"Zoos have to educate the public about the value of animals so that they understand the importance of conservation. After a fun experience at the zoo, people leave with a newfound knowledge and understanding. How are they going to learn these things if they don’t get to see the animals? Zoos and aquariums give people an appreciation for the animals. They need to see, listen to, and smell an elephant. Viewing an animal on TV does not give a person the same kind of love and respect for the creature as seeing it in person does.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is the major accrediting body for zoos in North America . AZA’s standards require excellence in animal care and welfare, conservation, education, and research before a zoological park is eligible to receive their stamp of approval. Accredited zoos all over the country are actively supporting conservation projects in the wild. Most zoos are actively involved in numerous projects to preserve and rescue a wide range of endangered species from elephants to amphibians. In 2007 alone, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium raised over $716,000 for field conservation. Because of tireless conservation efforts, species like the snow leopard and the mountain gorilla have overcome near extinction and will have the opportunity to see future generations."
Should animals be kept in zoos? No. Animals are living creatures, just like humans. There is no written rule in law that states humans can restrict animals from their natural habitats. There is no decree and nor is it a human right. When these creatures – birds, bears, lions, monkeys, etc – are captured and isolated from their natural homes, be it the mountains, swamps, lakes, or plains, their independence and survival instincts are weakened. The zoo trainers keep them in cages and feed them; over time, the animals will learn to depend on the humans and if and when they are released back into the wild, they cannot survive on their own without struggling… their food will no longer be hand fed to them. Instead, they have to relearn how to hunt to survive. Another downside in keeping animals in cages at zoos is this – the animals will not display their natural habits and lifestyle. This is because they potentially know that they are being watched by crowds of people and that their cages do not replicate every aspect of their natural homes. Observational studying of the animals in the wild is the best way to learn about and respect them. Lastly, animals being caged at zoos may face abuse for any misconduct or training to become tamed. This brings the argument back to who says humans have the right to restrict the freedom of these creatures. The answer is no one.
ReplyDeleteHow would you feel if you were locked in a cage your whole life only to be limited to space and only eat when food was presented to you? It doesn’t sound like much freedom to me so I don’t understand why it is okay for humans to treat animals that way. It is obvious that animals should not be kept in zoos because it is simply animal cruelty. Animals who live in zoos are kept in enclosures; this doesn’t allow them to live their lives in a natural way. Moreover, animals in zoos have altered behaviors. They are stressed, and most likely bored. This could be from missing their real, natural habitat, or even missing family members. Not only is their behavior affected but zoos also make them unhappy and then give them no privacy. It has been proven that animals do need their privacy for mental stimulation and physical exercise. Lastly, though zoos do serve a purpose for endangered species, most animals we see in zoos aren’t endangered. In fact, majority of animals in the world aren’t endangered at all. I am an animal lover and enjoy visiting zoos or aquariums, but there is no reason to torture so many animals. Instead of creating cages and sidewalks, more National Parks should replace zoos therefore we can see animals acting in their natural environments for example Yellowstone National Park. Take a lion, monkey, or elephant’s perspective and see if a zoo feels right for you.
ReplyDeleteAnia, I really like the point you made about there being no written rule in law that states humans can restrict animals from their natural habitats. It's a good way to bring politics into the picture.
Yes, Zoo provides the public with new found knowledge and understanding of animal. Zoo has provided many remarkable funds for conservation efforts that will strengthen the future of many animals. But at what cause is these accomplishes gain? Animals are living creatures with emotions and snatching a creature from its natural environment and stuffing them in cramp cages or artificial environment is not only inhumane it goes against the purpose of a zoo. Taking an animal from its natural environment can have many negative psychological and physical effects. Zoo will diminish animal survival skills such as hunting, fighting, and mating and will be replaced with human dependency. The animal will become depress with longing for its home and family. This will result in the animal behaving differently in the zoo than it would have in the wild giving a false perception of the animal to the public. Besides that the longer an animal is kept away from its natural environment the more foreign it will become to the animal and once it is release back into the wild it will resist adapting to it.
