An animal lover, Alexs family, have all been involved in various animal welfare charities. Photographs by Peter Fisher. A fine day out with the family might itself be justification enough for the existence of zoos if the zoo animals are all happy to be there. See Related: Different Animals That Cant Jump. Its said that Texas has the worlds second-largest tiger population, due to private citizens propensity for keeping these big cats as pets. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. "Animals in zoos suffer tremendously, both physically and mentally. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. Wildlife experts said that the incident was just another proof that wild animals should not be kept captive because it would not happen had the dolphin was only in the wild. Life expectancy is controlled by both the mental and physical health of most animals. Kings would keep hippos, baboons and large cats. Throughout history, men have accumulated large and fierce animals to advertise their might and prestige. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. 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. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. Cons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. [WATCH], Armored Dinosaur Magnificently Preserved After Face, Skin, Spikes Survived Fossilization. How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals, Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years, 9 Best Solar-Powered Computers to Buy Today, 10 Impactful Ways to Conserve Coral Reefs. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. 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. I do not doubt that some people had their passion for a particular species, or wildlife in general, sparked by zoo experiences. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. 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. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. 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.. Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. As we snap a selfie by the sea lions for the first time in so long, it seems worth asking, after our collective ordeal, whether our pleasure in seeing wild animals up close is worth the price of their captivity. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. They often display neurotic behaviour, like repetitive pacing, swaying, and bar biting. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. A Brief History of Zoos . These refuge-zoos could become places where animals live. Elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and such. Private individuals with the financial means use their money to procure rare or exotic animals from zoos to add to their own private collections. In the age of social media, high profile culls have sparked heated debates. The common negative effects of zoos on animals are listed below. This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. 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. In the case of America, our maps, developed with experts, show where extreme heat is causing the most deaths. There is considerable variation from state to state and among cities and counties, as to how much legal protection is offered to captive wild animals. Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. This is due to the fact that many zoos want to keep as many animals as . While researching my book on the ethics of human interactions with wild species, Wild Souls, I examined how, exactly, zoos contribute to the conservation of wild animals. Profits are also gained through the selling of animals to other zoos or circuses. Should animals be kept in captivity? - The Current Zoos are home to many animals. The first efforts to keep wild and exotic animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in . When in their natural environments, wild animals are not used to being confronted by humans. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? They found that only 27 percent of people bothered to read the signs at exhibits. In a study done on 40 chimpanzees in six different zoos, all of the chimps exhibited behavior their counterparts in nature did not. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. 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. As a result, many zoos breed animals. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. When the zoo replaced the bars with thick glass, he started methodically removing the putty holding it in. Boycott businesses that profit from cruelty to animals. Read on to find out why animals should not be kept in zoos. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. 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. See Related: War and the Effect on Wildlife. Opinion | Zoos Are Bad for Animals - The New York Times She could then climb the wire without being shocked. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. 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. Zoos often do more harm than good, creating unnatural environments that look realistic enough to make any potential return to the wild all but impossible. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . And it is true that the territory size of an animal like a wolf depends greatly on the density of resources and other wolves. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. Most zoos or animal sanctuaries dont have the space or the facilities to truly recreate the wild. Why the world needs zoos | Dr Dave Hone | The Guardian 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. All rights reserved. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. Animals begin to display erratic behaviors, self-mutilation, and an inability to settle. Such a transformation might free up some space. Life expectancy for animals in captivity depends on a couple of things, such as their way of life, among other factors. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. 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. Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. In 1982, only 22 condors existed in the wild. Bears, lions, and other animals languish in roadside zoos across the country. They go for the same reason people went to zoos in the 19th century: to be entertained. See Related: How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. Can captive animals ever truly return to the wild? | BBC Earth In 2018, the Eighth Circuit issued a unanimous decision in Cricket Hollows appeal of that case, that it can be a violation of the Endangered Species Act when captive animals arent given proper care. