All Rights are Resvered. Climate change has become a very real threat for the next and even current generations. The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species. They go for the same reason people went to zoos in the 19th century: to be entertained. This can make the animals neurotic, causing them to start biting bars, pacing repetitively, and swaying. Anyone can read what you share. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Claws N Paws, Looking for case and legal resources? ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. Terrifying, Pre-Historic-Looking Fish Captured in the Ocean's Twilight Zone; What Is It? Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. Some sad facts about zoos are that at times, the people hired to take care of and protect these animals arent very qualified. It is not humane to keep large mammals like orcas, dolphins or elephants in zoos or theme parks. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. "An even smaller proportion are part of captive breeding programmes and, of those, a tiny fraction have been released back into the wild. See Related: Most Comfortable Animals in The World. Wild dolphins swim up to 40 miles day with the other members of their pod, while captive dolphins are forced to swim in tiny pools with unfamiliar dolphins day after day. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. The U.S. became a signatory to CITES in 1975. 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. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Once the ground has been left with no coverage, soil erosion will be the next step. I pointed out that we cant ask animals whether they are happy with their enclosure size. In the end, he said, we live with our own constraints. He added, We are all captive in some regards to social and ethical and religious and other constraints on our life and our activities.. Capturing animals even smart ones like apes, for amusement shouldnt be going on anywhere. These experiences are often harmful to wildlife and dangerous for you. An example of these associations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which represents over 240 businesses across the globe. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. Emma Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. 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. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. Jason Hribals 2010 book, Fear of the Animal Planet, chronicles dozens of attempts. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. Deforestation will be the next problem when animals such as moose, elks, and deer start eating everything even young trees. Severe arthritis and foot infections are common in captive elephants due to standing on hard, unnatural surfaces all day without room to roam. Kept in barren cages rarely larger than 20 by 20 feet, bears in roadside zoos spend their days pacing, sleeping abnormally long periods of time, and bobbing their head all indications of extreme psychological distress. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. This gives the poor pets a home and creates a revenue stream for the zoos. A quick google search reveals that a zoo is an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation, or display to the public. An animal lover, Alexs family, have all been involved in various animal welfare charities. Many suffer from arthritis and other joint problems from standing on hard surfaces; elephants kept alone become desperately lonely; and all zoo elephants suffer mentally from being cooped up in. They are kind people, bonded to their charges and immersed in the culture of the zoo, in which they are the good guys. To update your payment information, visit our Member Center. Properly curated and interpreted, a well-run garden can be a site for a rewarding outing with friends or family, a source of education for the 27 percent of people who read signs and a point of civic pride. facilities report spending approximately $231 million annually on conservation projects. However, in a zoo, the boundaries between the wild and captivity are rearranged. Photographs by Peter Fisher. When wild animals shouldn't be in captivity. What if they sent all the animals that need really large areas or lots of freedom and socialization to refuges? 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. Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. After all, more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide every year, and biodiversity is still in decline. Even though they might be getting enough food, if your animals are not okay mentally they might still not live to their full potential. The common negative effects of zoos on animals are listed below. In 2014, the director of the E.A.Z.A. Keep on reading. For example, the typical enclosure designed for a polar bear is about a million times smaller than its natural roaming grounds. Thats true, he said. Throughout history, men have accumulated large and fierce animals to advertise their might and prestige. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. 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. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. I do not doubt that some people had their passion for a particular species, or wildlife in general, sparked by zoo experiences. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. Polar bears have one million times less space. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. Even when properly fed and well housed, they can never be fully relaxed in confined spaces. Elephants figure prominently in his book, in part because they are so big that when they escape it generally makes the news. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. It is expensive and difficult to keep wild animals in captivity. PETA isn't alone. Wrong! Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. 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]. For many wild animals, this is a vital part of their life, and they can struggle to redefine their footing. The A.Z.A. Here are some of the major ways that these jurisdictions are protecting wild captive animals under the law: Restricting Private Parties From Keeping Wild Animals: Some states ban the keeping of wild and exotic animals. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers don't get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Dramatic Hour-by-Hour Changes of Dart Mission Slamming on an Asteroid, Can Humanity Deflect Potentially Hazardous Asteroids? Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are under stress. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. However, the vast majority dont do enough to accurately replace an animals natural habitat. Increasingly, animals were presented with the distasteful fact of their imprisonment visually elided. In the age of social media, high profile culls have sparked heated debates. Fewer and fewer states are allowing residents to keep captive wild animals without a permit. 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. (This law does not affect zoos or circuses.). As humans, we have no right to hunt and lock up animals for our enjoyment. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. Apes are excellent at escaping. Wildlife experts remind people that these animals do not know people's intentions, so they will try to protect themselves no matter what. What Cause Extinction What Can We Do To Stop It? In the 1980s, a group of orangutans escaped several times at the San Diego Zoo. Grizzly Bear vs Black Bear: Whats the Difference. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. Many zoos create attractive enclosures to attract visitors. A criticism is that protections are less robust for species that are economically valuable, and that CITES is not as transparent in its decision-making or enforcement as would be ideal. The A.Z.A.s policies allow for the euthanasia of animals, but the president of the association, Dan Ashe, told me, its very rarely employed by his member institutions. The others ran, and she pursued them, ignoring all other humans in her path. 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. But is there a reason why animals should not be kept in zoos? Also, removing a certain species from the ecosystem can destroy the whole ecosystem. Investigators found sticks and pine cones inside the exhibit, most likely thrown by the boys. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. Because so many diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as Ebola, Hantavirus, and the bird flu, zoos frequently conduct disease surveillance research in wildlife populations and their own captive populations that can lead to a direct impact on human health. What could these zoos do with it, besides enlarging enclosures? Groundhog More than Just a Weather Prognosticator! Ive heard and read some of their stories. In this way, they could lead the predator away from their nest. In many modern zoos, animals are well cared for, healthy and probably, for many species, content. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage! Giraffes endlessly flick their tongues. When in their natural environments, wild animals are not used to being confronted by humans. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. Keeping endangered animals in zoos infringes on those individuals' rights to freedom. These standards set a low bar and are widely considered to be sub-par in protecting animals. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. 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. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. All of these options afford you a close view of nature exactly as it was intended. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. When a female gorilla named Johari kept fighting off the male she was placed with, the zoo dosed her with Prozac until she allowed him to mate with her. Zoos often have insufficient knowledge of animals. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Many zoo animals are forcefully removed from their natural habitat. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? They often display neurotic behaviour, like repetitive pacing, swaying, and bar biting. There are a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. This alone increases the risk of disease, as animals are exposed to viruses they have never encountered before. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild. All rights reserved. Zoos are home to many animals. Why Are Puppy Mills Bad: The Numerous Reasons Why They Must Be Stopped And How You, yes you, Can Help! 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. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. If you go on holiday to any major destination, the chances are high that there will be at least one zoo and/or one aquarium nearby. I once overheard two schoolchildren at the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington confess to each other that they had assumed that elephants were mythical animals like unicorns before seeing them in the flesh. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. worldanimalfoundation.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Other Programs, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the Partners. 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. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. Others allow private parties to keep animals like tigers or primates with a permit. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. The Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES): CITES is an international treaty that regulates the trade of wildlife for nations that are signatories to the treaty. Slow animals with minimal to zero predators such as elephants have brief life spans in captivity. When an animal is not on the endangered list, capturing it doesnt serve any purpose to the animal. See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. Instead, they will hire generalists with a degree of knowledge specificity and run with that. Many zoos use Prozac and other psychoactive drugs on at least some of their animals to deal with the mental effects of captivity. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. The real question is, how can we change things? But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. Yes, it is time consuming and it is expensive, but if it is possible, we have to try, simply because is the right thing to do.". How Does Saving Water Help Climate Change? Zoo elephants tend to die young. One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. Zoo owners go to great lengths to build enclosures that have a wild aesthetic and give paying visitors a taste of the wild world. