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. Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. Yes, it is time consuming and it is expensive, but if it is possible, we have to try, simply because is the right thing to do.". But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and "cold-blooded" animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. All rights reserved. Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. An example of these associations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) which represents over 240 businesses across the globe. Many zoos create attractive enclosures to attract visitors. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. PETA isn't alone. Required fields are marked *. Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. A zoological park is defined as an establishment designed for conservation, study, and public display. But then theres the pacing, the rocking. Your email address will not be published. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. Animals in zoos are easier to get various kinds of diseases because there are thousands of people around the animal every day. These experiences are often harmful to wildlife and dangerous for you. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. Copyright 2023 The Science Times. Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. These are highly intelligent animals with complex social constructs that scientists have studied for . This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. A study by Bristol University found that many British zoos fail to provide animals with the required minimum standard of care. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. Chimps pull out their own hair. Mr. Fisher is a photographer based in New York. When wild animals shouldn't be in captivity. The real question is, how can we change things? Their death can be caused by either: lack of space, physical problems, diet, and PTSD. If an untrained zookeeper comes across a stubborn animal, they might hurt it if they are impatient. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. 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". Breeders: How to Stop Puppy FarmsPermanently. We do know that common animals kept as pets include lions, tigers, cougars, ocelots, servals, wolves, bears, alligators, snakes and nonhuman primates like chimpanzees. Some animals are quite intelligent so keeping them in captivity should never be an option. In 2018, the Eighth Circuit issued a unanimous decision in Cricket Hollows appeal of that case, that it can be a violation of the Endangered Species Act when captive animals arent given proper care. 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. Animal rights activists argue that hunting, capturing, and putting animals on display is unethical. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. Zoo owners go to great lengths to build enclosures that have a wild aesthetic and give paying visitors a taste of the wild world. 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. There are currently 421 zoological gardens and aquariums and a 2.9% business growth this year despite the pandemic. 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. It is impossible to read these stories without concluding that these animals wanted out. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. 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. See Related: War and the Effect on Wildlife. Apes are known for picking locks and keeping a beady eye on their captors, waiting for the day someone forgets to lock the door. Severe arthritis and foot infections are common in captive elephants due to standing on hard, unnatural surfaces all day without room to roam. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. 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. Some roadside zoos declaw tiger and lion cubs a serious surgical procedure in which a cats toes are amputated at the last joint. Giraffes endlessly flick their tongues. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. Many people consider zoos amoral and cruel while others have the notion . When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. 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. Earlier this month, footage of a dolphin attacking its trainer in Miami Seaquarium went viral. 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. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. Alas, theres plenty of heartbreaking evidence that many are not. After all, more than 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums worldwide every year, and biodiversity is still in decline. Top 50 Most Good-looking Nationalities: AI Shows Beautiful People From Different Countries; How Does Science Measure Beauty, Attractiveness? A Brief History of Zoos . More tigers live in cages in this country, than exist in all the wild. zoos is usually not more than 200 animals per year, the organization said.) Don't be suckered into supporting companies that offer experiences like hugging a tiger, swimming with dolphins, riding elephants, or kissing sharks. These wild animals are sold at auctions, pet stores or over the internet. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. 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. 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. This was the first time that the ESA has successfully been used to protect captive wild animals. Taking an animal say a big cat, into an enclosed habitat when she cant hunt for herself can be detrimental to her life skills. People assume that because an animal can move great distances that they would choose to do that. If they have everything they need nearby, he argued, they would be happy with smaller territories. That claim is up for debate. 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. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. RELATED ARTICLE: Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. You can see exotic animals without the need for traveling. Just as we humans are free to do whatever we want so long as we follow the law, then it shouldn't be different for animals. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. That's how animals living in captivity feel. But theres no unambiguous evidence that zoos are making visitors care more about conservation or take any action to support it. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. This conservation focus must be a key component for institutions that want to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization that sets standards and policies for facilities in the United States and 12 other countries. Lack of learning valuable animal life skills such as hunting and social structures eventually leads to the alteration of the said animals behavior. Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. Elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and such. The Los Angeles Zoo has used Celexa, an antidepressant, to control aggression in one of its chimps. Once again, a change of this magnitude can cause captive animals to exhibit changing behaviors, which include self-destructive acts and unrelenting restlessness. In contrast, those nesting animals or cornered ones will try to defend themselves if being approached to protect their young. 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. With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. 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. They found that only 27 percent of people bothered to read the signs at exhibits. But this is not the norm. ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". They could either bite, peck, scratch, kick, or flap their wings. The AWA only applies to some captive wild animals. What if they sent all the animals that need really large areas or lots of freedom and socialization to refuges? Its protections are minimal as well. See Related: Are Humans Animals? The United Kingdom, for example, has announced a plan to phase out all circuses featuring wild animal performances by 2020. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. And Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo has an on-site Wildlife Hospital to save sick and injured native species. The first modern one was opened in Paris, France in 1793. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. The AWA establishes only baseline standards of care for licensing exhibitors. 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. Zoos often have insufficient knowledge of animals. In April, ethical tour operator Responsible Travel after consultation with wildlife charity Born Free Foundation axed trips that include zoo visits. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. Drugs given to animals include sedatives and antipsychotic drugs. For intellectual property information and terms of use, visit our Intellectual Property Terms of Usepage. 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. Ms. Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. 1. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. In addition, when animals are removed from their natural habitats, they are also removed from their family structure and social hierarchy.