why animals should not be kept in zoos articles

Though the zoos business has grown from what it was over a century ago, there are still some things that can be improved. 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. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. This alone increases the risk of disease, as animals are exposed to viruses they have never encountered before. 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. Zoological gardens have been working to help ensure that any endangered species are given another chance to thrive again over time. 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.. Their death can be caused by either: lack of space, physical problems, diet, and PTSD. The U.S. became a signatory to CITES in 1975. 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. However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. And Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo has an on-site Wildlife Hospital to save sick and injured native species. [WATCH]. The animals too have rights and they shouldnt be subjected to half the things they undergo. Our EIN number is 94-2681680. Local laws are often most effective in governing the private possession of exotic animals. Slow animals with minimal to zero predators such as elephants have brief life spans in captivity. Here are some tips. 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. 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. The state and local laws protecting wild animals in captivity are spreading. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. 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. Especially not for the broad spectrum of species they have in their park. Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. The same applies to elephants. The other argument zoos commonly make is that they educate the public about animals and develop in people a conservation ethic. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/opinion/zoos-animal-cruelty.html, Photographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Healthy animals in zoos are killed because they are not needed. Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. The sale of excess animals to traveling roadside zoos is another big problem. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. When an animal is not on the endangered list, capturing it doesnt serve any purpose to the animal. Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. There have also been reported cases of zoos not properly disposing of dead bodies when animals die on their premises. But it's clear, say welfare specialists, that captivity can compromise orcas' health. They are just some of the millions of wild animals living in captivity across the United States. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. But then theres the pacing, the rocking. "Only 15% of the thousands of species held in zoos are considered 'threatened'," says Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free. They are kind people, bonded to their charges and immersed in the culture of the zoo, in which they are the good guys. 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. Zoo animals sustain both physical and psychological scars from harsh zookeepers. Another problem of zoos is that animals often only have rather limited space to move. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. Thats true, he said. These experiences are often harmful to wildlife and dangerous for you. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. 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. Animals are often bored and, as a result, some become aggressive and can lash out at other animals or zookeepers. The window to the world of. Required fields are marked *. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. 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. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. The Link Between Fasting And Mental Health: Can It Improve Mood And Cognition? An example of this is a snake that will bite whatever is threatening them since they are not as good at running away as other animals. As a result, many zoos breed animals. 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. Thousands of animals are captured and put in zoos and aquariums for tourist attractions every year. CITES does not directly address living conditions for captive animals. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. 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. There is an undeniable thrill, seeing animals in zoos, circuses, movies, television shows, and amusement parks. Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. Meanwhile, small changes at the officemight be one good way to cut significant emissions, writes Carlos Gamarra. There are zoological park associations that were formed to keep zoo owners on their toes. 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. 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. The process of training an animal is a long and brutal one. Zookeepers also often may neglect their healthcare needs. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. Even without a consciousness (that we know of) animals are alive and should be treated as such. Nature reserves, bird watching, going on a safari. Read on to find out why animals should not be kept in zoos. Your email address will not be published. There are a few exceptions. 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. That doesnt mean there havent been criticisms. Animals in captivity can struggle to adapt to their new environment. 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. Many animals in zoos are not used to confinement. Animals in zoos can sense this, and over time their confinement can lead to worrying behavioral changes. Terrifying, Pre-Historic-Looking Fish Captured in the Ocean's Twilight Zone; What Is It? Even though they might be getting enough food, if your animals are not okay mentally they might still not live to their full potential. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. Zookeepers are not mustache-twirling villains. An orangutan at the Omaha Zoo kept wire for lock-picking hidden in his mouth. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. Such zoos might even be merged with sanctuaries, places that take wild animals that because of injury or a lifetime of captivity cannot live in the wild. This can lead to an appreciation of animals, which in return will see them being treated much better. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. 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. By playing dead, they would deceive predators into leaving them alone. Running a successful zoo is about drawing in visitors as much as it is caring for animals. Instead, they will hire generalists with a degree of knowledge specificity and run with that. 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. Profits are also gained through the selling of animals to other zoos or circuses. Elephants bob their heads over and over. Being placed into a small tank, away from their family units, might not break existing animal protection laws. The first modern one was opened in Paris, France in 1793. Older menageries existed as far back as 2500 BCE, in Mesopotamia. The real question is, how can we change things? Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. Your email address will not be published. Things to Know. The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species. zoos is usually not more than 200 animals per year, the organization said.) This is due to the inhumane conditions that these animals are forced to endure. There were five such states until 2017, when South Carolina passed a law banning wild and exotic animals to be kept as pets. Unlike in the wild where these endangered species have to worry about staying safe, in these breeding programs they get taken care of.

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