10 reasons why animals should be kept in zoos

Palm oil is used in many everyday products and when used from sustainable sources can provide real economic benefits. 3. This isnt always guaranteed since the breeding practices could be insufficient or even produce animals that are not suitable for survival in the wild. Even if animals in zoos are never introduced to the wild, they still help improve the lives of their counterparts living in nature. Dont Miss: Community Animal Hospital Cleveland Tn. We must take good care of animals live in zoos, pay respect to animals as to human. Zoos can be productive when it comes to reviving an animal species on the brink of extinction. But for the majority, these experiences are foreign. They opened in 1931. Some of these behaviors included rocking back and forth, tearing out their hair, self-mutilation, and the drinking of their urine. And as long as animals are treated well in zoos there is no reason why conservation, education, and cruelty-free entertainment should not all be combined in a zoo. They are simply, From an ethical point of view zoos are also questionable. Most of them require vast acres of space without fences to embrace their natural instincts. This is seen as a cheaper option as opposed to moving them back into the wild. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. Then you turn to film and video. Take Action 1. This is due to the unnatural living conditions in zoos and also due to the fact that animals often get tired of their lives in zoos. This behavior is not seen in their wild counterparts suggesting that being in the zoo is causing these chimps to develop mental illness due to stress. AZAs Research and Technology Committee, Wildlife Conservation Committee and Scientific Advisory Groups bring together professionals with the expertise to help drive animal care, conservation, research, and best practices in zoos and aquariums. Most zoos are treated as a recreational facility. This might take a few seconds, please wait. Unfortunately, humans are responsible for disrupting wildlife, contributing to the extinction of many species. A Passionate Call to Leave Animals Alone and Zoos Behind When fishing is unsustainable, it can cause real damage to ocean environments, lead to dramatic collapses in populations of aquatic species, and damage or eliminate once-healthy fisheries. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. Just look at a childs eyes at the zoo when he or she encounters a tiger or similarly majestic animal. [12], 228 accredited zoos published 5,175 peer-reviewed manuscripts between 1993 and 2013. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? "Animals in zoos suffer tremendously, both physically and mentally. Consider the pros and cons with a video from Above the Noise. Vote to see result and collect 1 XP. In 2019, AZA and its members spent more than $230 million on field conservation work in 127 countries, focusing on population biology and monitoring, reintroduction, conservation education, and more. 3. Holding any animal in captivity has questionable ethics. Do Now U aims to build civic engagement and digital literacy forlearners of all ages. SSP programs identify population management goals and assure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied population. Explore conservationist Damian Aspinall's opinion that zoos are "outdated and cruel." 4. Source: This image was created for netivist.org. A zoological park is defined as an establishment designed for conservation, study, and public display. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, the National Audubon Society, and the Los Angeles Zoo in Los Angeles, Calif. Condors were bred and the young then raised by people wearing hand puppets that mimicked adult birds to avoid young condors imprinting on their caregivers. The allure of baby animals and the crowds they pull can lead a zoological garden director to increase them to keep attracting customers. Thanks. Visit the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums page to find an AZA-accredited facility near you. Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are, . 4. No matter what a persons socioeconomic status may be, there is a chance to learn something new because of the work of a zoo. 10.4k views. The zoo was established in 1898 and 70% of its revenues come from zoo visits and private contributions. Thanks. Other great apes have similar health problems in captivity. [17] [18] [19] [20], 23% of birds and 47% of small mammals (weighing less than about 2.2 pounds) are negatively impacted by climate change. Do they really help preserve endangered species or it is more a business and a cruel source of entertainment? Older menageries existed as far back as 2500 BCE, in Mesopotamia. AZA and its members also offer a variety of citizen science projects that allows the public to contribute to scientific research in their community. As humans, we have no right to hunt and lock up animals for our enjoyment. As a result, elephants in the wild live twice as long as elephants in zoos. [11], Robin Ganzert, PhD, President and CEO of American Humane, stated, zoos provide people, especially impressionable children, with the opportunity to see these remarkable animals up close. In the late 20th century, the narrative changed again to the conservation of animals to stave off extinction. 