Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This can have huge negative effects on the environment in many adverse ways. This could cause problems for the animal. A criticism is that protections are less robust for species that are economically valuable, and that CITES is not as transparent in its decision-making or enforcement as would be ideal. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. The Toledo Zoo has dosed zebras and wildebeest with the antipsychotic haloperidol to keep them calm and has put an orangutan on Prozac. See Related: What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? Many suffer from arthritis and other joint problems from standing on hard surfaces; elephants kept alone become desperately lonely; and all zoo elephants suffer mentally from being cooped up in. Young chimpanzees on movie sets are trained through regular beatings and then discarded around age 8 when they become too large to control. The educational day out model of zoos endured until the late 20th century, when zoos began actively rebranding themselves as serious contributors to conservation. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. Many suffer from arthritis and other joint problems from standing on hard surfaces; elephants kept alone become desperately lonely; and all zoo elephants suffer mentally from being cooped up in tiny yards while their free-ranging cousins walk up to 50 miles a day. Profits are also gained through the selling of animals to other zoos or circuses. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. Many zoo animals are forcefully removed from their natural habitat. People are fascinated by animals. A day may come, he said, when we need to breed elephants or tigers or polar bears in captivity to save them from extinction. The first modern one was opened in Paris, France in 1793. When factoring in the number of zoos breeding animals and the risk posed to baby animals, the change of disease skyrockets further. 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". That's how animals living in captivity feel. Little Joe, a gorilla, escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston twice in 2003. These wild animals are sold at auctions, pet stores or over the internet. Such a transformation might free up some space. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. 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. Your voice is needed, so that captive wild animals in the United States, and elsewhere, are better protected. Their death can be caused by either: lack of space, physical problems, diet, and PTSD. Ms. Marris is an environmental writer and the author of the forthcoming book Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World.. In this way, they could lead the predator away from their nest. There are a few exceptions. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. When confined they rock, pull their hair and engage in other tics. But whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to quantify. Some are in aquariums, circuses, theme parks and zoos, others live caged at private homes. An estimated 20 red wolves are all that remain in the wild. Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. See Related: Most Comfortable Animals in The World. 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. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. 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. facilities report spending approximately $231 million annually on conservation projects. Keeping endangered animals in zoos infringes on those individuals' rights to freedom. 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. However, the truth remains that zoos often have insufficient knowledge of the animals they are housing. 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. 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. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. Below are a dozen reasons why zoos can be bad for animals: 1. CreditPhotographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Animals in zoos are easier to get various kinds of diseases because there are thousands of people around the animal every day. ", PETA's Bekhechi adds, the aim of breeding programmes is just "to produce baby animals to attract visitors.". In the past five years, the number of zoos has been gradually going up. Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. 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. See Related: Animals With the Best Sense of Smell. However, this is often not much more than an illusion for the customer. As a late Gen-Xer-cum-early-Millenial, my childhood was rich with trips to visit zoos. Bears, lions, and other animals languish in roadside zoos across the country. For many wild animals, this is a vital part of their life, and they can struggle to redefine their footing. 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. 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. Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. They are removed from their natural habitats and confined to small limited spaces and often forced to perform tricks or entertain visitors. Regardless of the merits or ethics of zoos, one thing's for certain: they're going to be around for some years yet. This is evident in killer whales' most vital body part: their teeth. When it comes to lethal force and animal welfare, at least, public opinion swiftly sides against zoos. The lack of enough vegetation will then lead to global warming due to less carbon in the atmosphere. 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. Thats true, he said. For some animals, reintroduction will always be difficult, such as baby elephants, or pet cheetahs, both of which habituate to human care very quickly, says Moore of IFAW. The real question is, how can we change things? Required fields are marked *. But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. 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. Unfortunately, this is done under the guise of conservation and to protect endangered species. This can lead to an appreciation of animals, which in return will see them being treated much better. Apes are excellent at escaping. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. Not surprising, perhaps, considering the typical polar bear enclosure is one million times smaller than the area they would naturally roam.". When it rains, the topsoil gets washed away leaving the land more exposed. These tours often pretend to talk about their animals natural habitat and inclinations. 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. Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. The Enigmatic Wombats: Surprising Facts and Myths Debunked. It is these boastful collections of animals, these autocratic menageries, from which the modern zoo, with its didactic plaques and $15 hot dogs, springs. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. There were five such states until 2017, when South Carolina passed a law banning wild and exotic animals to be kept as pets. Things like ensuring animals arent caged and treated less than they deserve. But the law excludes protection for birds, rats and mice, farmed animals and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, amphibians and fish. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. Terrifying, Pre-Historic-Looking Fish Captured in the Ocean's Twilight Zone; What Is It? The other argument zoos commonly make is that they educate the public about animals and develop in people a conservation ethic. 