ReplyDeleteZoo pride itself on helping animals survive through educating the public and funding conservation effort. But confiding a creature does more harm than any good. It is said that conservation is to protect and keep from change. So taking animal from its natural environment goes against what conservation stands for. If the animal best interest is really the main interest of the zoo than studying an animal in its natural environment is best.
Ania, I like how you ended your argument with the fact that animals can face abuse to become tame. This tied back to your argument and strengthen how unnatural it is for an animal to be confined.
While zoos may educate the public and provide funding for conservation, this does not come without a cost. Animals should not be kept in a zoo because it is not natural for them to be in a human made and managed place. Lions, monkeys, elephants, snakes, and all animals naturally roam in limitless land and water. They have innate and complex systems for hunting, mating, and living among each other in animal societies. To capture a wild animal from its natural environment is harmful to the animal in many ways.
ReplyDeleteTo begin with, Animals are not just individual loners (for the most part). Names for groups of animals include herd, congregation, colony, pack, flock, army and the list goes on and on. All of these illustrate the sense of community animals have and when pulled out and put in cages with fewer or no other animals this is harmful to the animal. They may be separated from family and hunting groups, all of which they have been a part of their whole life.
Another reason to not keep animals in zoos is that it will weaken their natural instincts. In a natural setting they will hunt for their food in an orderly way. Take the lion for example; the lionesses go in groups to hunt and provide the meat for their families. In a zoo, not only would the females not hunt and provide, but none of them would hunt. The zookeepers feed them at set times and the animals gradually lose their natural ways and become dependent on humans to feed them. This reliance on humans is in no way good for the captured animals and would be an extreme handicap to them if they were released into the wild again.
In response to Demi,
I like the proposed idea about national parks. It is beneficial to the animals and I personally think people would enjoy going to see real animals doing real things verses them just sitting around and occasionally moving. I also like that you addressed how most of the animals kept in zoos are not endangered, super good way to combat the argument given in the prompt.
Animals should not be kept in zoos because there are many negative affects that not only are harmful to animals but to humans too. It cannot be anymore obvious than to say that animals in zoos are not in their natural habitat. People go to zoos to see how animals act and to learn from them. However, animals do not act the same as they would if they were living in the open wild. Animals in zoos are divided up into cages of their own species. Therefore, zoos do no show how wild animals interact with other animals in the wild not of their kind. Zoos also do not shows how animals hunt for their own prey, the circle of life. It has been proven that some animals feet have become deformed because of the ground they live on is not what their bodies are use to and because the living space is so small for most wild animals. Zoos affect the animals tremendously. Zoos make animals become reliant on humans for food, and if the animals are ever release back into the wild they will find it hard to adapt again especially because many of the animals were taken into zoo when they were very young. The spread of disease is prevalent in zoos. Last year there was a parasite called Biastocytis that was being spread around the animals and when the zookeepers were tested for this disease they were found to have to parasite as well. Diseases are also spread from petting zoo where children interact directly with animals. I think the worse part of zoos is that there have been accidents. Just last February a killer whale at Sea World killed a trainer. Accidents among animals and humans happen all the time because it is not natural for animals to be kept in cages.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ania, I agree with you that animals are better off in the wild because they are abused by trainers in order to be tames. I also agree with Demi’s point that most animals in zoos are not endangered species and therefore defeat one of the main purposes of what zoos are suppose to be used for.
Demi, I agree with replacing zoos with wildlife parks. You make a good point when you say that most animals at the zoos aren't endangered because they really aren't. Animals shouldn't be restricted to space and the foods they eat.
ReplyDeleteWhile zoos have certain positive aspects, their cost far outweighs their benefits. Animals belong in the wild where they have room to run around free and interact with each other. Zoos keep animals in confined cages to be gawked at all day long by various spectators. This is prevents them from experiencing life as their species was intended and can be considered animal cruelty. Many people believe that zoos are beneficial because they keep animals safe from extinction. But, what good is preserving a species if they must live out their lives in captivity and never see the wild? Also, there are numerous organizations other than zoos that work to protect animals and preserve their rights, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Furthermore, zoos are accredited with providing the public with education about animals. This is certainly important, but can be achieved through other methods such as books, movies, lectures, and television shows. These are all educational tools that are not provided at the expense animals’ wellbeing. Jack Hanna claims that the best way for learn about animals is to “see, listen to, and smell” them. However, there are other means of interacting with animals in person other than visiting them at the zoo, such as safaris that take people to visit animals in their natural habitat. This brings people to the animals, rather than the other way around. As you can see, the benefits provided by zoos are all achievable by methods other than holding animals captive in cages.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Michelle, you mentioned an interesting point that I hadn’t even considered. Even if zoos do try to reintroduce animals to the wild, they will have been help in captivity for so long that it would be extremely difficult for them to adapt. Thus, another negative aspect of zoos is that the cycle of captivity is seemingly endless.