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. Yes And Someone is Paying Attention, Swimming with The Seahorse: Discover Their Mystical Charisma. The Brutal Truth About Seal Clubbing: Because Everyone Needs Dead Seal Pups (Not)! And it is true that the territory size of an animal like a wolf depends greatly on the density of resources and other wolves. In normalizing captivity zoos, and teaching animals to perform tricks for human entertainment, zoos and animal sanctuaries are spreading the message that animal captivity to normal, healthy, and fully acceptable. Especially not for the broad spectrum of species they have in their park. An example of this is a snake that will bite whatever is threatening them since they are not as good at running away as other animals. 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. Copyrights 2023. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and "cold-blooded" animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. The first zoos housed animals behind metal bars in spartan cages. In the past five years, the number of zoos has been gradually going up. Such a transformation might free up some space. The Los Angeles Zoo has used Celexa, an antidepressant, to control aggression in one of its chimps. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? The allure of baby animals and the crowds they pull can lead a zoological garden director to increase them to keep attracting customers. This goes to the detriment of the animals in zoos and puts them at risk of receiving inadequate care. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. It is impossible to read these stories without concluding that these animals wanted out. When confined they rock, pull their hair and engage in other tics. There are zoological park associations that were formed to keep zoo owners on their toes. 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. After being captives of the pandemic for more than a year, we have begun experiencing the pleasures of simple outings: dining al fresco, shopping with a friend, taking a stroll through the zoo. 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. Many zoos and aquariums offer behind-the-scenes tours and informative talks on animal welfare. Zoos can be productive when it comes to reviving an animal species on the brink of extinction. Here's What Experts Think. Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. When it comes from unsustainable sources it is a key cause of deforestation, impacting many species like orangutans and tigers. The trainer was immediately sent to the hospital and has since recovered from physical injuries, and so does the dolphin. The incident in Miami Seaquarium is proof that animals do not belong in captivity. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. This is only one of the Acts limitations. Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. A day may come, he said, when we need to breed elephants or tigers or polar bears in captivity to save them from extinction. Life expectancy for animals in captivity depends on a couple of things, such as their way of life, among other factors. Animals in captivity can struggle to adapt to their new environment. Wild animals have certain behaviors that are uniquely influenced by their environments. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. Many suffer from arthritis and other joint problems from standing on hard surfaces; elephants kept alone become desperately lonely; and all zoo elephants suffer mentally from being cooped up in tiny yards while their free-ranging cousins walk up to 50 miles a day. In his Animal Park, which opened in 1907 in Hamburg, he designed cages that didnt look like cages, using moats and artfully arranged rock walls to invisibly pen animals. Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. Earlier this month, footage of a dolphin attacking its trainer in Miami Seaquarium went viral. Copyright 2023 The Science Times. 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. 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. Their death can be caused by either: lack of space, physical problems, diet, and PTSD. Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. zoos is usually not more than 200 animals per year, the organization said.) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. Some animals are quite intelligent so keeping them in captivity should never be an option. There is no wild animal census in the United States, and many states have lax oversight, so any estimates about the population of wild animals in captivity is at best an educated guess. This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. 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. For example, if the number of lions is drastically reduced in an area, their prey will thrive. But that day of release never quite seems to come. ALSO READ: Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner. 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. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. Unfortunately using real animals for these purposes involves tremendous cruelty. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. Fish and Wildlife Service, suggested that learning how to breed animals contributes to conservation in the long term, even if very few animals are being released now. says that its members host more than 50 reintroduction programs for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, a vast majority of zoo animals (there are 800,000 animals of 6,000 species in the A.Z.A.s zoos alone) will spend their whole lives in captivity, either dying of old age after a lifetime of display or by being culled as surplus.. The forerunners of the modern zoo, open to the public and grounded in science, took shape in the 19th century. 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. India bans the keeping of elephants in circuses and zoos. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. These laws help the animals and also people, since wild animals in captivity present a serious public safety risk. The same applies to elephants. Whats Causing Their Decline? Animal Legal Defense Fund,National Headquarters Breeders: How to Stop Puppy FarmsPermanently. And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. Today, nearly every country in the world is a member of CITES. Private Possession: Many wild animals may be kept captive in private homes as pets. Many animals in zoos are not used to confinement.