All of these animals are well studied and have a plethora of documentaries and video footage of them in the wild. Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. Capturing animals even smart ones like apes, for amusement shouldnt be going on anywhere. Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. Copyright 2023 The Science Times. A few zoos are famous for their conservation work. Keep on reading. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. Animals held captive in zoos are in very small environments such as cages, and they have no freedom. And Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo has an on-site Wildlife Hospital to save sick and injured native species. 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. Another serious problem is that the chronically-understaffed USDA conducts inspections infrequently. 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. The lack of enough vegetation will then lead to global warming due to less carbon in the atmosphere. A peer-reviewed 2017 study in the . 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. Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. Some of these animals are surplus from roadside zoos. Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. She somehow got over the 12-foot wall surrounding her 1,000-square-foot enclosure and attacked one of the teenagers, killing him. In this way, they could lead the predator away from their nest. 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. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. She could then climb the wire without being shocked. There are zoological park associations that were formed to keep zoo owners on their toes. Photographs by Peter Fisher. Are Sliding Doors or French Doors More Energy Efficient? The Animal Legal Defense Fund is rated four-stars by Charity Navigator, is a Platinum Level GuideStar Exchange participant, a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, and an Independent Charity Seal of Excellence awardee, ensuring that we meet the highest standards of accountability, efficiency, and impact. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers don't get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. If you go on holiday to any major destination, the chances are high that there will be at least one zoo and/or one aquarium nearby. However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. 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. A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. They bought tickets, and the wild creatures should behave accordingly. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. However, they are really just teaching children about caring for animals in captivity. Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? Zoos are home to many animals. But relatively early in their evolution, a German exotic animal importer named Carl Hagenbeck changed the way wild animals were exhibited. Whats Causing Their Decline? Animal rights activists argue that hunting, capturing, and putting animals on display is unethical. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. Also, removing a certain species from the ecosystem can destroy the whole ecosystem. Zoos and circuses are among those who fall under this act. Some of the captive-born animals are not capable of sustaining themselves in the wild and they could pass on these genes dooming the whole species in that region. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. They could either bite, peck, scratch, kick, or flap their wings. Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. 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. That claim is up for debate. All rights reserved. Most animals are taught to perform tricks and go against the grain of nature purely for human entertainment. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. Here is an example of just how harsh it can get when an animal is being trained to perform tricks. In 2014, the Animal Legal Defense Fund successfully brought a lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act against a roadside zoo called the Cricket Hollow Animal Park, that was mistreating protected animals. 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. 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. For the unlucky ones that end up in the circuses, they are always in for a wide awakening. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. Animals kept in an unsuitable environment or fed the wrong diet can suffer, and this can lead to illness or death. 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. Unfortunately using real animals for these purposes involves tremendous cruelty. What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. Animal Legal Defense Fund,National Headquarters Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. What Mr. Ashe wants visitors to experience when they look at the animals is a sense of empathy for the individual animal, as well as the wild populations of that animal.. Artificial environments. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. Few federal laws protect the millions of wild animals who live in captivity in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos in the U.S. Mr. Fisher is a photographer based in New York. See Related: Best Wildlife Conservation Jobs. How Does Saving Water Help Climate Change? See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. They normally find themselves locked in cages, and only released into an artificial habitat when there are visitors at the zoo. Persuasive Speech: Why Animals Should Not be kept in Zoos. A quick google search reveals that a zoo is an establishment that maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation, or display to the public. Wild animals have certain behaviors that are uniquely influenced by their environments. Zoo elephants tend to die young. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. In 2020, facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums contributed more than $230 million to conservation efforts. It is expensive and difficult to keep wild animals in captivity. Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States. Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. For animals in zoos, the AWA sets low requirements as to housing, food and sanitation, and, as is commonly noted, no requirements for mental stimulation of animals other than primates. The trade in wild animals involves tremendous suffering at every stage of the process. It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. 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. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. These wild animals are sold at auctions, pet stores or over the internet. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Copyright OurEndangedWorld | All Rights Reserved, Environmental Organizations in The Philippines, Environmental Organizations in North America, Environmental Organizations in South America, Best Energy-Efficient Electric Fireplaces. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. Lack of Sufficient Space No matter how dedicated a zoo is, it can't meet the space requirements for most of its animals. For example, smaller and faster animals with a lot of predators in the wild tend to thrive in zoos. 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. Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. Many zoos claim to be helping preserve dwindling populations. But this is not the norm. Help inform others by writing letters to your local newspapers and posting to social media. In the 1980s, a group of orangutans escaped several times at the San Diego Zoo. Most people arent always comfortable seeing animals that are kept in zoos. The law, adopted by Congress in 1966, protects so-called warm-blooded animals who are bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially or publicly exhibited, like in a zoo or circus. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. (The culling of mammals specifically in E.A.Z.A. Gus, a polar bear at the Central Park Zoo, was given Prozac as part of an attempt to stop him from swimming endless figure-eight laps in his tiny pool. 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. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. zoos is usually not more than 200 animals per year, the organization said.) This support of the exotic pet trade also results in a lot of preventable animal deaths. A.Z.A. The daily stress and lack of stimulation often leads to abnormal and self-destructive behaviour - for example, pacing, walking in tight circles, rocking, swaying, or self-mutilation - a condition known as "zoochosis". Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. 