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ReplyDeleteAn animal in the zoo is like a human in jail. The poor animals are contained to a specific area with little room to roam and live freely. It is basically punishment for no reason at all. A zoo is completely unnatural; animals are meant to naturally roam around throughout the world, hunting their own food, surviving on their own, reproducing on their own, and interacting with other species. Putting zebras, lions, elephants, and other animals in a zoo limits them to a simple lifestyle where everything is given to them by humans. If they were put in the wild after being contained in a zoo, the animal wouldn’t know how to live. Also, seeing an animal in a zoo is less beneficial than seeing an animal in the wild; it is more of a learning experience to see them in their natural form and to learn how they interact with other species as well as species of their own. Watching an animal sit in a cage at the zoo is not a learning experience in any way since you don’t get to see them do natural things. A zoo is just for humans’ entertainment, and a way to make extra money. There is absolutely no need for zoos; wild animals get along just fine in the wild where they belong.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Kelly, I agree that putting animals in a zoo makes them less capable of interacting with other species. Since they're locked up they're not able to interact with others, or get food on their own. They always have to rely on humans to get everything they need for them, which is completely unnatural.
1) Animals should not be kept in zoos because they say that they are educating people by going to the Zoos to see the animals in person, but it is pure torture for the animals. The visits that you may take to the Zoo may only be a few hours, but the poor animals have to say there for years in such small capacity, cramped, and so far away from their natural habitat. Animals in the Zoos are neglected for the most part because the people working at the Zoos are mostly worried about bring in the cash flow to the Zoo by spending more money on vending stands or play stations for kids. The animal care in Zoos is not good. The animals who are used to being in big groups are now either alone or just in a pair. With place that they have is way too small, they lack privacy and exercise. Poor birds have to get their wings clipped so they can’t fly away and the aquatic animals have little water. The animals are used to being out in the wild not meant to be looked at by people. You bring them to a totally different environment that they are not used to different habitat and overall just a totally different way of living. They lions can’t run and roam instead they are cramped in this little wired cage for people to look at like a prisoner. After they get their approval to open the Zoo, that’s all they care about after that it’s all about the money.
ReplyDelete2) I agree with Rachel animals go from limitless roaming around to a cage. You can’t take an animal and take an animal out of its habitat and put it in an enclosed area for our entertainment. I liked all the examples you gave from limitless area, to hunting, to being in a group. Well said.
No one likes the feeling of being caged in to small living quarters. As humans we are free to roam and travel to wherever we want without feeling like we are trapped somewhere (except for prison) and animals should be able to live this way too. Zoos are the same thing for animals as prisons are for humans. If we lived in a perfect world animals would be able to live freely in the wild on their own, as nature intended them to do. Sadly though, this is not a perfect world and animals are taken into zoos so people can watch them lie around all day. Not letting an animal do what it was born to do is exactly what zoos are doing to these animals. These animals cannot hunt, interact with other types of animals, and be with their natural family which is all because they are placed in zoos. It is nice to see animals that you would not normally be able to see, but they should not be on display as a show for people. A good balance would be for the zoo to take the animal into their facilities only if the animal was sick or hurt and needed a place to recover. Then once the animal is healed the zoo could release the animal back into the wild where they belong. This could be seen as something like a revolving door; bring them in from the wild, let them stay at the zoo, then released them back into the wild. This is an alternative instead of detaining a few animals until they go crazy.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ania, I definitely agree that animals would be best viewed in their natural habitats. People could see what the animals are truly all about by observing them hunt and interact with each other than just seeing them sleep or lie around all day.
