this new narrative went, function as backup populations for wild animals under threat, as well as ambassadors for their species, teaching humans and motivating them to care about wildlife. See Related: Different Animals That Cant Jump. Polar bears have one million times less space. The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. Bears and cats pace. Lawsuit to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals Upon License Revocation, Demanding USDA Strengthen and Enforce AWA Licensees Recordkeeping Requirement for All Animal Deaths, Demanding USDA Revoke Animal Welfare Act License from Pennsylvania Roadside Zoo Claws N Paws, Big Cat Public Safety Act Passes the U.S. Senate in Victory for Animals, USDA to Strengthen Tracking of Animal Deaths at Licensed Facilities Following Legal Petition, Lawsuit Seeks to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals When Agency Revokes Licenses. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. 1. Slow animals with minimal to zero predators such as elephants have brief life spans in captivity. Once the ground has been left with no coverage, soil erosion will be the next step. Animals are removed from their natural habitats. This treaty is credited with helping foster international cooperation to protect some endangered and vulnerable species. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . The first efforts to keep wild and exotic animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in . What could these zoos do with it, besides enlarging enclosures? A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. or the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria have studbooks and genetic pedigrees and carefully breed their animals as if they might be called upon at any moment to release them, like Noah throwing open the doors to the ark, into a waiting wild habitat. While researching my book on the ethics of human interactions with wild species, Wild Souls, I examined how, exactly, zoos contribute to the conservation of wild animals. There were five such states until 2017, when South Carolina passed a law banning wild and exotic animals to be kept as pets. Why? The most recent addition to the family, Willow, a cockapoo puppy, has settled straight into family life and now controls who sits where on the sofa. Well, scat reveals all sorts of things about individual animals; information the keepers share with the scientific community. Many animals in zoos are not used to confinement. This is due to the inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. Many zoos claim to be helping preserve dwindling populations. Persuasive Speech: Why Animals Should Not be kept in Zoos. But relatively early in their evolution, a German exotic animal importer named Carl Hagenbeck changed the way wild animals were exhibited. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. Zoos often do more harm than good, creating unnatural environments that look realistic enough to make any potential return to the wild all but impossible. Profits are also gained through the selling of animals to other zoos or circuses. Animals live in cruel conditions, confined to small cages without the enrichment they need to lead full, happy lives. The forerunners of the modern zoo, open to the public and grounded in science, took shape in the 19th century. But theres no unambiguous evidence that zoos are making visitors care more about conservation or take any action to support it. The truth is that zoos are a prison for animals. The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals in bare tanks do not present a realistic image of natural behaviors or natural habitats. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. Many zoos use Prozac and other psychoactive drugs on at least some of their animals to deal with the mental effects of captivity. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. Eventually, the only animals on display would be a few ancient holdovers from the old menageries, animals in active conservation breeding programs and perhaps a few rescues. In 2014, the Animal Legal Defense Fund successfully brought a lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act against a roadside zoo called the Cricket Hollow Animal Park, that was mistreating protected animals. They go for the same reason people went to zoos in the 19th century: to be entertained. What people can do: Justin Gillis and Hal Harvey describe the types of local activismthat might be needed, while Saul Griffith points to how Australia shows the way on rooftop solar. Drugs given to animals include sedatives and antipsychotic drugs. The United Kingdom, for example, has announced a plan to phase out all circuses featuring wild animal performances by 2020. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. YES. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. Zookeepers are not mustache-twirling villains. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. In fact, while animals will have almost unlimited space in the wild, they are often caged in rather confined areas in zoos. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 Many visitors will disturb and disrespect the animals in a zoo simply because they feel as though they are owed a performance of some sort. What if they sent all the animals that need really large areas or lots of freedom and socialization to refuges? Nature reserves, bird watching, going on a safari. Photographs by Peter Fisher. Meanwhile, small changes at the officemight be one good way to cut significant emissions, writes Carlos Gamarra. Your email address will not be published. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. ViewResources. But is there a reason why animals should not be kept in zoos? In many cases, animals in captivity do not have the space or resources to roam and live as they would in their natural habitat. For many wild animals, this is a vital part of their life, and they can struggle to redefine their footing. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. Zoo elephants tend to die young. facilities report spending approximately $231 million annually on conservation projects. After all, more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide every year, and biodiversity is still in decline. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. Animals in zoos are easier to get various kinds of diseases because there are thousands of people around the animal every day. Copyrights 2023. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. See Related: Most Comfortable Animals in The World. India bans the keeping of elephants in circuses and zoos. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. However, in a zoo, the boundaries between the wild and captivity are rearranged. Zoo animals sustain both physical and psychological scars from harsh zookeepers. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. Some populations in the wild are weakened by endogamy too. The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. Mr. Hagenbecks model was widely influential. Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. However, the vast majority dont do enough to accurately replace an animals natural habitat. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. The daily stress and lack of stimulation often leads to abnormal and self-destructive behaviour - for example, pacing, walking in tight circles, rocking, swaying, or self-mutilation - a condition known as "zoochosis". We have good models of captive wild animal protection laws outside of this country as well. However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. They are contained in small spaces, often made docile through drugs and other medications, and slowly strip away all autonomy and freedom from all animals. No, most likely not. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. From there, it was an easy leap to protecting animal species. People are fascinated by animals. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. On the other hand, the researchers reported, there were no significant differences in survey responses before entering an exhibit compared with those obtained as visitors were exiting., A 2008 study of 206 zoo visitors by some members of the same team showed that while 42 percent said that the main purpose of the zoo was to teach visitors about animals and conservation, 66 percent said that their primary reason for going was to have an outing with friends or family, and just 12 percent said their intention was to learn about animals., The researchers also spied on hundreds of visitors conversations at the Bronx Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Zoos and circuses are among those who fall under this act. In April, ethical tour operator Responsible Travel after consultation with wildlife charity Born Free Foundation axed trips that include zoo visits. Unlike in the wild where these endangered species have to worry about staying safe, in these breeding programs they get taken care of. Private individuals with the financial means use their money to procure rare or exotic animals from zoos to add to their own private collections. The law, adopted by Congress in 1966, protects so-called warm-blooded animals who are bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially or publicly exhibited, like in a zoo or circus. This is seen as a cheaper option as opposed to moving them back into the wild.
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