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. Mr. Fisher is a photographer based in New York. Pros and cons of zoos: Should animals be kept in zoos? Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. Others allow private parties to keep animals like tigers or primates with a permit. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. This support of the exotic pet trade also results in a lot of preventable animal deaths. Wild animals have certain behaviors that are uniquely influenced by their environments. In the age of social media, high profile culls have sparked heated debates. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. The Arabian oryx, an antelope native to the Arabian Peninsula, went extinct in the wild in the 1970s and then was reintroduced into the wild from zoo populations. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. For some animals, reintroduction will always be difficult, such as baby elephants, or pet cheetahs, both of which habituate to human care very quickly, says Moore of IFAW. Mr. Hribal documented many stories of elephants making a run for it in one case repairing to a nearby woods with a pond for a mud bath. Theyre generally small menageries where wild and exotic animals like lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, and others are kept in captivity, and often suffer badly. The shooting of Harambe the gorilla spawned the most-shared meme of 2016 and caused a hounded Cincinnati Zoo to suspend its social media accounts. Having seen a majestic leopard in the zoo, the visitor becomes more willing to pay for its conservation or vote for policies that will preserve it in the wild. Keeping endangered animals in zoos infringes on those individuals' rights to freedom. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild. For example, the law does not restrict the display or private ownership of captive wild animals or prohibit the use of controversial bullhooks, whips, electrical shock or other devices commonly used in circuses. Thousands of animals are captured and put in zoos and aquariums for tourist attractions every year. The required standard of care for wild animals, such as those held by zoos, is wide-ranging and nigh on impossible for zoos to provide. ", Published in the June 2017 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK), What to do in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, How to plan and book an Indian rail odyssey, Four of the best luxury sleeper trains in India, How Miami is re-embracing its modernist architecture, Where to eat in Clitheroe, the Ribble Valley's culinary hotspot, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. Breeders: How to Stop Puppy FarmsPermanently. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. A 2000 survey of U.S. and Canadian zoos found that nearly half of respondents were giving their gorillas Haldol, Valium or another psychopharmaceutical drug. There are a great many negative effects of zoos on animals.When we visit zoos, we can see they often go to great lengths in order to recreate the animals natural habitats. Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. These are species that would have vanished totally were it not for captive populations around the world, many of which reside in zoos (or, for plants, botanic gardens). The U.S. became a signatory to CITES in 1975. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. Not surprising, perhaps, considering the typical polar bear enclosure is one million times smaller than the area they would naturally roam.". They normally find themselves locked in cages, and only released into an artificial habitat when there are visitors at the zoo. Some are in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos, others live caged at private homes. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to quantify. Some, however, argue that children benefit from zoos. For the unlucky ones that end up in the circuses, they are always in for a wide awakening. An increase in the populations of herbivorous animals such as deer and buffalos isnt a good thing, especially not for the vegetation and ground cover. When it comes from unsustainable sources it is a key cause of deforestation, impacting many species like orangutans and tigers. We say zoos are bad because animals are forced to live in unnatural, stressful, boring environments, leading to a lack of mental and physical stimulation. For example, a lion might have a hard time adjusting to hunting for its meals when it has spent years being fed and lazing around. Little Joe, a gorilla, escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston twice in 2003. In addition, baby animals that are deemed excess to requirements find their way into black market sales. Zoos - Pros & Cons - ProCon.org Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. At the Los Angeles Zoo, a gorilla named Evelyn escaped seven times in 20 years. The idea of conserving animals that are at risk of going extinct is a great one; the problem is that not most zoos live up to it. Animals need physical stimulation and a level of interaction with nature that we, as humans, cannot understand, let alone interpret and recreate. The lack of enough vegetation will then lead to global warming due to less carbon in the atmosphere. People are fascinated by animals. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. Are Zoos Ethical? Arguments for and Against Zoos - Treehugger Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. Deforestation will be the next problem when animals such as moose, elks, and deer start eating everything even young trees. Watching these is a much healthier and more educational way to learn about wild animals than visiting a local zoo. Ive heard and read some of their stories. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year. "An even smaller proportion are part of captive breeding programmes and, of those, a tiny fraction have been released back into the wild. Infringing the rights of individuals because it benefits the species is wrong because a species is not an. Privacy Policy. Many zoos and aquariums offer behind-the-scenes tours and informative talks on animal welfare. Id like to think these kids, now in their early 20s, are working for a conservation organization somewhere. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. Most zoos or animal sanctuaries dont have the space or the facilities to truly recreate the wild. Should zoos exist essay: Should Zoos Still Exist or Not? The Arguments The Endangered Species Act: The Endangered Species Act, the ESA, is a federal law that protects fish, mammals, birds and plants listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. and beyond. She could then climb the wire without being shocked. Elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and such. Its protections are minimal as well. Taking your family for a day out at the zoo has been a sort of tradition for a very long time and given recent statics the number of visitors is growing. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. They found that only 27 percent of people bothered to read the signs at exhibits. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. This type of behaviour is almost unheard of in their wild counterparts. Some studies have shown that as many as 80 percent of zoo carnivores, 64 percent of zoo chimps and 85 percent of zoo elephants have displayed compulsive behaviors or stereotypies. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. Lack of Sufficient Space No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it can't meet the space requirements for most of its animals. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. This can make the animals neurotic, causing them to start biting bars, pacing repetitively, and swaying. Many zoos use Prozac and other psychoactive drugs on at least some of their animals to deal with the mental effects of captivity. Not investing enough when designing a habitat for your animals to save money. PETA says: "People who care about protecting endangered species should donate to organisations that safeguard them in their natural habitats if a species' native environment has been destroyed, there's nowhere left for the animals to go. However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. Here are some tips. We have good models of captive wild animal protection laws outside of this country as well. Sadly, once the small animals outgrow their cute phase, the zoo has to get rid of them since feeding and housing them all can get expensive. The trainer was immediately sent to the hospital and has since recovered from physical injuries, and so does the dolphin. Why zoos are good | Zoology | The Guardian If an animal cannot be given sufficient space or is suffering from stress and not behaving as expected, the zoo is within its right to kill the animal s. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. Animals are forced to live in artificial habitats that arent anywhere close to their former homes (the wild). Captive animals are forced to spend their lives swimming endlessly and aimlessly instead of traveling up to 100 miles a day at fast speeds in the wild. Four of the zoos and the aquarium in New York City, for instance, are managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which is involved in conservation efforts around the world. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. If you dont have people that know how to care for them, know how to breed them successfully, know how to keep them in environments where their social and psychological needs can be met, then you wont be able to do that, he said. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. At least 20 zoos in the United States have already ended their elephant exhibits in part because of ethical concerns about keeping the species captive. The window to the world of. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. People may behave eco-friendlier after going to the zoo. Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. Some populations in the wild are weakened by endogamy too. Marine mammals in captivity | The Humane Society of the United States Animal Legal Defense Fund petition for rulemaking spurs reporting improvements: Forms will be revised to ensure AWA licensees maintain complete records of all animal deaths. Zoos protect against a species going extinct. Many zoos claim to be helping preserve dwindling populations. India bans the keeping of elephants in circuses and zoos. Children leave most zoos with a misconception about how animals behave in the wild and what it takes to truly care for endangered animals. Read more: Should I worry about chemtrails? See Related: Best Wildlife Conservation Jobs. An estimated 20 red wolves are all that remain in the wild. Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? Today, nearly every country in the world is a member of CITES. In one escape, they worked together: One held a mop handle steady while her sister climbed it to freedom. 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. What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? In fact, while animals will have almost unlimited space in the wild, they are often caged in rather confined areas in zoos. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Breeding programs in zoos eventually lead to some animals being sold off to other zoos or worse circuses. CreditPhotographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States. The role of our leaders: Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States, found reasons for optimismin the Biden presidency, a feeling perhaps borne out by the passing of major climate legislation. Here they are relatively safe . When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. When confined they rock, pull their hair and engage in other tics. ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. Captive animals need better laws, and better enforcement of those laws. The state and local laws protecting wild animals in captivity are spreading. In zoos, elephants are often given a small outside enclosure and an internal house. This is nowhere near enough space to provide an elephant with a life comparable to that of its wild counterparts. Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. Anyone can read what you share. However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. As a result, many zoos breed animals. See Related: What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? Is Keeping Wild Animals In Zoos Unethical?: Arguments For - WorldAtlas By playing dead, they would deceive predators into leaving them alone. Should We Keep Animals in Zoos? - Scholastic Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. They go to get out of the house, to get their children some fresh air, to see interesting animals. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. At the end of the day, Zoos are largely unethical places that are built under the pretense of habitat conservation but really are there to earn money and entertain people who want to be able to say they saw real-life wild animals. Most states have no laws governing captive wild animals. The fewer than two dozen non-participants include North Korea, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Turkmenistan. There is more to natural environments than just looks. However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. From there, it was an easy leap to protecting animal species. Climate change around the world: In Postcards From a World on Fire, 193 stories from individual countries show how climate change is reshaping reality everywhere, from dying coral reefs in Fiji to disappearing oases in Morocco and far, far beyond. Your voice is needed, so that captive wild animals in the United States, and elsewhere, are better protected. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. Unfortunately using real animals for these purposes involves tremendous cruelty. Zoos can be productive when it comes to reviving an animal species on the brink of extinction. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is rated four-stars by Charity Navigator, is a Platinum Level GuideStar Exchange participant, a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, and an Independent Charity Seal of Excellence awardee, ensuring that we meet the highest standards of accountability, efficiency, and impact. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. Mr. Hagenbecks model was widely influential. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. CITES does not directly address living conditions for captive animals. Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals? As a late Gen-Xer-cum-early-Millenial, my childhood was rich with trips to visit zoos. This conservation focus must be a key component for institutions that want to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization that sets standards and policies for facilities in the United States and 12 other countries. Most animals are taught to perform tricks and go against the grain of nature purely for human entertainment. In the 1980s, a group of orangutans escaped several times at the San Diego Zoo. Check out more news and information on Wild Animalsin Science Times. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. Why Zoos and Aquariums Are Beneficial - Association Of Zoos And Aquariums Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. Elephants figure prominently in his book, in part because they are so big that when they escape it generally makes the news. "Zoos are prisons for animals, camouflaging their cruelty with conservation claims," Mimi Bekhechi, director of international programmes at PETA, explains. 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. All of these options afford you a close view of nature exactly as it was intended. But that day of release never quite seems to come. 9 Reasons Not to Visit Zoos - PETA UK However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. Zoos, aquariums, water parks, and other facilities can help to maintain the viability of endangered species when humanity does not do a good enough job of protecting the animals in the wild. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY By "Phillip" Hungry, depressed, and unable to connect. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. Though the idea of breeding endangered animals to help increase their numbers back in the wild is great, there are problems that come with it. Lack of trees to rain will then lead to less and less vegetation and eventually draught in the area which will force the surviving animals to migrate to areas with better conditions. Help inform others by writing letters to your local newspapers and posting to social media. Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. Some sad facts about zoos are that at times, the people hired to take care of and protect these animals arent very qualified. YES. Don't be suckered into supporting companies that offer experiences like hugging a tiger, swimming with dolphins, riding elephants, or kissing sharks. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. Black-footed ferrets and red wolves in the United States and golden lion tamarins in Brazil all endangered, as well have been bred at zoos for reintroduction into the wild. Likewise, consuming sustainable seafood provides a valuable source of food for people and helps promote sustainable jobs. Even without a consciousness (that we know of) animals are alive and should be treated as such. Its said that Texas has the worlds second-largest tiger population, due to private citizens propensity for keeping these big cats as pets. William Randolph Hearst created his own private zoo with lions, tigers, leopards and more at Hearst Castle. When the caretakers are not well informed about the animals they are to be taking care of, it can be problematic. As an avid fan of botanical gardens, I humbly suggest that as the captive animals retire and die off without being replaced, these biodiversity-worshiping institutions devote more and more space to the wonderful world of plants. Animals also lose their genetic diversity especially due to inbreeding. Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. Elephants arent the only species that try to flee a zoo life. The forerunners of the modern zoo, open to the public and grounded in science, took shape in the 19th century. Tell lawmakers you support animal-friendly legislation and local bans on using animals in entertainment. Yes And Someone is Paying Attention, Swimming with The Seahorse: Discover Their Mystical Charisma. Will we ever see all zoos closed down? If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. Animals in zoos are easier to get various kinds of diseases because there are thousands of people around the animal every day. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. 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. In zoos vets and biologist help to prevent inbreeding. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. Crustacean Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating World of the Crab, Pet Food Manufacturers and Who Rules the Roost in a Growing Market. Captive Animals - Animal Legal Defense Fund Depressed monkey Sadly, most of these associations end up protecting the interests of their members, and not the animals they should be protecting. This alone increases the risk of disease, as animals are exposed to viruses they have never encountered before. An orangutan at the Omaha Zoo kept wire for lock-picking hidden in his mouth. They are just some of the millions of wild animals living in captivity across the United States. It is impossible to read these stories without concluding that these animals wanted out. There is no end to the risk of cross-contamination and disease spread, especially when considering the fact that lots of zoos fail to provide the correct standard of care. Animals held captive in zoos are in very small environments such as cages, and they have no freedom. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction. Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. The trade in wild animals involves tremendous suffering at every stage of the process.
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