Although I've never been to a zoo, I did go on a safari at Disneys' Animal Kingdom. Any child who has ever gotten the chance to see real exotic animals feet away from them can chatter on for days how great it was. But is any persons' entertainment worth the negative consequences done to these animals.Animals should not be kept in zoos because it takes them away from their families and homes. Yeah, animals are not people, so what? Just because humans are the "higher" species doesn't mean that animals cannot love their family and homes too. Most animals are capable of this as seen when they take care of their offspring.The animals in the zoos were taken from their family. They had a herd (elephants), band (gorillas), pride (lions) that they came from and will never see again.Another thing is that zoos are small places. Unlike people animals are not used to staying in a confined place for hours at a time. Watch Animal Planet or Discovery and we see that they travel miles everyday by foot and wings, running and swimming. There's no way a zoo can ever reproduce that kind of freedom. Lastly, animals who grow up in the confinement of zoos never develop the same survival skills as animals born in the wild.This is sad because they learn to depend on humans for all their basic needs.Therefore, if there is a natural disaster they would most likely not survive too long without people.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Michelle I agree that animals in captivity will not give people the true perspective on how animals behave. A gorilla in a zoo is not the same a s a gorilla in the jungle.There are examples of this with abused children who are confined to a small area and never given much human contact. These children are severely psychologically damaged and behave nothing like a normal child.
Although some people believe zoo's can be beneficial to animals, I disagree. I feel broken hearted whenever I go to the zoo, or to an aquarium and I see beautiful animals such as lions, tigers, monkeys, whales, dolphins, and all the other animals, locked up in a cage or tank. Just like humans, animals were also meant to be free, and roam the earth or ocean as they wish. Animals were not mean to be trapped in a cage or water tank. Obviously animals can not be happy locked up like they are. Are humans happy when they go to jail? No. That is how I imagine animals feeling when they are kept in zoo's and aquariums. Imagine living in the same cramped up space, doing the same thing, living the same way, for years, it has to be depressing. They are not in their natural habitat where they should be. Lions should be walking around freely in the jungles and lands of Africa, not kept in a cage at a random zoo. Beautiful white Siberian tigers should be roaming Siberia, in the climate that they were meant to live in, not the 90 degree daily weather they are kept in at a zoo like Busch Gardens. The killer whale is supposed to be swimming in the great blue sea, not a 500 ft. water tank at sea world. The same goes for all the other animals. Not only is it not meant for them to live that way, but it is also bad for them. Whales for example, when they are taken out of the ocean and kept in tanks at aquariums, their fins begin to curve to sides because they do not have the room they need to fully grow. Birds who should be flying around where ever they please, get there wings clipped from them so they can not fly to their full potential. The animals are no longer themselves anymore. They were meant to attack for their food, and find a way to eat, not get their food hand given to them or thrown at them. Sure they make nice entertainment for a couple of hours, and they clearly make a ton of money for the zoo's or aquariums they are put at, but it simply is not fair to the animals and it is not the way they were meant to live.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa, I did not even see what you said about the prison like thing for animals until after I wrote my opinion, I absolutely agree with that! I also like how you think that it would be a good idea for the animals that are put in zoo's or aquariums to be the injured or sick animals, until they recover. This way people can get a chance to see animals they normally wouldn't and it would be beneficial to the animals at the same time so they can heal in a safe area, rather then remaining in their normal habitats which can be dangerous for an injured animal. Very good idea!
Despite the benefits zoos are able to provide to the public, such as better education and observation of these wild animals, they are cruel to the animals and should not be allowed. Yes the zoo may provide a fun day for a family to observe animals that would never normally see, but does anyone consider the conditions these animals are forced to live in? Wild animals are not meant to be held in captivation, secluded from their environment and away from other kinds of their species. Although viewing an animal on TV does not provide the same experiences as seeing them in person, we need to stop being selfish and put the safety of these animals first. Animals held in captivation lose their skills to hunt and ability to care for themselves in the wild. They become reliant on the provided food and water by humans, therefore losing their survival instincts. These animals no longer contain the instincts and qualities of those that live in the wild, which defeats the whole purpose of their “education” and “understanding.” The zoo is an unnatural environment for these wild animals, and once released back into the wild they will no longer remember how to survive on their own. These animals need to be around their own kind, and it is cruel to have them secluded when it is not what they are used too. Imagine being taken away from your home and family, and shipped off to a new country where you are trapped behind bars and stared at day after day. The impact of the animals is what we should be considering, not the benefits of humans.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa, I like how you relate a zoo to being in prison. It’s a great analogy and I completely agree that animals are meant to be free. They have done nothing wrong and do not deserve to be trapped behind bars.
