Animals in Captivity for Preservation or Entertainment

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Zoos that practice research are claiming the purpose is to help further the process of animal preservation. Most of the research that is done at zoo facilities are for behavioral and anatomy purposes. Unfortunately, there are only a few zoos that are actually conducting these researches, and much of what is discovered is not worthwhile and often misleading. The behavioral research that is conducted can be misleading because the animals are in a predator free safe environment and presenting different traits then they would in the wild. Some behaviors that animals have are triggered by their environments. How they act in the wild is completely different from how the animal behaves in confinement. The purposes anatomy research is to provide better understanding of their breeding habitats, to continue their line of species. Also to improve their living habitats so the animals can live a longer and happier lives. Although zoos are claiming that research is helping them to improve the animal’s habitats so they can be happier that is still not a valid reason for keeping them in captivity. An animal rights advocacy group called Last Chance for Animals, which was established in 1984, and is known for their no-nonsense approach to exposing animal cruelty. For over three decades, LCA has worked on many types of animal rights issues, from farming, fur and animals in entertainment. On their website, they have a campaign for animals in entertainment. In their campaign against zoos’ this statement (Zoos, n.d.) was made about zoos purpose for research. “Few zoos practice relevant and reliable research. Those that do only examine the physiological structure of a captive animal, as well as the illnesses he or she has acquired. These results are towards animals living in captivity and generate little information about how to best conserve species in the wild.” (para.6-7). The research that is performed at zoos gives little information about how to save animals in the wild. In an animal’s natural environment, they’re exposed to illnesses and create immunities that they normally would not encounter in captivity. Therefore, I believe that the research done in zoos is not to benefit the preservation of wild life, but only to benefit the preservation of the zoos profit.

On a brighter side there are some benefits that can come from animals in zoos that are high quality. Zoos that are high quality can provide great care and protection for many animals. By putting animals in habitats without predators around, while providing food and medical care thus protecting certain species from going extinct. Dr. Hone, a paleontologist and a writer who writes for the science blog The Guardian, wrote a piece titled, “Why Zoos are Good.” Dr. Hone, besides being a scientist, was a zoo-keeper for two zoos in the U.K for many years. He is pro-zoo from what is stated in the article. In the article, Hone wrote a statement about why he believes “good zoos” are beneficial to many animal species. He writes (Hone, 2014) that “For many species but not all, it’s possible to keep them in zoos or wildlife parks and give them quality of life as high or higher than in the wild. Their movement may be restricted but not by much, they will not suffer from the threat of predators, or be killed in a grisly manner or eaten alive. They won’t suffer or die from parasites or endure starvation and lack of water. They can be treated for injuries and illness, and get varied and high quality diet with supplements required. They are spared from bullying, social ostracism or even infanticide and from the lack of a suitable environment. A lot of very nasty things happen to truly ‘wild’ animals that simply don’t happen in good zoos and to cast a life that is ‘free’ as one that is ‘good’ is, I think, an error.” (para 4). Dr. Hone makes some very valid and reasonable points for the benefit for zoos. However animals where facing a lot of these issues before the creation of zoos, a lot of what animals face in the wild is nature’s way. I have to ask this, are we to change nature’s way or what God has planned because we feel the need to control and to feel superior?

In conclusion, some zoos may have substantial purpose for animals in captivity. However, I think that many people that attend zoos don’t think about the real purpose. The specters at zoos are there to be with family and friends enjoying the sites of these animals they would not see in everyday life. These animals shouldn’t be an entertainment source for humans to pay money for and be stared upon. These animals should be respected and have the freedom to live their lives in wild as nature intended. We should, as humans, see animals as a gift and do everything possible to protect their rights as living creatures on earth. Maybe in the future this world could finally have a solution to end animal extinction without putting them in captivity and letting them live safely in their own habitats without human interference.

References

Dell'Amore, C. (2014, March 25). Copenhagen Zoo Kills 4 Lions After Controversial Giraffe Death. Retrieved from National Geographic:

Hone, Dr. D. (2014, August 19). Why Zoos are Good. Retrieved from The Guardian.

Lin, D. (2016, May 16). Arguments For and Against Zoos . Retrieved from About News: Paragraph. 2

Park, M, Yan, H. (2016, June 6). Gorilla killing: 3-year-old boy's mother won't be charged Retrieved from CNN.

Zoos. (n.d.). Retrieved from LCA, Last Chance for Animals. Paragraph 6-7