1. Even when properly fed and well housed, they can never be fully relaxed in confined spaces. Lastly, zoos help endangered populations by using captive breeding and release. Were regularly told that the primary function of a zoo is to educate people about animals and to preserve them through conservation programs. When factoring in the number of zoos breeding animals and the risk posed to baby animals, the change of disease skyrockets further. Theres also the Zoological Association of America that operates in the United States. Especially animals like lions that are used to roaming vast distances in the wild in search of food. When it works out, breeding endangered animals has positive results that can be felt even in the human kingdom. There are several animals which are poached frequently because of certain items. 5:59. That's why animals should not be kept in the zoo. To respond to the Do Now U, you can comment below or post your response on Twitter. Your comment is being posted. The Chester and Whipsnade zoological parks where the first two non-urban zoos without cages and larger enclosures. 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. People wont protect what they dont love, and they cant love what they dont know. When we put any animal into captivity, then we are changing their natural behaviors in some way. Some sad facts about zoos are that at times, the people hired to take care of and protect these animals arent very qualified. The animals always look miserable in captivity [T]he idea that kids only get excited about things they can see in the flesh is ridiculous. In 2020, facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums contributed more than $230 million to conservation efforts. From camps, to mobile programs that bring smaller animals to schools, to family activities that look at local wildlife near the zoo, the public is able to get hands-on education about animals they may not be able to meet and learn about otherwise. Since most countries dont have any regulations on how to handle animals in the zoo, these business people can do whatever it takes to make the most profits possible. 1. Not investing enough when designing a habitat for your animals to save money. The surpluses are then sold off to zoos, aquariums, or even circuses. Zoochosis is a repetitive, invariant behavior pattern with no obvious . Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/zoos-top-3-pros-and-cons/, Eight Reasons Zoos Are Good for Conservation, National Geographic, Zoo, nationalgeographic.org (accessed May 8, 2019), Schnbrunn Palace, Zoo, schoenbrunn.at (accessed Apr. You May Like: City Of San Jos Animal Care Center. The origin of zoos can be dated back to ancient Egypt. For example, the veterinary staff at the Bronx Zoo in New York alerted health officials of the presence of West Nile Virus. There are zoological park associations that were formed to keep zoo owners on their toes. Watch this video with Jane Goodall on the role of zoos in saving animals. 2. The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. In 2017, 173 accredited US zoos spent $25 million on research, studied 485 species and subspecies of animals, worked on 1,280 research projects, and published 170 research manuscripts. This post was written by Sophia Buscher and Victoria Staudenraus,students at St. Mary's College of California, in partnership with the Lindsay Wildlife Experience. 5. The worst ones are the malicious keepers who enjoy hurting animals in captivity. Elephants are just one example of many when it comes to mistreating animals in zoos. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle has an annual budget that exceeds $36 million and they pay $17 million in wages annually. When it rains, the topsoil gets washed away leaving the land more exposed. Working with scientists and conservationists, a breeding program began to create new herds that were eventually released into protected areas. Many zoos have small enclosures that do not allow animals to roam and explore as they would in the wild. Since an animals well-being is dependent on their environment, some contend that zoos do not provide healthy habitats for animals. Hunted to extinction in the wild, there were about a dozen left in captivity at a single zoo in Europe. [40], Controversy has historically surrounded zoos, from debates over displaying exotic humans in exhibits to zookeepers not knowing what to feed animals. Zoos play an important role in species conservation and preservation. See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. Edinburgh was the first British zoo to follow the idea of displaying animals without bars. Deem, Zoos and Public Health: A Partnership on the One Health