By caging an animal you are doing the only thing possible to change it. You are domesticating it. To be more precise you are taking the "wild" and survival instinct out of it making it to become a docile animal. The reason people would go to a zoo is to see an animal acting ferocious like a book says it does but zoos do the opposite. After such a long time living in confinement and not having to actually search and kill for its food, tigers for example, just get very lazy. This is not how we want a child to learn about a tiger. Thats because they aren't doing what they normally do. Watching a documentary is a much better perspective because you get to see what the animal actually does and how it behaves the way it should, in the wild.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Natascha B
Its a very good point to bring up the cleanliness of the animal shelters but is very hard to prove. To use this you would most likely need research because to my knowledge zoos pride them selves on being very good to animals so unless there is a specific case it just sounds like you are making an opinion. Otherwise it is a good point but may need some more thinking to make it plausible to use.
I believe I can safely say we have all enjoyed something related to the zoo. It may have been a field trip when we were in elementary school, a stuff toy that someone who went to the zoo brought back, or even a zoo show, but animals should not be kept in cages for human enjoyment. Yes, zoos offer the human race with education, but at the age that most people go to the zoo, we are too young to get the full understanding of the zoo. This is because we go when we are very young. For example the last time my friends or I have been to the zoo was when we were in third grade. I honestly do not remember one thing from the zoo that was educationally I do in fact remember the white tiger that was on its’ own island. Also seeing an animal run in its own environment would give many people love and respect for the animal because they are seeing it be wild they way it was intended to be. Also the factor of trying to save endangered species is not always a good thing. This is because if we have way to many animals of all different kinds than they will have the same problem that humans are facing, over population. in addition it is great for generations after the animals have pasted to learn about them. For example we all have learned about dinosaurs for so many years. Last having humans feed wild animals is not the best idea we have come up. This is because the animals will just become dependent on the human and lose all wild life skills.
ReplyDeleteThe reading: I thought the reading was really helpful because I hate starting a paper. It’s one of the hardest things to do for me; also the section of “Endings to avoid” was an eye opener because I do a few of those things without even thinking.
In response to Demi: I really like the idea of National parks just like Rachel. I think that would be the best way to educate everyone and still have the animals be wild in a way. Also how you talked about the animals in the zoo not always being endangered really great point. =]
Animals should not be kept in zoos. They are taken away from their natural habitats and are placed in a artificial environment. Animals are being deprived of living a free life because they cannot act in the manner they desire. Every behavior that they display is shadowed. Animals deserve the decency to be able to roam free in their own environment and hunt for their own food. They should be able to encounter altercations with other males of their species in order to win over their mate. Animals are being imprisoned and caged by the zookeepers. They are literally turning the animals into robot because of how strict they are when it comes to the animals actions. Animals do not belong in cages; they belong in the wild when they do not have to depend on humans to survive. They should be able to choose where they want to live and eat the types of foods that they desire. Animals in zoos are similar to humans in prison. They are told what they can and cannot do, they cannot eat when they want, and they are assigned a place to live. Place yourself in the animals’ situation. Animals are creatures of nature just as humans and they should be treated with respect, just like humans.
ReplyDeleteAnia, I totally agree with your response that the animals will not display their natural habits and lifestyle. I wouldn’t be able to display my natural habits if everyone stared at me all day every day. I find it to somewhat degrading because there is a lack of privacy.
No. Absolutely, under no circumstances should animals be kept in zoo's. Although it does appeal to the public and provides them with a great deal of information about the animals, it is unethical to lock up a living creature against it's own will and allow it to be stared at, evaluated, and essentially stripped of it's natural instincts. It would be unethical to pull someone belonging to a minority and stick them in a cage because that racial group may be destroyed. This also strips the animals from their natural instincts in their natural environment. Animals are just handed food; they don't have to hunt for it. That doesn't teach the people coming to see them a good idea about what it is like in the wild because the only information that such an act shows is how the animal is able to adapt to captivity. Also, the interaction between other animals is not the same as it would be in their natural habitat, and therefor may alter sleeping, eating, and reproduction.
