On the other hand, the researchers reported, there were no significant differences in survey responses before entering an exhibit compared with those obtained as visitors were exiting., A 2008 study of 206 zoo visitors by some members of the same team showed that while 42 percent said that the main purpose of the zoo was to teach visitors about animals and conservation, 66 percent said that their primary reason for going was to have an outing with friends or family, and just 12 percent said their intention was to learn about animals., The researchers also spied on hundreds of visitors conversations at the Bronx Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. But many animals clearly show us that they do not enjoy captivity. In the age of social media, high profile culls have sparked heated debates. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". The Dark Truth behind Bear Bile Uses: Hidden Costs of Traditional Medicine, The Untold Story of Factory-farmed Cows the Consequences for Animal and Human Health, Are Giraffes Endangered? For them, the best option is to fight back. Nature reserves, bird watching, going on a safari. They found that only 27 percent of people bothered to read the signs at exhibits. 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. Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. Depressed monkey Some animals are quite intelligent so keeping them in captivity should never be an option. Tell lawmakers you support animal-friendly legislation and local bans on using animals in entertainment. Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage! The bill helps end the rampant abuse of tigers and other big cats in captivity by banning private possession. 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. "We engage huge audiences with wildlife, inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow," argues zoological director of ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, Professor David Field. For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. There are a great many negative effects of zoos on animals.When we visit zoos, we can see they often go to great lengths in order to recreate the animals natural habitats. Should Animals Be Kept In Zoos However, there are various reasons that explain why zoos are unethical. Properly curated and interpreted, a well-run garden can be a site for a rewarding outing with friends or family, a source of education for the 27 percent of people who read signs and a point of civic pride. This is the image of the zoo I grew up with: the unambiguously good civic institution that lovingly cared for animals both on its grounds and, somehow, vaguely, in their wild habitats. Privacy Policy. Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. 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. Today, nearly every country in the world is a member of CITES. At the Los Angeles Zoo, a gorilla named Evelyn escaped seven times in 20 years. Such a transformation might free up some space. Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. Not surprising, perhaps, considering the typical polar bear enclosure is one million times smaller than the area they would naturally roam.". For privacy policy and ad & cookie policy information, visit our Privacy Policy pages. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. However, in a zoo, the boundaries between the wild and captivity are rearranged. In addition, when animals are removed from their natural habitats, they are also removed from their family structure and social hierarchy. 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. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. 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. Animals begin to display erratic behaviors, self-mutilation, and an inability to settle. For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. For example, if the number of lions is drastically reduced in an area, their prey will thrive. Crustacean Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating World of the Crab, Pet Food Manufacturers and Who Rules the Roost in a Growing Market. What Cause Extinction What Can We Do To Stop It? It is not humane to keep large mammals like orcas, dolphins or elephants in zoos or theme parks. Things to Know. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. Ive heard and read some of their stories. The common negative effects of zoos on animals are listed below. Its protections are minimal as well. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. See Related: Endangered Species in California. Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. Animal Legal Defense Fund,National Headquarters 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, it does not change the fundamental fact that as the world changes, we must also become more aware of the darker side of such animal sanctuaries. Also, removing a certain species from the ecosystem can destroy the whole ecosystem. That's not a record that justifies tens of millions of wild animals kept in zoos. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. Exotic animals have become very popular, but they are also dangerous in so many ways. How Does Saving Water Help Climate Change? I dont see any problem with holding animals for display, Mr. Ashe told me. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. PETA isn't alone. This gives the poor pets a home and creates a revenue stream for the zoos. 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. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats. These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. (707) 795-2533 |info@aldf.org The A.Z.A. 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. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. or the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria have studbooks and genetic pedigrees and carefully breed their animals as if they might be called upon at any moment to release them, like Noah throwing open the doors to the ark, into a waiting wild habitat. They are just some of the millions of wild animals living in captivity across the United States. 2. Required fields are marked *. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Dramatic Hour-by-Hour Changes of Dart Mission Slamming on an Asteroid, Can Humanity Deflect Potentially Hazardous Asteroids? 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.. 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. This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. Private Possession: Many wild animals may be kept captive in private homes as pets. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. Elephants bob their heads over and over. Visiting a zoo is a chance for many people to see exotic animals they would otherwise be unable to see. This is seen as a cheaper option as opposed to moving them back into the wild. When in their natural environments, wild animals are not used to being confronted by humans. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. Even when properly fed and well housed, they can never be fully relaxed in confined spaces. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. Watching these is a much healthier and more educational way to learn about wild animals than visiting a local zoo. There is more to natural environments than just looks. In the 1980s, a group of orangutans escaped several times at the San Diego Zoo. Some 5,800 species of animals are covered by the treaty (along with 30,000 species of plants). This treaty is credited with helping foster international cooperation to protect some endangered and vulnerable species. 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. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. As a result, many animals at zoos may die prematurely from stress or illness. The U.S. became a signatory to CITES in 1975. Older menageries existed as far back as 2500 BCE, in Mesopotamia. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. Some populations in the wild are weakened by endogamy too. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. 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. They learned from their parents to be mistrustful because they have no way of knowing whether people could be good or do them harm. Once again, a change of this magnitude can cause captive animals to exhibit changing behaviors, which include self-destructive acts and unrelenting restlessness. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. First and foremost, captivity can be extremely detrimental to an animal's physical and mental well-being. After all, more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide every year, and biodiversity is still in decline. One of the best examples of this advantage is the Przewalski's horse. But then theres the pacing, the rocking. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. "Zoos are prisons for animals, camouflaging their cruelty with conservation claims," Mimi Bekhechi, director of international programmes at PETA, explains. A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. When it works out, breeding endangered animals has positive results that can be felt even in the human kingdom. Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. This is only one of the Acts limitations. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. We have good models of captive wild animal protection laws outside of this country as well. Mr. Hagenbecks model was widely influential. It is not possible to have zookeepers versed in a detailed understanding of every single species. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. What if zoos stopped breeding all their animals, with the possible exception of any endangered species with a real chance of being released back into the wild? There are zoological park associations that were formed to keep zoo owners on their toes. The first efforts to keep wild and exotic animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in . Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. 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. There are a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. Many zoos claim to be helping preserve dwindling populations. Wildlife experts remind people that these animals do not know people's intentions, so they will try to protect themselves no matter what. Captive animals need better laws, and better enforcement of those laws. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. This is particularly true if the animal is there for entertainment. Increasingly, animals were presented with the distasteful fact of their imprisonment visually elided. If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. I do not doubt that some people had their passion for a particular species, or wildlife in general, sparked by zoo experiences. 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. What if they sent all the animals that need really large areas or lots of freedom and socialization to refuges? The trainer was immediately sent to the hospital and has since recovered from physical injuries, and so does the dolphin. The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. In most cases, animals in zoos lead very unhappy lives. This relocation alone can come as a large shock and wreak havoc on the animals mental health. 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. Step away from the selfie stick. Top 50 Most Good-looking Nationalities: AI Shows Beautiful People From Different Countries; How Does Science Measure Beauty, Attractiveness? But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. 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. Writing at the end of 2020, Al Gore, the 45th vice president of the United States. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. 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. 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. A 2000 survey of U.S. and Canadian zoos found that nearly half of respondents were giving their gorillas Haldol, Valium or another psychopharmaceutical drug. The state and local laws protecting wild animals in captivity are spreading. Animals are forced to sleep, eat, and defecate in the same small area. However, the vast majority dont do enough to accurately replace an animals natural habitat. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. 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 . An example of these associations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which represents over 240 businesses across the globe. However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. As a result, many zoos breed animals. Theyre generally small menageries where wild and exotic animals like lions, tigers, monkeys, wolves, and others are kept in captivity, and often suffer badly. Here they are relatively safe . Though some zoos plan on reintroducing the animals into the wild after a while, living in zoos makes it impossible for some animals. Whats Causing Their Decline? 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. 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.