Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage! When an animal is not on the endangered list, capturing it doesnt serve any purpose to the animal. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . The Los Angeles Zoo has used Celexa, an antidepressant, to control aggression in one of its chimps. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. In this way, they could lead the predator away from their nest. Some surplus animals or injured animals are even fed to predators as a means of life-cycle maintenance. Copyrights 2023. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? Some 5,800 species of animals are covered by the treaty (along with 30,000 species of plants). 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. Ive heard and read some of their stories. Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. We use cookies to help ensure the best experience on our website. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are under stress. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. This support of the exotic pet trade also results in a lot of preventable animal deaths. 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. Sadly, most of these associations end up protecting the interests of their members, and not the animals they should be protecting. Lets get into the nitty-gritty details of why keeping animals in zoos is bad: Wild animals often suffer in captivity because they were meant to be free. The statistics on the number of big cats alone that have died in captivity between 1990 and 2021 is 126. In addition, a costlier but more educational option is to make arrangements to view animals in the wild. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. This isnt always guaranteed since the breeding practices could be insufficient or even produce animals that are not suitable for survival in the wild. Breeding programs in zoos eventually lead to some animals being sold off to other zoos or worse circuses. The trainer was immediately sent to the hospital and has since recovered from physical injuries, and so does the dolphin. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. Animals in captivity can struggle to adapt to their new environment. Some of these animals are surplus from roadside zoos. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. His father works for a large national Cat charity in the UK, and Alex has regularly taken part in fundraising events for them through the years. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. When it works out, breeding endangered animals has positive results that can be felt even in the human kingdom. The problem is that these large predators control the population of herbivorous animals in their domain. The same applies to elephants. Many zoos create attractive enclosures to attract visitors. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. "Animals in zoos suffer tremendously, both physically and mentally. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. Animals also lose their genetic diversity especially due to inbreeding. Drugs given to animals include sedatives and antipsychotic drugs. 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. There are a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. Zoo keepers are often trained and specialize in a particular breed or species. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. So when they face a threat, wild animals believe that they should survive by fleeing, fighting, flirting, or freezing. Whats Causing Their Decline? The practice of killing surplus animals is kept quiet by zoos, but it happens, especially in Europe. 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. 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. 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. Animals need physical stimulation and a level of interaction with nature that we, as humans, cannot understand, let alone interpret and recreate. Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. When it comes from unsustainable sources it is a key cause of deforestation, impacting many species like orangutans and tigers. Tell lawmakers you support animal-friendly legislation and local bans on using animals in entertainment. Even the best zoological park cannot fully capture the wild, and many smaller zoos fail to take effective measures to ensure the health and well-being of their animals. 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. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. 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. Zoos also have the power to euthanize their animals when they themselves deem it permissible. The better alternatives to zoos are the options that dont result in animals being held in conditions that are unsuitable and forced to live in natural environments. 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 . This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. 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. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. Others allow private parties to keep animals like tigers or primates with a permit. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. Zoos, aquariums, water parks, and other facilities can help to maintain the viability of endangered species when humanity does not do a good enough job of protecting the animals in the wild. (This law does not affect zoos or circuses.). Zoos are home to many animals. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. Mr. Hagenbecks model was widely influential. In the past five years, the number of zoos has been gradually going up. 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. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. Some studies have shown that as many as 80 percent of zoo carnivores, 64 percent of zoo chimps and 85 percent of zoo elephants have displayed compulsive behaviors or stereotypies. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. Photographs by Peter Fisher. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. Read more: Should I worry about chemtrails? See Related: Are Humans Animals? And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. Fighting is a sign that they are threatened, especially when an animal has no way of getting away quickly. Captive animals need better laws, and better enforcement of those laws. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. 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. Early in the pandemic, the Neumunster Zoo in northern Germany coolly announced an emergency plan to cope with lost revenue by feeding some animals to other animals, compressing the food chain at the zoo like an accordion, until in the worst-case scenario, only Vitus, a polar bear, would be left standing. Visiting a zoo is a chance for many people to see exotic animals they would otherwise be unable to see. Some zoo animals try to escape. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. Cons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. 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. But, for every story that casts zoos in a bad light from Vince the rhino's poaching at Paris' Thoiry Zoo in March; Cincinnati Zoo shooting endangered gorilla, Harambe, last year after a child fell into his enclosure; or Copenhagen Zoo killing and publicly dissecting Marius, a two-year-old giraffe in 2014 there are heart-warming tales too. They are just some of the millions of wild animals living in captivity across the United States. 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. Even without a consciousness (that we know of) animals are alive and should be treated as such. 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, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. 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. Many zoos give children the wrong lessons about wild animals and how to protect animals. It is expensive and difficult to keep wild animals in captivity. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. 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. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Though some zoos plan on reintroducing the animals into the wild after a while, living in zoos makes it impossible for some animals. 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. Zoos often have insufficient knowledge of animals. 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. However, suffering doesnt have to be physical; boredom, confinement, and stress can cause an animal a lot of suffering. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. In one escape, they worked together: One held a mop handle steady while her sister climbed it to freedom. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. 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? Things to Know. Local laws are often most effective in governing the private possession of exotic animals. In addition, when animals are removed from their natural habitats, they are also removed from their family structure and social hierarchy. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. Many people consider zoos amoral and cruel while others have the notion . The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) operates an accreditation system for sanctuaries, rescue centres and rehabilitation centres. Nature reserves, bird watching, going on a safari. Most animals are taught to perform tricks and go against the grain of nature purely for human entertainment. The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. I find one statistic particularly telling about their priorities: A 2018 analysis of the scientific papers produced by association members between 1993 and 2013 showed that just about 7 percent of them annually were classified as being about biodiversity conservation.. Their sleeping quarters can get overcrowded and this can lead to the animals harming each other. A small exhibit is never going to truly capture the vastness of the open world. Since most countries dont have any regulations on how to handle animals in zoos, these business people can do whatever it takes to make the most profits possible. Many animals in zoos are not used to confinement. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. Most states have no laws governing captive wild animals. 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. In a study done on 40 chimpanzees in six different zoos, all of the chimps exhibited behavior their counterparts in nature did not. The Enigmatic Wombats: Surprising Facts and Myths Debunked. The first modern one was opened in Paris, France in 1793. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. Depressed monkey Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. People are fascinated by animals. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. Many zoos and aquariums offer behind-the-scenes tours and informative talks on animal welfare. 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. Many zoo animals are forcefully removed from their natural habitat. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Claws N Paws, Looking for case and legal resources? Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. 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. As a result, many animals at zoos may die prematurely from stress or illness. In 1898, the reason was cited by the New York Zoological Society when it resolved to inform the public of the continued decline in animal populations, to stimulate sentiment in favor of animal protection, and to cooperate with scientific organizations to ensure the preservation of species.