ReplyDeleteI entirely agree with Demi about having more National Parks. This would allow humans to encounter animals in their natural habitat, without having to take the animal out of it. They would see how animals interact with one another, how they hunt, and how they eat without disturbing the animals in their own element. Places like Yellowstone National Park allow tourists and visitors to come and see the landscapes, plant life, and animal life, yet at the same time it's all protected grounds by law. People can see animals interacting where they should be; in the wild.
We're all familiar with sayings like "Wow, it's like a zoo in there" or "I feel like a zoo keeper", these phrases are said casually but say something important about the reality of zoos. Phrases in reference to zoos are almost all negative, if one hears that the mall is a "zoo" he or she understands that there are far too many people in one small area and there is a heavy sense of chaos and commotion- just like a zoo. Animals are unnaturally placed in zoos and constrained to extremely small spaces, people seem to hate being in any situation that resembles a zoo so why do we force animals into such places? Some argue that it's for the education of people though the loss out weighs the gain in this case. People do not gain enough to isolate and imprison animals in such a way. The benefits of zoos can be achieved and exceeded by large game reserves. Rather than locking up animals in tiny spaces and showing them unnaturally constrained and dependent on humans for food and protection, animals can be kept on large game reserves where they have hundreds of acres to run free, maintain their natural instincts and continue the natural life cycle. Reserves allow animals to be tracked but not constrained. This allows researchers to make more naturalistic observations and experiments and allows children and adults to see the way animals truly exist. People can see animals hunting, traveling in packs, exercising their amazing strength and agility and understand the beauty of being lucky enough to see animals in action- not just ready to always be seen at the drop of a hat.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, I agree with your ideas about how unnatural it is to see domesticated animals in a zoo. For many people I think this is misleading and often disappointing. I would be curious to see how many children have a skewed perception of powerful animals such as lions after seeing them merely sleeping in the corner of a cage. Thanks to youtube, we know plenty of adults seem to lack this understanding when they attempt to feed or touch animals and end up mauled by cute little panda bears..
Zoos may provide a fun and educational experience for many, but at what price? The animals that occupy the zoos often suffer throughout their entire lives because of it. While zoos have the potential to educate people on certain qualities of different animals, the people have to understand that they are observing caged and tamed animals, not those found in the wild. The way an animal is raised, specifically those brought up in a zoo, are certainly not going to behave the same way a wild animal of the same species would. Therefore, while a zoo can be educational, a lot of the actions and behaviors observed from the animals aren’t entirely representative of the species as a whole. Not only are the educational aspect of zoos not entirely up to par, but a lot of the animals’ living environments aren’t either. A large percentage of the animals living in zoos aren’t provided with enough land and are locked up in areas inappropriate for their species. Also, a person can hear the sounds animals make through a television or recording, they don’t have to hear an animal in person to listen to it. And, the majority of the time, smelling an animal only turns people away from it, and certainly doesn’t move them towards supporting it. Finally, if ever the animals kept in captivity were let out into the wild, they would never survive. Zoos only handicap wild animals by serving them meals as opposed to having them finding it for themselves. Zoos may be educational and provide a fun activity to partake in, but in my opinion, the negative aspects of them far outweigh those in support of them.
ReplyDeleteDemi, I completely agree with you. Animals kept in zoos are forced to endure animal cruelty. And, I also agree that animals in zoos don’t act the same way they would in the wild because of stress and discomfort. You bring up a number of interesting points, all of which I fully back you on.