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. Before anyone starts sprinkling the stuff on their cornflakes, this isn't the hottest new beauty trend nor is it a natural phenomenon: Assiniboine Park Zoo's keepers use coloured glitter in the bears' feed to identify their droppings. What could these zoos do with it, besides enlarging enclosures? Mr. Fisher is a photographer based in New York. A species protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. The truth is there is a vast difference between genuine conservation efforts and endangered species protection and running a zoo. Captive animals are forced to spend their lives swimming endlessly and aimlessly instead of traveling up to 100 miles a day at fast speeds in the wild. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. The first zoos housed animals behind metal bars in spartan cages. 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. I dont see any problem with holding animals for display, Mr. Ashe told me. See Related: Are Humans Animals? Zoos are built as a source of income for some. People may behave eco-friendlier after going to the zoo. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. Those who reported a sense of connection to the animals at the zoo also correlated positively with general environmental concern. The Los Angeles Zoo has used Celexa, an antidepressant, to control aggression in one of its chimps. The confined living areas are a big contributor to animal stress and lack of physical stimulation like would be gained from a nice sprint. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. In the case of America, our maps, developed with experts, show where extreme heat is causing the most deaths. However, the truth is that no enclosure can come close to matching the vastness of an animals natural environment. Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage! 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. All of these options afford you a close view of nature exactly as it was intended. No, most likely not. Even without a consciousness (that we know of) animals are alive and should be treated as such. Elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and such. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Your email address will not be published. In some environments, we believe it's best not to keep certain wild animals at all, as their needs simply can't be met. According toAnimal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, fleeing or running away is the most popular reaction of animals towards humans. Most animals are taught to perform tricks and go against the grain of nature purely for human entertainment. The researchers divided the odd behaviors of captive animals into two categories: impulsive/compulsive behaviors, including coprophagy (eating feces), regurgitation, self-biting and mutilation, exaggerated aggressiveness and infanticide, and stereotypies, which are endlessly repeated movements. Most people arent always comfortable seeing animals that are kept in zoos. See Related: Different Animals That Cant Jump. It gets even worse for the animal if the trainer is impatient, the poor beast will have to endure beatings over commands they dont understand. 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. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. They go for the same reason people went to zoos in the 19th century: to be entertained. A peer-reviewed 2017 study in the . The problem is that these large predators control the population of herbivorous animals in their domain. Animals have been going extinct for as long as there has been life on earthany weakling or disadvantageous animals get wiped out. Another time, one of the orangutans, Kumang, learned how to use sticks to ground the current in the electrical wire around her enclosure. Declawing is extremely painful and causes permanent disability. Why Animals Should Not be Kept in Zoos These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. All rights reserved. Well, scat reveals all sorts of things about individual animals; information the keepers share with the scientific community. However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. Capturing animals even smart ones like apes, for amusement shouldnt be going on anywhere. 2. When it comes from unsustainable sources it is a key cause of deforestation, impacting many species like orangutans and tigers. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. Alas, theres plenty of heartbreaking evidence that many are not. Many zoos give children the wrong lessons about wild animals and how to protect animals. That doesnt mean there havent been criticisms. This is particularly true if the animal is there for entertainment. As a result, many zoos breed animals. See Related: Endangered Species in California. However, I feel there are certain species that should never be held in captivity unless they are candidates for breeding programs or rehabilitation. Meanwhile, small changes at the officemight be one good way to cut significant emissions, writes Carlos Gamarra. When the caretakers are not well informed about the animals they are to be taking care of, it can be problematic. Its zookeepers who arent fond of animals that go around hurting animals even when they havent been provoked. Sadly, most of these associations end up protecting the interests of their members, and not the animals they should be protecting. Depressed monkey But this is not the norm. This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. This becomes a major blow to the biodiversity of the affected region. Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. Its protections are minimal as well. See Related: War and the Effect on Wildlife. 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. 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. Captive tigers pace back and forth, and in a 2014 study, researchers found that the time devoted to pacing by a species in captivity is best predicted by the daily distances traveled in nature by the wild specimens. It is almost as if they feel driven to patrol their territory, to hunt, to move, to walk a certain number of steps, as if they have a Fitbit in their brains. 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. For example, smaller and faster animals with a lot of predators in the wild tend to thrive in zoos. 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. In 2020, facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums contributed more than $230 million to conservation efforts. 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. Animals begin to display erratic behaviors, self-mutilation, and an inability to settle. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Tigers, lions, elephants, bears and nonhuman primates are all included in this law. Throughout history, men have accumulated large and fierce animals to advertise their might and prestige. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. When wild animals shouldn't be in captivity. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. Lawsuit to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals Upon License Revocation, Demanding USDA Strengthen and Enforce AWA Licensees Recordkeeping Requirement for All Animal Deaths, Demanding USDA Revoke Animal Welfare Act License from Pennsylvania Roadside Zoo Claws N Paws, Big Cat Public Safety Act Passes the U.S. Senate in Victory for Animals, USDA to Strengthen Tracking of Animal Deaths at Licensed Facilities Following Legal Petition, Lawsuit Seeks to Force USDA to Recognize Its Authority to Take Possession of Animals When Agency Revokes Licenses. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. Once again, a change of this magnitude can cause captive animals to exhibit changing behaviors, which include self-destructive acts and unrelenting restlessness. Ive spent many memorable days in botanical gardens, completely swept away by the beauty of the design as well as the unending wonder of evolution and theres no uneasiness or guilt. In fact, while animals will have almost unlimited space in the wild, they are often caged in rather confined areas in zoos. Instead, they will hire generalists with a degree of knowledge specificity and run with that. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. A.Z.A. The California condor breeding program, which almost certainly saved the species from extinction, includes five zoos as active partners. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. That's not a record that justifies tens of millions of wild animals kept in zoos. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. Animals held captive in zoos are in very small environments such as cages, and they have no freedom. Visit animal sanctuaries instead of zoos, marine parks or circuses. 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. 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 whether recent events have triggered a profound shift in public consciousness is harder to . Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. Here's What Experts Think. Going to the zoo is often quite affordable. Four of the zoos and the aquarium in New York City, for instance, are managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which is involved in conservation efforts around the world. Read on to find out why animals should not be kept in zoos. Bears and cats pace. When she caught up with the boys at the cafe, she mauled them before she was shot to death by the police. Their lives in captivity can be harsh especially when the animal has been completely removed from its social structures. When zoos find themselves with surplus animals, they need to find ways to reduce their numbers. To update your payment information, visit our Member Center. 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. These experiences are often harmful to wildlife and dangerous for you. Not investing enough when designing a habitat for your animals to save money. Most states have no laws governing captive wild animals. These laws help the animals and also people, since wild animals in captivity present a serious public safety risk. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. These animals oftentimes live in inhumane conditions, and pose a serious threat to public safety. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. But that day of release never quite seems to come. Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. For example, the typical enclosure designed for a polar bear is about a million times smaller than its natural roaming grounds. 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. However, few people stop and actively consider why zoos are bad. With their apes, elephants, big cats, and other large and smart species gone, they could expand enclosures for the rest of the animals, concentrating on keeping them lavishly happy until their natural deaths. There are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as Extinct in the Wild. 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. There are dozens of other countries around the world with similar prohibitions, including Austria, Greece, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore. With increased awareness about the cruelty involved with keeping wild animals in captivity, more and more jurisdictions are enacting legal protections. A 2014 study by the Society for Conservation Biology found that of over 2,800 children surveyed following visits to London Zoo, 62% showed no positive learning outcomes. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. And it is true that the territory size of an animal like a wolf depends greatly on the density of resources and other wolves. These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. There is always that element of choice that gets removed from them in a captive environment. Sadly, once the small animals outgrow their cute phase, the zoo has to get rid of them since feeding and housing them all can get expensive. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. They are just some of the millions of wild animals living in captivity across the United States. Wildlife experts remind people that these animals do not know people's intentions, so they will try to protect themselves no matter what. 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? What Is The Hunters Role in Wildlife Conservation? The others ran, and she pursued them, ignoring all other humans in her path. 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. Zoos protect against a species going extinct. Zoo keepers are often trained and specialize in a particular breed or species. Zoos accredited by the A.Z.A. Why? Captive animals need better laws, and better enforcement of those laws. But relatively early in their evolution, a German exotic animal importer named Carl Hagenbeck changed the way wild animals were exhibited. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. Others allow private parties to keep animals like tigers or primates with a permit. CITES does not directly address living conditions for captive animals. 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 . For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. This is seen as a cheaper option as opposed to moving them back into the wild. On top of that, the animals dont have much freedom even in these tiny spaces that they are forced to live in. Chimps pull out their own hair. 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. In a 2011 study, researchers quizzed visitors at the Cleveland, Bronx, Prospect Park and Central Park zoos about their level of environmental concern and what they thought about the animals. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. 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. A largely unregulated trend is the hybrid breeding of wild cats with house cats, with predictably disastrous consequences. Kept in barren cages rarely larger than 20 by 20 feet, bears in roadside zoos spend their days pacing, sleeping abnormally long periods of time, and bobbing their head all indications of extreme psychological distress. However, they are really just teaching children about caring for animals in captivity. 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. Public zoos sprang up across Europe, many modeled on the London Zoo in Regents Park. Zoos provide opportunities for nice family trips. While zoos can definitely be exciting places for families to visit, the fact remains that they are bad for animals. WorldAnimalFoundation.org is reader-supported. Genes evolved over time to help the animal adjust to a man-made habitat can be a downside to the populations of the species in the wild. Some zoo animals try to escape. 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. Things to Know. It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. Will we ever see all zoos closed down? More than 6,000 comments made by the visitors were recorded, nearly half of which were purely descriptive statements that asserted a fact about the exhibit or the animal. The researchers wrote, In all the statements collected, no one volunteered information that would lead us to believe that they had an intention to advocate for protection of the animal or an intention to change their own behavior.. 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. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage.