why animals should not be kept in zoos articles

This type of behaviour is almost unheard of in their wild counterparts. Nature reserves, bird watching, going on a safari. I find one statistic particularly telling about their priorities: A 2018 analysis of the scientific papers produced by association members between 1993 and 2013 showed that just about 7 percent of them annually were classified as being about biodiversity conservation.. A 2014 study by the Society for Conservation Biology found that of over 2,800 children surveyed following visits to London Zoo, 62% showed no positive learning outcomes. When it comes from unsustainable sources it is a key cause of deforestation, impacting many species like orangutans and tigers. Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage! Animals kept in an unsuitable environment or fed the wrong diet can suffer, and this can lead to illness or death. Their death can be caused by either: lack of space, physical problems, diet, and PTSD. When it rains, the topsoil gets washed away leaving the land more exposed. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. With their apes, elephants, big cats, and other large and smart species gone, they could expand enclosures for the rest of the animals, concentrating on keeping them lavishly happy until their natural deaths. What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? Today, nearly every country in the world is a member of CITES. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. A study by Bristol University found that many British zoos fail to provide animals with the required minimum standard of care. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. A.Z.A. In some environments, we believe it's best not to keep certain wild animals at all, as their needs simply can't be met. Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. 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. Some of these animals are surplus from roadside zoos. The real question is, how can we change things? The common negative effects of zoos on animals are listed below. Your email address will not be published. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. The United Kingdom, for example, has announced a plan to phase out all circuses featuring wild animal performances by 2020. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers don't 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. Many zoos fail to provide the required minimum standard of care, Zoos dont replicate animals natural habitats, Zoos teach people that animal captivity is acceptable, Animal protection laws are not strong enough, Many visitors disturb and disrespect the animals, Zoo animals are often drugged to be kept calm. They go for the same reason people went to zoos in the 19th century: to be entertained. Private Possession: Many wild animals may be kept captive in private homes as pets. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. Animal rights activists argue that hunting, capturing, and putting animals on display is unethical. An example of these associations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which represents over 240 businesses across the globe. When wild animals shouldn't be in captivity. Going to the zoo is often quite affordable. Animal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner, Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? Zoos are a part of culture across the world. Carl Hegenbeck, a German exotic animal importer, introduced the modern model of more natural habitats for animals instead of obvious cages at his Animal Park in Hamburg in 1907. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Some sad facts about zoos are that at times, the people hired to take care of and protect these animals arent very qualified. That doesnt mean there havent been criticisms. The confined living areas are a big contributor to animal stress and lack of physical stimulation like would be gained from a nice sprint. Animals in captivity can struggle to adapt to their new environment. Thousands of animals are captured and put in zoos and aquariums for tourist attractions every year. Gus, a polar bear at the Central Park Zoo, was given Prozac as part of an attempt to stop him from swimming endless figure-eight laps in his tiny pool. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. The Animal Welfare Act: The Animal Welfare Act, or AWA, is the primary piece of federal legislation regulating captive wild animals. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. 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. 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. The Los Angeles Zoo has used Celexa, an antidepressant, to control aggression in one of its chimps. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. Things like ensuring animals arent caged and treated less than they deserve. The other argument zoos commonly make is that they educate the public about animals and develop in people a conservation ethic. NASA's DART Mission Successfully Changed the Trajectory of Space Rock Dimorphos, Asteroid Ryugu Richly Harbors Building Blocks of Life, Scientists Reveal, SpaceXs Crew-6 Astronauts Aboard Dragon Capsule Endeavor Will Arrive at Space Station Early Friday [WATCH LIVE]. All Rights Reserved. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. People are fascinated by animals. Older menageries existed as far back as 2500 BCE, in Mesopotamia. Roadside zoos dot the American landscape. When she caught up with the boys at the cafe, she mauled them before she was shot to death by the police. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. The lack of enough vegetation will then lead to global warming due to less carbon in the atmosphere. An estimated 20 red wolves are all that remain in the wild. 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. No, most likely not. However, not all of them are suitable for captivity and are better left alone in the wild. However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. In 2014, the director of the E.A.Z.A. 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. In several cases, animals held in poor conditions at roadside zoos have been transferred to sanctuaries, after the Animal Legal Defense Fund brought lawsuits under the Endangered Species Act. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Keep on reading. 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. 2. ViewResources. Required fields are marked *. CreditPhotographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) operates an accreditation system for sanctuaries, rescue centres and rehabilitation centres. This is due to the fact that many zoos want to keep as many animals as . Tell lawmakers you support animal-friendly legislation and local bans on using animals in entertainment. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. 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. ALSO READ: Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. From there, it was an easy leap to protecting animal species. And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year. According to an article inPlant Based News, marine parks and aquariums are a billion-dollar industry that exists to entertain the public by catching fish and sea mammals from the wild and using them as live exhibits. In zoos vets and biologist help to prevent inbreeding. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. Genes evolved over time to help the animal adjust to a man-made habitat can be a downside to the populations of the species in the wild. There were five such states until 2017, when South Carolina passed a law banning wild and exotic animals to be kept as pets. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. This is due to the inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. Lack of learning valuable animal life skills such as hunting and social structures eventually leads to the alteration of the said animals behavior. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. This could cause problems for the animal. Reasons why people think keeping animals in zoos is bad for their welfare: the animal is deprived of its natural habitat; the animal may not have enough room; the animal is deprived of its natural . Sanctuaries occupy a "gray area," says Tanya Espinosa, a . 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. Trading in Wild Animals: Every year, thousands of animals enter the captive wild animal trade. 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. Photographs by Peter Fisher. People assume that because an animal can move great distances that they would choose to do that. If they have everything they need nearby, he argued, they would be happy with smaller territories. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. India bans the keeping of elephants in circuses and zoos. Apes are excellent at escaping. However, in a zoo, the boundaries between the wild and captivity are rearranged. Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. This isnt always guaranteed since the breeding practices could be insufficient or even produce animals that are not suitable for survival in the wild. Most states have no laws governing captive wild animals. In 1898, the reason was cited by the New York Zoological Society when it resolved to inform the public of the continued decline in animal populations, to stimulate sentiment in favor of animal protection, and to cooperate with scientific organizations to ensure the preservation of species. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. By designing these enclosures so that many animals could be seen at once, without any bars or walls in the visitors lines of sight, he created an immersive panorama, in which the fact of captivity was supplanted by the illusion of being in nature. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Some, however, argue that children benefit from zoos. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. Capturing animals even smart ones like apes, for amusement shouldnt be going on anywhere. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. Watching these is a much healthier and more educational way to learn about wild animals than visiting a local zoo. She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. When confined they rock, pull their hair and engage in other tics. Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. The environment that these animals are kept in isnt natural to them more so the animals that are taken from the wilderness and kept in zoos. Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. Here's What Experts Think. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to quantify. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. But relatively early in their evolution, a German exotic animal importer named Carl Hagenbeck changed the way wild animals were exhibited. For many wild animals, this is a vital part of their life, and they can struggle to redefine their footing. This is seen as a cheaper option as opposed to moving them back into the wild.