Frontier,One Health, Nov. 23, 2016, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, 10 Endangered Species Saved from Extinction by Zoos, medium.com, May 18, 2017, Association of Zoos & Aquariums, AZA and Animal Program Conservation Initiatives, aza.org (accessed Apr. After reading all these maltreatments, you must be wondering if there arent any laws that would protect the animals but sadly, there arent many. Breeding programs in zoos eventually lead to some animals being sold off to other zoos or worse circuses. Studying animals in zoos can create real positive change for wildlife populations. Should zoos exist? When the caretakers are not well informed about the animals they are to be taking care of, it can be problematic. Because of our destructive behaviour, we try to recover by saving endangered species through breeding practices. Others, like orcas, do very poorly when living in captivity. 1.8k views. Dont Miss: Lakeside Animal Hospital Moncks Corner. There were only nine California condors in the wild in 1985. What do you think? Is that fair? [34], About 24% of captive orcas have major to extreme tooth wear and 60% had tooth fractures as a result of stress-induced teeth grinding. 3, 2018, Tse-Lynn Loh, et al., Quantifying the Contribution of Zoos and Aquariums to Peer-Reviewed Scientific Research, facetsjournal.com, Mar. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. I was regularly reading books, reviewing CD encyclopaedias, and watching David Attenboroughs documentariesso I could learn about animals. Already have an account on netivist? See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. It has been argued that captive breeding isnt always effective, zoos do not provide natural habitats, and that zoos put unnecessary stress on animals. If you change your mind, you can change your vote simply by clicking on another option. According to Elephants for Africa, in the wild, elephants walk can walk up to 195kms a day but generally choose to walk 25kms a day. 20, 2017, US Fish & Wildlife Service, California Condor Population Information, fws.gov, May 7, 2018, Jan Flemr, Long Way Home as Przewalskis Horses Fly to Mongolia, phys.org, July 19, 2018, Jane Palmer, The Worlds Last Truly Wild Horse, bbc.com, Nov. 11, 2015, Lori Marino, et al., Do Zoos and Aquariums Promote Attitude Change in Visitors? In fact, psyche plays a major role for the life expectancy of many animals and if those animals get tired of their lives in zoos, chances are that their overall life expectancy drops as well. ], [Editors Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries. See Related: Animals With the Best Sense of Smell. How many of our favourite movies, cartoons, educational programs are created from animals? Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. That has changed over the years to the point where many see a zoo as nothing more than a recreational facility. 17, 2019), Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Pollinator Conservation, aza.org (accessed Apr. This is due to the fact that many zoos are subsidized by the government in order to give as many people access to zoos as possible. In 1982, only 22 condors existed in the wild. Audio:WNYC Captivity alters the behavior of animals. Another pro of zoos is their role in animal reproduction. We destroy homes by polluting habitats and routine logging and burning of forests. See Related: Endangered Species in Oklahoma. The herds are doing so well today that the horses are now going back to Mongolia to live in their native environment. Do Now U is a weekly activity for students and the public to engage and respond to current issues using social media. Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. 2. That doesnt mean we should be going out into the wild to take creatures away from their natural habitat. Some domesticated animals have an extended lifespan when living in captivity, but that result is more of the exception than the rule. In an ideal world that would not be necessary, wild animals would roam freely in their natural habitats and we, humans, would find ways to observe them and learn about them without disrupting their lives. Is keeping animals in captivity a good way to ensure their future? Reintroduced animals have a hard time coping with life in the wild after long periods away. The Chester and Whipsnade zoological parks where the first two non-urban zoos without cages and larger enclosures. In order to reintroduce animals into the wild and repair the ecosystem, we need to understand how certain animals live and act. There are about. As I explained above, there have been a select few case studies of successful conservation programslike the Californian Condors. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. But despite these shocking statistics, some endangered species are making a comeback thanks to the conservation work of zoos worldwide. Another $5.2 million is paid in outside vendor contracts. Should we boycott or ban zoos?

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