We are having trouble saving your comment. What Is Sustainable Development and Why Is It Necessary? Activists are calling to ban zoos, and their voices are getting louder. 2. While zoos spend millions on keeping animals confined, natural habitats are destroyed and animals are killed, as theres insufficient funding for their protection. There are more humane and effective ways to conserve and educate about animals, and it is our responsibility to consider the welfare of all beings on this planet. Extend the debate to other human-made animal habitats, such as safari parks and animal sanctuaries. The actual territory of some individuals and packs may be over 300 miles in width. WebCons of zoos Animal cruelty in zoos continues to be extremely common. Another unique set of problems arises from the live feeding of certain species, particularly big cats. If you feel this user's conduct is unappropriate, please report this comment and our moderaters will review its content and deal with this matter as soon as possible. Many of them are reported every week in the media, however, the large majority are kept secret and those responsible are never held accountable or punished. Vote and join our debate (see below), Watch this video on "zoochosis" and the living conditions of animals in captivity. Heres Why, nationalgeographic.com, Mar. In fact, the overall setting and also the visual appearance greatly differs across zoos and in case you get bored by your favorite zoo, you may just try another zoo. However, constraints like limited space and funds hinder this process. Should zoos be banned, or do they serve a positive purpose? Thus, zoos can also be quite important to raise awareness of our global environmental problems in order to protect our animals as best as possible. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Edinburgh was the first British zoo to follow the idea of displaying animals without bars. Let's take a look at the pros and cons and whether zoos should be allowed to stay in business. Research on this species is quite important since only if we get to know more about them, we will be able to protect those species from extinction in the long run. WebReasons Why Zoos Should Be Banned Therefore, zoos should be banned because they are very cruel to animals. Although the initial methods of retrieval were brutal, sometimes killing the parents to take the young one back for study, the overall goal was to extend human knowledge. In turn, those animals will lose part of their natural instincts and will no longer be able to survive in the wild due to that. The first modern one was opened in 1828 for scientific study in London, and then eventually became open to the public about 30 years later. Zoos should be banned worldwide because the animals are living in an unnatural habitat, the zoos kill or sell surplus animals, and zoos are not educational. All the Reasons Why Zoos Should Be Banned I'm no big animal-rights campaigner, but I do trust facts delivered by experts, and the facts tell me that zoos are just a really terrible idea. Another 23 jobs were supported for every $1 million that zoos spent on construction projects. 3. That hasnt stopped some poachers from breaking into zoos to harvest what they want, but it is preventing the levels of harm that we have seen in the past. WebThe question whether animals should be kept in captivity or not is debated on many platforms and forums. Some elephant herds in the wild can grow to become 40 members strong. Zoos are detrimental to animals' physical health. There are times when wild animals should stay that way. 23, 2019), Krista Langlois, Something Mysterious Is Killing Captive Gorillas, theatlantic.com, Mar. At least 37 countries have banned or restricted the sale of cosmetics with ingredients tested on animals, including nations in the European Union. Another significant downside of zoos is that animals can often not be returned to the wild after they had been kept in captivity. Consequently, zoos may not protect our animal species from extinction at all, especially if those animals are kept under rather poor conditions and are therefore not willing to reproduce in a sufficient manner. You will find employer matching, tribute gifts, exhibition sponsorship, and financial wildlife adoptions are all part of their financial picture each year as well. Opponents say wild animals should never be kept captive. When the first modern zoo was established in London in the 19th century, the purpose was purely scientific. Zoos should be banned worldwide because the animals are living in an unnatural habitat, the zoos kill or sell surplus animals, and zoos are not educational. In many zoos, there are also some animal shows and it may be indeed questionable whether treating animals in these ways can be justifiable. Some people say zoos are safe to place for animals to live because they do not have to seek for food to survive. There are many problems that come with keeping animals in zoos. Another issue with zoos is that there is often also only insufficient regulation of zoos in many countries of our planet. Congrats you just reached a new level on Netivist. In this article, the pros and cons of zoos are discussed.