"I feel like a caged animal". Most of us are willing to use this phrase when describing times when we feel trapped. It's obvious we know what the phrase implies about our own lives, but we rarely apply that phrase when we actually see an animal in the cage at the zoo. So you feel like a caged animal in a society of freedom that is America....well then....how do you think the actual animal feels who is locked up in a cold steel cage with thousands of gawkers staring at it all day. Most of us enjoy the zoo and enjoy the animas that inhabit it, but none of us really take the time to develop an empathetic stance toward the animals. I guess in that regards to the animals, we will always be the "outsiders looking in". Animals should not be kept in zoos just for the reason that it while we may think it's fun...for the animals...they are basically being held in captivity. Keeping an animal in a zoo is not the only way to view that animal or save it from endangerment. Instead of keeping animals in zoos, funds could go towards promoting and creating new environments where the animals could survive in their own habitat and run freely. Furthermore, animals are kept in zoos so they people can have better access to viewing them. However, if it's truly a matter of life and death in regards to viewing an animal, one could always travel to see the animals in action in their natural habitat. Maybe then we can stop "feeling" like caged animals just as soon as we are willing to let an actual animal out of one.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ania Bang,
I agree with you that animals suffer weakened survival states in zoos. I feel that we are ignorant of the possibility that the animals may actually be at a disadvantage in the zoos rather than gaining any benefits.
Animals should not be kept in zoos. Often times, animals are separated from their families and restrained in a cage that is a very poor replica of what was once called home. A zoo is not a dire necessity of those who wish to experience the animals in real life. There plenty of opportunities of which people may experience these animals in their natural habitat. Though Jack Hanna argues that "Viewing an animal on TV does not give a person the same kind of love and respect for the creature as seeing it in person does", but Hanna's initial argument is for knowledge and conservation. There are plenty of other conservation programs e.g. (PETA) that help people to understand the importance of animal conservation. Also, those who wish to obtain knowledge of these animals have very many opportunities of which they may learn about animals and their lives. There is the T.V. channel Animal Planet, there are books like National Geographic, there is the internet, and plenty of libraries all over the country. You do not have to smell an elephant to know that despite their small ears, elephants have poor hearing. One can still appreciate the majestic value of this great animal and many others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ania when she argues that when animals are put back into the wild, they have to relearn to hunt and survive. This makes animal very prone to predator and defeats the purpose of the original capture and release of some animal, prevention of extinction.
Animals should not be held captive because they are wild creatures and do not deserve to be held within the confines of a zoo or aquarium. Would you want to have to live the rest of your life behind bars? These animals are kept in cages, pens, and tanks all day, every day. Even when most of them were born into the wild, where they had an abundance of space to play and roam. Zoos and aquariums are like prisons for animals. They are locked up in a cell all day, the animals are fed on a schedule, and these creatures will never be able to develop real bonds or relationships with each other. These animals are powerful beings and could really do some damage to humans if they wanted to. In 2009 an orca whale named Tillikum at Sea World Orlando attacked and killed a female trainer just after a show. The animal grabbed the trainer by her ponytail and drowned her in the tank. No one really knows what caused the animal to attack this woman, but most believe that the animal was just stressed out from being in captivity for so long. This is a perfect example of why zoos should not be allowed to take people’s money to view a bunch of poor animals that want nothing more than to get out of the prison that they are trapped in.
ReplyDeleteRay, I thought that the Siberian tiger was a good point. They should not be here in Florida where it is always hot out. This tiger is accustomed to eating things like wild boars, deer, sheep, and cattle. However, at Busch Gardens the keepers just throw big meatballs at them in their little cage.
In the world of man being forced to live your life in a cage is considered punishment, jail. Why should it be any different for animals? Because they can not tell you that they are miserable being forced to live behind bars? Who is to say that people have any more right to land than animals do? Zoo's may support conservation efforts elsewhere, but they probably barely break even when you consider the amount of land it takes to put a zoo on, not to mention the fact that the zoo takes habitat away from animals that would naturally live there so that they may bring in animals that are not natural to the area. Not to mention how would a person possibly be able to evaluate how an animal would feel about its zoo environment? We can not communicate with the animal? Is it just what the person wouldn't mind living in? It is not as if people are actually appreciating the true animal they are seeing any way. If you consider all aspects of the situation you may see that the animal would not act the same way in captivity as they do in the wild, it would basically be a different animal.
ReplyDeleteEric you make a good point about the orca at sea world. The same thing is true of the tiger that attacked Roy in the Las Vegas show Sigfried and Roy in 2003.