Depressed monkey Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are under stress. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. In fact, while animals will have almost unlimited space in the wild, they are often caged in rather confined areas in zoos. He also found many examples of zoo elephants hurting or killing their keepers and evidence that zoos routinely downplayed or even lied about those incidents. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. Cleaners and feeders spend a lot of time with the animals, and understanding the situation one is getting into can be very helpful. One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. Yes And Someone is Paying Attention, Swimming with The Seahorse: Discover Their Mystical Charisma. The statistics on the number of big cats alone that have died in captivity between 1990 and 2021 is 126. Some sad facts about zoos are that at times, the people hired to take care of and protect these animals arent very qualified. It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. Things like ensuring animals arent caged and treated less than they deserve. When wild animals shouldn't be in captivity. 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. 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. 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. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. No, most likely not. Mr. Fisher is a photographer based in New York. Such a transformation might free up some space. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. WHY ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN CAPTIVITY By "Phillip" Hungry, depressed, and unable to connect. Power-mad men from Henry III to Saddam Husseins son Uday to the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar to Charlemagne all tried to underscore their strength by keeping terrifying beasts captive. Check out more news and information on Wild Animalsin Science Times. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. But that incident has triggered conversations on the negative impacts of marine parks and aquariums on wild animals. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. So when they. 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. When an animal is not on the endangered list, capturing it doesnt serve any purpose to the animal. But then theres the pacing, the rocking. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. Climate change has become a very real threat for the next and even current generations. According to an article inPlant Based News, marine parks and aquariums are a billion-dollar industry that exists to entertain the public by catching fish and sea mammals from the wild and using them as live exhibits. William Randolph Hearst created his own private zoo with lions, tigers, leopards and more at Hearst Castle. In many modern zoos, animals are well cared for, healthy and probably, for many species, content. Many zoo animals are forcefully removed from their natural habitat. This type of behaviour is almost unheard of in their wild counterparts. Theyre generally small menageries where wild and exotic animals like lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, and others are kept in captivity, and often suffer badly. 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. Here are some tips. 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. Kings would keep hippos, baboons and large cats. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. Another problem of zoos is that animals often only have rather limited space to move. Some 5,800 species of animals are covered by the treaty (along with 30,000 species of plants). When confined they rock, pull their hair and engage in other tics. These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. Cons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species. Zoos are expensive to run, often have a very tight budget, and cannot afford to maintain and support animals that do not pull their weight in terms of attraction. The role of our leaders: Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States, found reasons for optimismin the Biden presidency, a feeling perhaps borne out by the passing of major climate legislation. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. 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. Some, however, argue that children benefit from zoos. Its said that Texas has the worlds second-largest tiger population, due to private citizens propensity for keeping these big cats as pets. The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals in bare tanks do not present a realistic image of natural behaviors or natural habitats. 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. Outside of providing sufficient space to allow natural behaviors to develop, issues such as climate, diet, and the formation of a social hierarchy where appropriate make running a zoo a difficult task. That's how animals living in captivity feel. Many zoos claim to be helping preserve dwindling populations. Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. 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? However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. See Related: What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. What began as a way to pass time soon became a compulsion. However, the truth remains that zoos often have insufficient knowledge of the animals they are housing. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. Tatiana the tiger, kept in the San Francisco Zoo, snapped one day in 2007 after three teenage boys had been taunting her. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. Copyrights 2023. Animals live in cruel conditions, confined to small cages without the enrichment they need to lead full, happy lives. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. Today, nearly every country in the world is a member of CITES. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. T he video above shows the tragic reality of how animals in captivity are mistreated and never get to experience freedom, or live how they were . The others ran, and she pursued them, ignoring all other humans in her path. ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". With their apes, elephants, big cats, and other large and smart species gone, they could expand enclosures for the rest of the animals, concentrating on keeping them lavishly happy until their natural deaths. Animal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner, Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? Giraffes endlessly flick their tongues. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. Another serious problem is that the chronically-understaffed USDA conducts inspections infrequently. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. For the unlucky ones that end up in the circuses, they are always in for a wide awakening. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. The same applies to elephants. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. CreditPhotographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The real question is, how can we change things? However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. The Brutal Truth About Seal Clubbing: Because Everyone Needs Dead Seal Pups (Not)! 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. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. Artificial environments. But this is not the norm. 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. Most animals are taught to perform tricks and go against the grain of nature purely for human entertainment. Private individuals with the financial means use their money to procure rare or exotic animals from zoos to add to their own private collections. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. CITES does not directly address living conditions for captive animals. This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. Here is an example of just how harsh it can get when an animal is being trained to perform tricks. The required standard of care for wild animals, such as those held by zoos, is wide-ranging and nigh on impossible for zoos to provide. What Cause Extinction What Can We Do To Stop It? They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. A 2019 report by World Animal Protection found that captive animals exhibitedabnormal levels of aggression, indicating that the attack in Miami Seaquarium was a direct result of captivity, despite claims that it is an isolated incident and is uncommon. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to quantify. This is due to the inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure. Zoos and circuses are among those who fall under this act. Lack of trees to rain will then lead to less and less vegetation and eventually draught in the area which will force the surviving animals to migrate to areas with better conditions. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. They argue that no animal should be forced to spend their life in an unnatural environment and perform. 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. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. It is always best to stay away from wild animals to prevent disastrous interactions. Animal rights activists argue that hunting, capturing, and putting animals on display is unethical. 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. 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 addition, baby animals that are deemed excess to requirements find their way into black market sales. The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. The trade in wild animals involves tremendous suffering at every stage of the process. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. 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. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. Apes are excellent at escaping. It is these boastful collections of animals, these autocratic menageries, from which the modern zoo, with its didactic plaques and $15 hot dogs, springs. 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. Having seen a majestic leopard in the zoo, the visitor becomes more willing to pay for its conservation or vote for policies that will preserve it in the wild. Zoos shifted just slightly from overt demonstrations of mastery over beasts to a narrative of benevolent protection of individual animals. Wildlife experts remind people that these animals do not know people's intentions, so they will try to protect themselves no matter what. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Animals are stressed when they get separated from their packs or herds, especially when they end up as the only one of their kind in their new homes. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. Non-native animals are held in conditions that vary greatly from what they are used to living in. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. In April, ethical tour operator Responsible Travel after consultation with wildlife charity Born Free Foundation axed trips that include zoo visits. Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. The truth is that zoos are a prison for animals. People are always attracted to exotic animals such as grizzlies, lions, wolves, tigers, and alligators among others. When it rains, the topsoil gets washed away leaving the land more exposed. When she caught up with the boys at the cafe, she mauled them before she was shot to death by the police. Their death can be caused by either: lack of space, physical problems, diet, and PTSD. At the end of the day, Zoos are largely unethical places that are built under the pretense of habitat conservation but really are there to earn money and entertain people who want to be able to say they saw real-life wild animals. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. The shooting of Harambe the gorilla spawned the most-shared meme of 2016 and caused a hounded Cincinnati Zoo to suspend its social media accounts. See Related: Are Humans Animals? YES. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it cant meet the space requirements for most of its animals. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. 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.