Captivity is the condition of being imprisoned or confined. Is captivity good or is it bad? If humans were put into cages and given only enough food to keep them alive we would call it inhumane. What is the difference from doing the same with animals? The topic concerning captivity has been controversial for years. On one side it is educational and conservational, but on the other it is unfair and sickening. Wild animals are captured and brought halfway across the world to a place that in no way resembles what once was theirs. In captivity animals face challenges which life has not prepared them for. Confined behind cage bars they are trapped. Four walls separate them from doing all things natural including hunting, roaming, and breeding. …show more content…
Zoos educate the public about animals and the problems they face in the wild. "The fastest and most direct way for people to save and care about an endangered species is to connect with them," says Rob Vernon, the AZA's communications coordinator (Mendoza). Zoos are also convenient for people to see wild animals as not everyone has the opportunity to go to Africa and see them in person (Mendoza). Many believe that engaging with animals in person can be more inspiring and educational than a picture on a television screen. Only the smallest impact can make a huge impression. Although zoos seem to portray an educational factor they fail to teach people about the natural world. Over 2,800 children were surveyed from the London zoo and demonstrated a lack of learning outcome (Zoos Neither Educate nor Empower Children). Zoos claim they teach children about how to become conservationists, but children fail to believe they can actually make a difference. “It is hardly surprising to learn that most children visiting zoos are neither empowered nor educated by the experience of seeing captive wild animals so far removed from their natural habitat. Zoos present an entirely false view of both the animals themselves and of the real and very urgent issues facing many species in their natural homes,” says Liz Tyson director from Captive Animal’s Protection Society (Zoos Neither Educate nor Empower Children). Wild animals are called “wild” for a reason. How can we be educated about wild animals when we are not seeing them in their natural environment? Captivity lacks the ability to show animals true behaviors. A polar bear’s enclosure is one-millionth the size compared to its home in the wild (Derr). With nowhere to go the polar bear ends up spending 25% of its day pacing and walking around in tight circles (Derr). Whereas in the wild the polar bear can wander endlessly without walking into a glass wall. Dolphins naturally travel up to 100
In the article, it gives light to the issue that animals are under full control of humans and are held captive against their will in places like zoos and circuses. Captivity is a major issue and strips animals of their freedom. In captivity,
Animal Captivity: Is a threat to animals who are released back into the wild An Annotated Bibliography Project, Muse. The Global Guide To Animal Protection. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2013. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web.
The wild is not a danger free zone where all animals are roaming free and living lives of luxury. It is filled with predators hunting prey and babies dying from malnutrition. Not to mention the extensive deforestation caused by human overpopulation(Wildlife). To summarize this point animals are animals, and animals harm each other in the wild. Another argument is that animals in captivity develop certain mental disorders and conditions that are not commonplace in the wild.
This leads to my following reason, with the help from zoos, people are associating themselves to find possible solutions for this problem. An article made by Sarah Cunningham claims that ‘“Research shows that during these visits, people forge emotional connections to wildlife and learn to see themselves as part of conservation solutions”’ (Doc. B). Zoos are known as a resource to educate people to learn more about wildlife conservation. One of their objectives as an attraction is to inform people of what has been happening.
One case of this being shown is when children see what is happening to these animals it very much hurts their views on life and societies actions. For example an article written by Jenson E. states, “It is hardly surprising to learn that most children visiting zoos are neither empowered nor educated by the experience of seeing captive wild animals so far removed from their natural habitat. Zoos present an entirely false view of both the animals themselves, and of the real and very urgent issues facing many species in their natural homes. This new research appears to confirm what we have said for many years. Zoos do not educate nor do they empower or inspire children to become conservationists”(Jenson E.).
Imagine living in the perfect home, the place you’ve always lived with friends, family and thousands of miles to roam around and explore. Only to wake up in a cage with the eyes of humans glaring and the flash of cameras reflecting off the glass wall. It looks like home, but the grass is fake, family and friends are gone, food only comes at certain times and the only roaming there is to do remains in the area of the closure. This is the life of an animal that goes from being wild and free to captive in zoos and aquariums. Zoos and aquariums are institutions that capture live animals and keep them in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.
Zoos have always been something that families love and kids look forward to going to. Kids learn about the animals and the habitats and enjoy the entertainment. It is a great experience for people, but not for the animals. Zoos are downright cruel to Animals. Animals our forced to live in an unreal stressful, and boring conditions.
For the rest of the places, animals need to be returned to or left in their natural habitats. Zoos are often viewed as fun and entertaining due to the different kinds of animals. They are always showing off, looking happy and healthy. What one may not notice is what happens behind the scenes, or maybe in plain sight.
This argument is split into three main viewpoints, the opinion that zoos harm animals, the opinion that zoos save endangered species, and a mix between the two. Viewpoint number three is more of a critique how zoos are good places where bad things happen and should be reformed. Each option has its own individual pros and cons but a reform of zoos and their standards would be the most economical for zoos and aquariums and this method would also be the least harmful and less stressful for the animals involved. The care and wellbeing of the animals involved should be the number one priority of all groups and by cutting back on over breeding, the phasing out of lager animals that naturally roam large distances, and creating environments that’s sole purpose is to educate people, zoos can become a better place for people and animals
Being held captive leads animals to have abnormal behaviors that unfortunately can lead to the deaths of people. Although zoos and sea-parks claim they are all about educating the public and conservation we know its
Zoos are bad for humans, most people do not believe it but zoos are not educating us, they are hurting us. Evidence for zoos are bad for humans is, in 2013, a zookeeper in Missouri was killed when he was knocked to the ground by an elephant, he died instantly.(Estrada). This reason this matters is because zoo animals are killing people, and that would not happen as often if they were left in the wild. Animals in films are not as nice as they are on camera. For example, the orca featured in the film “Blackfish,” is responsible for three human deaths.
The question of the necessity of zoos is extremely controversial nowadays. There are many people who advocate for replacing them with sanctuaries as they believe money spent on keeping wild animals captive might have been used for conserving them in wild. Others are concerned that zoos serve not only for people's pleasure but for preserving and keeping populations that otherwise would go extinct. There are sufficient arguments for both points of view, expressed in various articles that are dedicated to the significant topic. “Do elephants belong in zoos?” by Jeffrey P. Cohn and “Eight reasons why zoos are good for conservation” by James Borrell are the examples of such articles.
People say that zoos are important for education and are a great way for people to learn about exotic animals (Agnew n.p). Researchers cannot learn as much when animals are captive, you can learn just as much or even more while they are in their natural habitat. While some believe that zoos are important for education, they also believe that zoos are necessary for the survival of species (Zoos n.p). Most zoos claim that they take in extinct and needy animals, most animals at zoos aren’t orphaned, extinct, or injured at all (Zoos n.p). Lastly, one big claim is that zoos help conservation of animals (Borrel n.p).
This leads to many concerns from the public on the physical and mental impacts of captivity on the wild animals. This essay examines the advantages and disadvantages of zoos to lead us to a possible conclusion whether it is ethical to place animals in captivity. We will also examine if zoos have the best possible facilities to keep animals in captivity. Body One of the advantages of having zoos, is to provide protection to some animals that are endangered.
Zoos play a role in educating people about animals and play an important part in animal conservation. While much information on animals is available through printed materials and the Internet, it's way much better being near them seeing what they actually are. Many people lack the means to travel to the native habitats of most animals, however, zoos bring animals from many different climates and locations together in one place. For many people as well, the experience of being close to these animals has more impact than simply reading about them. This experience often gives them sympathy for animals that they may