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. The surpluses are then sold off to zoos, aquariums, or even circuses. For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. We have good models of captive wild animal protection laws outside of this country as well. Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. Many zoos create attractive enclosures to attract visitors. These refuge-zoos could become places where animals live. Elephants bob their heads over and over. I have written before about the importance of zoos and the role they have to play in the world for conservation . While zoos can definitely be exciting places for families to visit, the fact remains that they are bad for animals. 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. 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. Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. This is only one of the Acts limitations. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. Animals live in cruel conditions, confined to small cages without the enrichment they need to lead full, happy lives. In 1982, only 22 condors existed in the wild. The Endangered Species Act: The Endangered Species Act, the ESA, is a federal law that protects fish, mammals, birds and plants listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. and beyond. Will we ever see all zoos closed down? 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. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. Black-footed ferrets and red wolves in the United States and golden lion tamarins in Brazil all endangered, as well have been bred at zoos for reintroduction into the wild. When big predators are brought up on dead meat and never have to hunt for themselves, mingle with the prey they cant hunt, and entertain humans with tricks, they get further from their natural behaviors. Once the ground has been left with no coverage, soil erosion will be the next step. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. Jason Hribals 2010 book, Fear of the Animal Planet, chronicles dozens of attempts. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. 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. Severe arthritis and foot infections are common in captive elephants due to standing on hard, unnatural surfaces all day without room to roam. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. 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. The statistics on the number of big cats alone that have died in captivity between 1990 and 2021 is 126. Breeding programs in zoos eventually lead to some animals being sold off to other zoos or worse circuses. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. Most zoos or animal sanctuaries dont have the space or the facilities to truly recreate the wild. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. Though some zoos plan on reintroducing the animals into the wild after a while, living in zoos makes it impossible for some animals. This was the first time that the ESA has successfully been used to protect captive wild animals. Another similar behavior of flirting is freezing, in which an animal does not move when there is no way of escape, like being caught in a trap or net even though they are terrified. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. This can have huge negative effects on the environment in many adverse ways. The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. This treaty is credited with helping foster international cooperation to protect some endangered and vulnerable species. Your voice is needed, so that captive wild animals in the United States, and elsewhere, are better protected. Some animals are quite intelligent so keeping them in captivity should never be an option. They go for the same reason people went to zoos in the 19th century: to be entertained. 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. Visitors will hammer on the glass or clamor around an animal enclosure, calling and shouting for the creature to perform for their pleasure. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. says that its members host more than 50 reintroduction programs for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, a vast majority of zoo animals (there are 800,000 animals of 6,000 species in the A.Z.A.s zoos alone) will spend their whole lives in captivity, either dying of old age after a lifetime of display or by being culled as surplus.. Here's What Experts Think. Polar bears have one million times less space. For example, the law does not restrict the display or private ownership of captive wild animals or prohibit the use of controversial bullhooks, whips, electrical shock or other devices commonly used in circuses. 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.. Zoos can be productive when it comes to reviving an animal species on the brink of extinction. 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. As a result, many zoos breed animals. The common negative effects of zoos on animals are listed below. Fewer and fewer states are allowing residents to keep captive wild animals without a permit. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. 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. Sadly, most of these associations end up protecting the interests of their members, and not the animals they should be protecting. The Link Between Fasting And Mental Health: Can It Improve Mood And Cognition? Some surplus animals or injured animals are even fed to predators as a means of life-cycle maintenance. See Related: Are Humans Animals? A zoological park is defined as an establishment designed for conservation, study, and public display. 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. I dont see any problem with holding animals for display, Mr. Ashe told me. This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. This may be true to some extent; however, many zoos are running breeding programs for their own benefit and have no interest in releasing their animals back into the wild. Alas, theres plenty of heartbreaking evidence that many are not. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. At least 20 zoos in the United States have already ended their elephant exhibits in part because of ethical concerns about keeping the species captive. 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. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. After being captives of the pandemic for more than a year, we have begun experiencing the pleasures of simple outings: dining al fresco, shopping with a friend, taking a stroll through the zoo. 1. See Related: How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. When a female gorilla named Johari kept fighting off the male she was placed with, the zoo dosed her with Prozac until she allowed him to mate with her. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Claws N Paws, Looking for case and legal resources? 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. Such a transformation might free up some space. In many modern zoos, animals are well cared for, healthy and probably, for many species, content. This can lead to an appreciation of animals, which in return will see them being treated much better. Keeping endangered animals in zoos infringes on those individuals' rights to freedom. The most recent addition to the family, Willow, a cockapoo puppy, has settled straight into family life and now controls who sits where on the sofa. Zoos also have the power to euthanize their animals when they themselves deem it permissible. Zoos have been around for thousands of yearsas far back as 3500 BC in Egypt. The allure of baby animals and the crowds they pull can lead a zoological garden director to increase them to keep attracting customers. However, when the animals being culled arent in demand, they might find themselves facing death. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. An example of these associations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which represents over 240 businesses across the globe. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. [WATCH]. CreditPhotographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Many zoos and aquariums offer behind-the-scenes tours and informative talks on animal welfare. Today's zoos are extremely important to saving wild animals and their habitats. Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. Your email address will not be published. Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are under stress. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. Important to protect endangered species from extinction. There are a few exceptions. 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 . ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". Elephants arent the only species that try to flee a zoo life. This is how animals get physical and psychological scars from abuse.