Why? After being captives of the pandemic for more than a year, we have begun experiencing the pleasures of simple outings: dining al fresco, shopping with a friend, taking a stroll through the zoo. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) operates an accreditation system for sanctuaries, rescue centres and rehabilitation centres. Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. In 1982, only 22 condors existed in the wild. For comparison, in 2018, they spent $4.9 billion on operations and construction. No, most likely not. Even when properly fed and well housed, they can never be fully relaxed in confined spaces. 525 East Cotati Avenue,Cotati, CA 94931 People are always attracted to exotic animals such as grizzlies, lions, wolves, tigers, and alligators among others. When wild animals shouldn't be in captivity. Others are captured from their native habitats, or come from backyard breeders or the black market. 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.. I remember well the awe and joy on their faces, 15 years later. Caring for animals on a full-time basis requires someone who is both informed and cares about them. Sanctuaries occupy a "gray area," says Tanya Espinosa, a . In this way, they could lead the predator away from their nest. When she caught up with the boys at the cafe, she mauled them before she was shot to death by the police. The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them 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. But that incident has triggered conversations on the negative impacts of marine parks and aquariums on wild animals. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is rated four-stars by Charity Navigator, is a Platinum Level GuideStar Exchange participant, a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, and an Independent Charity Seal of Excellence awardee, ensuring that we meet the highest standards of accountability, efficiency, and impact. Most people visit the zoo to see the big draw animals. However, there are some disadvantages of zoos to the environment ranging from overpopulation of a species to global warming. This can make the animals neurotic, causing them to start biting bars, pacing repetitively, and swaying. 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. 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. Life expectancy for animals in captivity depends on a couple of things, such as their way of life, among other factors. 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.. Increasingly, animals were presented with the distasteful fact of their imprisonment visually elided. worldanimalfoundation.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Other Programs, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the Partners. In states without tight enough regulation, local jurisdictions oftentimes adopt ordinances that ban or restrict the display of captive wild animals. Many zoos will then resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and normal for the pleasure of the viewing public. Reasons why people think keeping animals in zoos is bad for their welfare: the animal is deprived of its natural habitat; the animal may not have enough room; the animal is deprived of its natural . Not surprising, perhaps, considering the typical polar bear enclosure is one million times smaller than the area they would naturally roam.". See Related: Best Books on Endangered Species. I pointed out that we cant ask animals whether they are happy with their enclosure size. For some animals in zoos, the shock of their relocation alone can be fatal. Don't be suckered into supporting companies that offer experiences like hugging a tiger, swimming with dolphins, riding elephants, or kissing sharks. 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 first modern one was opened in Paris, France in 1793. They go to get out of the house, to get their children some fresh air, to see interesting animals. This treaty is credited with helping foster international cooperation to protect some endangered and vulnerable species. Alas, theres plenty of heartbreaking evidence that many are not. at the time estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are euthanized in European zoos each year. 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. says that its members host more than 50 reintroduction programs for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Nevertheless, a vast majority of zoo animals (there are 800,000 animals of 6,000 species in the A.Z.A.s zoos alone) will spend their whole lives in captivity, either dying of old age after a lifetime of display or by being culled as surplus.. Keep on reading. We have good models of captive wild animal protection laws outside of this country as well. Many zoos conduct such studies, and also run captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Your email address will not be published. Animals are not able to bear living in small, unsuited environments. Alex started writing from the moment he could hold a pen. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. Elephants bob their heads over and over. Mr. Ashe, a former director of the U.S. And this is not a definite number of victims; there is probably a good number that hasnt been documented. Another problem of zoos is that animals often only have rather limited space to move. If one could simply stop urging and encouraging zoos then maybe someday animals get to live in the free wild as they please. Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage! There is more to natural environments than just looks. 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. In addition, baby animals that are deemed excess to requirements find their way into black market sales. Check out more news and information on Wild Animalsin Science Times. Many zoos and aquariums offer behind-the-scenes tours and informative talks on animal welfare. What people can do: Justin Gillis and Hal Harvey describe the types of local activismthat might be needed, while Saul Griffith points to how Australia shows the way on rooftop solar. Jason Hribals 2010 book, Fear of the Animal Planet, chronicles dozens of attempts. Visitors will hammer on the glass or clamor around an animal enclosure, calling and shouting for the creature to perform for their pleasure. Climate change has become a very real threat for the next and even current generations. This alteration of the animals behavior will eventually do more harm than good. This can lead to an appreciation of animals, which in return will see them being treated much better. 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. Zoos are built as a source of income for some. See Related: Animals That Have Become Extinct in the Last 100 Years. Now, Alex writes full-time, and when hes not working on an article, hes knee-deep in writing fiction. The practice of killing surplus animals is kept quiet by zoos, but it happens, especially in Europe. 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. There are a few exceptions. That's how animals living in captivity feel. Unfortunately using real animals for these purposes involves tremendous cruelty. For example, smaller and faster animals with a lot of predators in the wild tend to thrive in zoos. 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. Lets get into the nitty-gritty details of why keeping animals in zoos is bad: Wild animals often suffer in captivity because they were meant to be free. Captive animals need better laws, and better enforcement of those laws. A Brief History of Zoos . Animals are often bored and, as a result, some become aggressive and can lash out at other animals or zookeepers. Most zoos or animal sanctuaries dont have the space or the facilities to truly recreate the wild. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers dont get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. 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. Things like ensuring animals arent caged and treated less than they deserve. Zoos across the US can take credit for reviving the wild Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin and Californian condor populations, among many others. 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. How Does Saving Water Help Climate Change? However, looking back as an adult with a world-savvy eye, there is far more to animal captivity than meets the eye. 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. Their droppings look like little glitterballs. They argue that no animal should be forced to spend their life in an unnatural environment and perform. See Related: Animals With the Best Sense of Smell. Zookeepers are not mustache-twirling villains. zoos is usually not more than 200 animals per year, the organization said.) See Related: Endangered Species in California. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures Dramatic Hour-by-Hour Changes of Dart Mission Slamming on an Asteroid, Can Humanity Deflect Potentially Hazardous Asteroids? Are Sliding Doors or French Doors More Energy Efficient? They are contained in small spaces, often made docile through drugs and other medications, and slowly strip away all autonomy and freedom from all animals. See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation. Climate change around the world: In Postcards From a World on Fire, 193 stories from individual countries show how climate change is reshaping reality everywhere, from dying coral reefs in Fiji to disappearing oases in Morocco and far, far beyond. Mr. Fisher is a photographer based in New York. A gorilla named Togo at the Toledo Zoo used his incredible strength to bend the bars of his cage. Caring for the said animals, away from their predator will give their species a chance of repopulating. In many cases, animals in captivity do not have the space or resources to roam and live as they would in their natural habitat. That doesnt mean there havent been criticisms. Personally speaking, Ive been to zoos in Sydney, Australia, and all over the UK. Thats true, he said. As a result, many zoos breed animals. Infringing the rights of individuals because it benefits the species is wrong because a species is not an. It's the first travel company to publicly make such a move. Here's What Experts Think. Once an animal has served its purpose, many zoos will either sell them or euthanize them. Zoos shifted just slightly from overt demonstrations of mastery over beasts to a narrative of benevolent protection of individual animals. As a late Gen-Xer-cum-early-Millenial, my childhood was rich with trips to visit zoos. 2021 ScienceTimes.com All rights reserved. Animal Legal Defense Fund petition for rulemaking spurs reporting improvements: Forms will be revised to ensure AWA licensees maintain complete records of all animal deaths. Kings would keep hippos, baboons and large cats. In zoos, elephants are often given a small outside enclosure and an internal house. This is nowhere near enough space to provide an elephant with a life comparable to that of its wild counterparts. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. For example, Orcas are migratory animals with a vast range. 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. Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? Animal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, Man in Uganda Beats Lion With Bare Hands In Bloody Battle Before Feasting on the Beast for Dinner, Dolphin Attacks Trainer in Front of Horrified Families in Miami Seaquarium: How Often Do These Sea Creatures Attack Humans? Its protections are minimal as well. Most states have no laws governing captive wild animals. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. 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. NASA's DART Mission Successfully Changed the Trajectory of Space Rock Dimorphos, Asteroid Ryugu Richly Harbors Building Blocks of Life, Scientists Reveal, SpaceXs Crew-6 Astronauts Aboard Dragon Capsule Endeavor Will Arrive at Space Station Early Friday [WATCH LIVE]. Animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers don't get even close to one percent of the area they roam in the wild. A common criticism is that the inspectors are often inadequately trained to look for sign of problems such as abuse and neglect. See Related: How Similar is Human DNA to Other Animals. According toAnimal Behavior: Resources for Applied Ethology, fleeing or running away is the most popular reaction of animals towards humans. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. The real question is, how can we change things? Weve discussed the reasons and can surely all now answer the question of why are zoos bad. For example, Charles Harvey and Kurt House argue that subsidies for climate capture technologywill ultimately be a waste. Zoos are a part of culture across the world. Existing refuges often do allow visitors, but their facilities are really arranged for the animals, not for the people. The ongoing extinction crises shows that zoos are needed - even for common species. As long as there is demand should zoos exist essay them, zoos will continue to exist. Whats Causing Their Decline? 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 are forced to sleep, eat, and defecate in the same small area. An increase in the populations of herbivorous animals such as deer and buffalos isnt a good thing, especially not for the vegetation and ground cover. When theres a surplus, you can just have a plant sale. However, through education and informative motions for change, we can make change the way zoos are run. Earlier this month, footage of a dolphin attacking its trainer in Miami Seaquarium went viral. The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. Some of the captive-born animals are not capable of sustaining themselves in the wild and they could pass on these genes dooming the whole species in that region. What began as a way to pass time soon became a compulsion. Even though they might be getting enough food, if your animals are not okay mentally they might still not live to their full potential. Id like to think these kids, now in their early 20s, are working for a conservation organization somewhere. Many zoos use Prozac and other psychoactive drugs on at least some of their animals to deal with the mental effects of captivity. They normally find themselves locked in cages, and only released into an artificial habitat when there are visitors at the zoo. They could either bite, peck, scratch, kick, or flap their wings. 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. These are species that would have vanished totally were it not for captive populations around the world, many of which reside in zoos (or, for plants, botanic gardens). Most zoos dont focus on the educational aspect of zoos; the animals are mainly kept for amusement. Living collections were often presented in taxonomic order, with various species of the same family grouped together, for comparative study. Drugs given to animals include sedatives and antipsychotic drugs. A zoological park is defined as an establishment designed for conservation, study, and public display. 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. 2. Instead, they will hire generalists with a degree of knowledge specificity and run with that. When factoring in the number of zoos breeding animals and the risk posed to baby animals, the change of disease skyrockets further. 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. This support of the exotic pet trade also results in a lot of preventable animal deaths. For the unlucky ones that end up in the circuses, they are always in for a wide awakening. On the other hand, some animals try to flirt their way to protect their nest. State And Local Laws: Strong state laws and even local laws have historically been a useful way to protect exotic and wild animals. Look out for the GFAS seal of approval. You can surely help these animals by refusing to visit zoos and instead supporting sanctuaries where animals live in natural habitats. However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. The A.Z.A.s policies allow for the euthanasia of animals, but the president of the association, Dan Ashe, told me, its very rarely employed by his member institutions. This paper is going to discuss why animals should not be kept in captivity. Cleaners and feeders spend a lot of time with the animals, and understanding the situation one is getting into can be very helpful. 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". Going to the zoo is sort of a short vacation for many people. State laws vary considerably, with some states banning the ownership of wild and exotic animals while others have virtually no regulation whatsoever. That claim is up for debate. Ostensibly places for genteel amusement and edification, zoos expanded beyond big and fearsome animals to include reptile houses, aviaries and insectariums. 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. Crustacean Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating World of the Crab, Pet Food Manufacturers and Who Rules the Roost in a Growing Market. Many zoo animals are forcefully removed from their natural habitat. They found that only 27 percent of people bothered to read the signs at exhibits. Animals also lose their genetic diversity especially due to inbreeding. Elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, and such. 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. See Related: Different Animals That Cant Jump. Thats undeniable. His justification was philosophical. 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. 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. All of these options afford you a close view of nature exactly as it was intended. They are kind people, bonded to their charges and immersed in the culture of the zoo, in which they are the good guys. Artificial environments. Zoos also have the power to euthanize their animals when they themselves deem it permissible. But few federal laws protect these animals, who may be forced to perform or kept confined in small cages with little to keep their minds occupied and bodies well. However, that does not stop the silent damage that captivity delivers to such roaming animal species. From there, it was an easy leap to protecting animal species. One way that is rarely documented is the sale of other animals into the exotic pet trade. 