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. Should We Keep Animals in Zoos? - Scholastic 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 allure of baby animals and the crowds they pull can lead a zoological garden director to increase them to keep attracting customers. For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. The real question is, how can we change things? The researchers divided the odd behaviors of captive animals into two categories: impulsive/compulsive behaviors, including coprophagy (eating feces), regurgitation, self-biting and mutilation, exaggerated aggressiveness and infanticide, and stereotypies, which are endlessly repeated movements. We use cookies to help ensure the best experience on our website. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. Things like ensuring animals arent caged and treated less than they deserve. In most cases, animals in zoos lead very unhappy lives. 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. As humans, we have no right to hunt and lock up animals for our enjoyment. In addition, when animals are removed from their natural habitats, they are also removed from their family structure and social hierarchy. Well, scat reveals all sorts of things about individual animals; information the keepers share with the scientific community. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. 9 Reasons Not to Visit Zoos - PETA UK 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. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. Some, however, argue that children benefit from zoos. Anyone can read what you share. These experiences are often harmful to wildlife and dangerous for you. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. Zoos and circuses are among those who fall under this act. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. (The culling of mammals specifically in E.A.Z.A. Not surprising, perhaps, considering the typical polar bear enclosure is one million times smaller than the area they would naturally roam.". If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. Why Animals Should Not Be Kept in Captivity: The Problem With Wildlife Giant Insect From Jurassic Era Found in Walmart Opens Deeper Ecological Questions, 3,500-Year-old Perfectly Preserved, Mummified Bear Might Lead to 'Breakthrough in Ancient Animal Study', Presumed Extinct Funji-eating Fairy Lantern Plant Found Emerging Again in Japan, How Did Missing Argentinian Man's Remains Get Into a Shark's Stomach? 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 . Most animals are taught to perform tricks and go against the grain of nature purely for human entertainment. Thats true, he said. 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. See Related: What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? Watching these is a much healthier and more educational way to learn about wild animals than visiting a local zoo. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. The same applies to elephants. Even when properly fed and well housed, they can never be fully relaxed in confined spaces. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. 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. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. These laws help the animals and also people, since wild animals in captivity present a serious public safety risk. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. What people can do: Justin Gillis and Hal Harvey describe the types of local activismthat might be needed, while Saul Griffith points to how Australia shows the way on rooftop solar. Animals are often bored and, as a result, some become aggressive and can lash out at other animals or zookeepers. 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. All of these options afford you a close view of nature exactly as it was intended. Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. 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. Sanctuaries occupy a "gray area," says Tanya Espinosa, a . See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. However, the vast majority dont do enough to accurately replace an animals natural habitat. 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. However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. 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. 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. Its zookeepers who arent fond of animals that go around hurting animals even when they havent been provoked. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Id like to think these kids, now in their early 20s, are working for a conservation organization somewhere. The California condor shows what zoos can accomplish. Animals also lose their genetic diversity especially due to inbreeding. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. State laws vary considerably, with some states banning the ownership of wild and exotic animals while others have virtually no regulation whatsoever. However, the truth remains that zoos often have insufficient knowledge of the animals they are housing. 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. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. Zoos | Freedom for Animals Many animals in zoos are not used to confinement. Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. Unlike in the wild where these endangered species have to worry about staying safe, in these breeding programs they get taken care of. This type of behaviour is almost unheard of in their wild counterparts. Zoos also have the power to euthanize their animals when they themselves deem it permissible. Display would be incidental. The lawsuit asserts the agency must be able to remove animals if the USDA has deemed the facility unable to provide minimum standards of care set out by the Animal Welfare Act. Another serious problem is that the chronically-understaffed USDA conducts inspections infrequently. Elephants are particularly unhappy in zoos, given their great size, social nature and cognitive complexity. According toAnimal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, fleeing or running away is the most popular reaction of animals towards humans. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. Animals live in cruel conditions, confined to small cages without the enrichment they need to lead full, happy lives. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Unfortunately using real animals for these purposes involves tremendous cruelty. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. Captive tigers pace back and forth, and in a 2014 study, researchers found that the time devoted to pacing by a species in captivity is best predicted by the daily distances traveled in nature by the wild specimens. It is almost as if they feel driven to patrol their territory, to hunt, to move, to walk a certain number of steps, as if they have a Fitbit in their brains.