7 reasons why animals in captivity deserve freedom. There are a number of reasons why animals should not be kept in captivity. Animals are an important part of nature and should have the right to live in their natural environment. Sanctuaries promise to take in and care for any animals that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and to keep them for life. 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. CreditPhotographs by Peter Fisher for The New York Times. Some roadside zoos declaw tiger and lion cubs a serious surgical procedure in which a cats toes are amputated at the last joint. Its said that Texas has the worlds second-largest tiger population, due to private citizens propensity for keeping these big cats as pets. There is no end to the risk of cross-contamination and disease spread, especially when considering the fact that lots of zoos fail to provide the correct standard of care. The same applies to elephants. When confined they rock, pull their hair and engage in other tics. Ive been to zoos and aquariums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Vancouver Island, not to mention those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Understanding the optimal requirements for the reproduction of certain animals can be difficult. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. The Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES): CITES is an international treaty that regulates the trade of wildlife for nations that are signatories to the treaty. An animals worth is only equal to the attraction it offers to visitors. 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. Big cats, such as lions and tigers, used in circuses are forced to live in tiny cages that are transported across the country. What if they sent all the animals that need really large areas or lots of freedom and socialization to refuges? Early in the pandemic, the Neumunster Zoo in northern Germany coolly announced an emergency plan to cope with lost revenue by feeding some animals to other animals, compressing the food chain at the zoo like an accordion, until in the worst-case scenario, only Vitus, a polar bear, would be left standing. Photographs by Peter Fisher. Protect animals by boycotting roadside zoos. (The culling of mammals specifically in E.A.Z.A. A 2019 report by World Animal Protection found that captive animals exhibitedabnormal levels of aggression, indicating that the attack in Miami Seaquarium was a direct result of captivity, despite claims that it is an isolated incident and is uncommon. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. The worst climate risks, mapped: In this feature, select a country, and we'll break down the climate hazards it faces. Here are my eight reasons why zoos are critical to conservation: 1. They are used to collect exotic pets from owners who are looking to get rid of them. 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. However, the truth remains that zoos often have insufficient knowledge of the animals they are housing. Zoos cannot begin to provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. 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. Their natural habitat extends far beyond anything captivity zoos could provide. An estimated 20 red wolves are all that remain in the wild. But relatively early in their evolution, a German exotic animal importer named Carl Hagenbeck changed the way wild animals were exhibited. Mr. Hagenbecks model was widely influential. But, for every story that casts zoos in a bad light from Vince the rhino's poaching at Paris' Thoiry Zoo in March; Cincinnati Zoo shooting endangered gorilla, Harambe, last year after a child fell into his enclosure; or Copenhagen Zoo killing and publicly dissecting Marius, a two-year-old giraffe in 2014 there are heart-warming tales too. While zoos can definitely be exciting places for families to visit, the fact remains that they are bad for 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. Nature reserves, bird watching, going on a safari. In a study done on 40 chimpanzees in six different zoos, all of the chimps exhibited behavior their counterparts in nature did not. In this article, we will take a look at why zoos teach children the wrong lesson about captive animals. In addition, when animals are removed from their natural habitats, they are also removed from their family structure and social hierarchy. A small exhibit is never going to truly capture the vastness of the open world. This gives the poor pets a home and creates a revenue stream for the zoos. 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. Top 50 Most Good-looking Nationalities: AI Shows Beautiful People From Different Countries; How Does Science Measure Beauty, Attractiveness? 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. Students and the general public get a chance to learn about different species of animals. 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. These associations ensure that members are treating their animals with a high standard of care and following any guidelines they provide. Not investing enough when designing a habitat for your animals to save money. These are wild animals, who are dangerous by nature and cannot be domesticated. Existing animal protection laws do not actually consider the true ramifications of captivity. Because so many diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as Ebola, Hantavirus, and the bird flu, zoos frequently conduct disease surveillance research in wildlife populations and their own captive populations that can lead to a direct impact on human health. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild. In many modern zoos, animals are well cared for, healthy and probably, for many species, content. 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. In some environments, we believe it's best not to keep certain wild animals at all, as their needs simply can't be met. Animals are forced to live in artificial habitats that arent anywhere close to their former homes (the wild). I once overheard two schoolchildren at the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington confess to each other that they had assumed that elephants were mythical animals like unicorns before seeing them in the flesh.