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_10',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4-0'); One important advantage of zoos is that they enable us to see many different animals in one place. Banning smaller, less established zoos with little funding could be a practical first step to reducing harm to wildlife. 2021, there are 241 accredited zoos in the United States. How can we effectively protect the natural world? Do the cons of zoos outweight their benefits? Since the overall living conditions for animals are often quite poor in zoos, opponents of zoos also often claim that most zoos are cruel and should be closed. If you believe they should, consider whether they should remain the same or change. Because poaching activities qualify as criminal conduct, most attempts are thwarted. When an incident causes an individual to fall into the enclosure of a wild animal, the facility will usually save the person by killing the animal. Why the Difference Between Weather and Climate Matters. That is typically a consequence of employing workers with little to no animal welfare or safety training. Although there are efforts to replicate a wild habitat, a small display area is hardly the same as being free to roam. Especially if you have children, it can be quite nice to go to the zoo and to see many different animals. In fact, many people who live in big cities often lost their connection to nature. Just login. Here, we dive into what fair trade is,. 13, 2017, Edna Francisco, Zoo Carnivores Need More Space, sciencemag.org, Oct. 1, 2003, Ian Sample, Stress and Lack of Exercise Are Killing Elephants Zoos Warned, theguardian.com, Dec. 11, 2008, Alex Halberstadt, Zoo Animals and Their Discontents, nytimes.com, July 3, 2014, Daniel Engber, The Tears of a Panda, slate.com, Sep. 14, 2006, Jenni Laidman, Zoos Using Drugs to Help Manage Anxious Animals, toledoblade.com, Sep. 12, 2005, Lucy Birkett and Nicholas E. Newton-Fisher, How Abnormal Is the Behavior of Captive, Zoo-Living Chimpanzees?, journals.plos.org, June 16, 2011, John Jett, et al., Tooth Damage in Captive Orcas, sciencedirect.com, May 2018, Natasha Daly, Orcas Dont Do Well in Captivity. Why should animals be kept in zoos? 17, 2019), Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Marine Mammal Conservation, aza.org (accessed Apr. This is not only due to the entrance fees for zoos, but also due to the fact that tourists will sleep in hotels and eat out in restaurants, which further generates significant income for the local population. Even those prices are not enough to keep the zoo financially solid. All the Reasons Why Zoos Should Be Banned I'm no big animal-rights campaigner, but I do trust facts delivered by experts, and the facts tell me that zoos are just a really terrible idea. There are many problems that come with keeping animals in zoos. If they dont follow the rules, they essentially go out of business. Zoos have more visitors than the combined attendance of the four major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL). Zoos are detrimental to animals' physical health. In fact, especially in regions with weak economies, people often rely on income from zoos to make a living. They also lack the everyday social interactions they would experience in the wild. Consequently, going to the zoo can be a great way to spend your time in a completely different environment, which can also be helpful if you are currently rather bored with your daily life. Proponents say zoos educate the public about animals. Evidence of the existence of zoos and menageries can be traced back to ancient Egypt, circa 3500 BC. While some zoos are quite profitable and make good money, other zoos rely on donations and government subsidies in order to survive. One of them is the confined spaces where the animals are forced to live in. Explain your answer(s). These roadside zoos are consistently reported for neglect and severe animal mistreatment. As unbelievable as this sounds, it is happening, and something should be done to stop such actions in the future. Thus, especially in countries with lax regulations related to zoos, animals will often be treated quite poorly and in those countries, governments should introduce stricter regulations in order to protect these animals. WebZoos have been around for 4,000 years, for many years people have gone to zoos to see wild animals up close. In fact, especially people who work in demanding jobs for quite long hours every day often need time for themselves in order to reload their batteries. Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): [Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries. Their health degrades rapidly when conditions are not favorable to them, sometimes even incapacitating the animal under extreme circumstances. Then there are the circumstances where we try to profit off of their circumstances. 2. Some people say zoos are safe to place for animals to live because they do not have to seek for food to survive. Live feeding, often touted as positive since it encourages normal predatory behaviors, has a notable downside. Another disadvantage of zoos is that they often only offer quite poor living conditions for animals. While going to the zoo can be a great way to spend your time, zoos are often also quite popular and crowded and if you want to spend your time in a more relaxed manner, you may want to spend your leisure on other activities or attend rather unpopular zoos instead of crowded ones. Should we boycott or ban zoos? As unbelievable as this sounds, it is happening, and something should be done to stop such actions in the future. WebUltimately, the decision of whether or not to keep animals in zoos comes down to a balancing of the pros and cons. If you change your mind, you can change your vote simply by clicking on another option. If you want to use it you simply need toattribute it bylinkingto this page or tohttps://netivist.org. Many of them are reported every week in the media, however, the large majority are kept secret and those responsible are never held accountable or punished. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of zoos before we make up our minds. Another pro of zoos is their role in animal reproduction. How to Tell and What to Do, The Best Fertilizer for Indoor Plants and When to Use It, 7 Eco-Friendly Resorts for Sustainable Travelers, Where & How to Recycle Laptops and Why Its So Important, Everyday Palm Oil Products and Sustainable Alternatives, 6 Solutions to Deforestation and What You Can Do, The 15 Cutest Exotic Animals in the World. They opened in 1931. In the late 20th century, the narrative changed again to the conservation of animals to stave off extinction. This issue is indirectly related to environmental problems and is the source of heated debates taking place the world over. While there are many important advantages of zoos, the presence of zoos also implies some problems. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Zoo confinement is psychologically damaging to animals. New to netivist? When ecological conservation emerged as a matter of public interest in the 1970s, zoosbegan to engage in conservation programs. This is not only true for children, but also for many adults. Zoos pose several risks that particularly affect animals. Animal cruelty or protection? 20, 2017, US Fish & Wildlife Service, California Condor Population Information, fws.gov, May 7, 2018, Jan Flemr, Long Way Home as Przewalskis Horses Fly to Mongolia, phys.org, July 19, 2018, Jane Palmer, The Worlds Last Truly Wild Horse, bbc.com, Nov. 11, 2015, Lori Marino, et al., Do Zoos and Aquariums Promote Attitude Change in Visitors? 3. [4], Captive elephants live about half as long as wild elephants: 18.9 years v. 41.7 years for Asian elephants and 16.9 years v. 35.8 years for African elephants. [40], Controversy has historically surrounded zoos, from debates over displaying exotic humans in exhibits to zookeepers not knowing what to feed animals. Zoos provide 200,000 jobs with an annual budget of $230 million set aside for wildlife conservation. Lets try to understand the pros and cons of zoos through the following arguments. Should zoos be banned, or do they serve a positive purpose? Should zoos exist? Many animals in zoos also have a significantly lower life expectancy compared to animals who live in the wild. The only effective and sustainable way to save species is to support schemes that target the root cause of the extinction and endangerment of animals habitat destruction. Unlike their natural habitats where they can freely roam, these establishments keep them confined. The Roman Empire was founded in 27 BC, and many Roman emperors kept private zoo collections. However, critics say this doesn't justify their existence. 2021. This image was created for netivist.org. At the time, these institutions accommodated nearly 800,000 animals and 6,000 species, with around 1,000 on the endangered species list. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. However, through poaching, many animals have become endangered and may even become extinct in the near future. Banning zoos could go a long way toward halting this practice or at the very least reducing its impact on the natural world. Zoos save endangered species by bringing them into a safe environment, where they are protected from poachers, habitat loss, starvation, and predators. One strong argument for why zoos should be banned is it is intrinsically wrong to place animals in captivity. The size and complexity of the zoo system and the vast range of animals in their care mean this problem cant be solved easily. 3. You will not receive any promotional materials from third parties. (Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / aknourkova) Pros: When ecological conservation emerged as a matter of public interest in the 1970s, zoos began to engage in conservation programs. Zoos are also quite popular in many countries all over the world. One of the biggest reasons why zoos are bad is because there arent any proper laws to be followed when it comes to providing these animals with protection and as far as there isnt any, zoos should be banned. This article was published on August 13, 2021, at Britannicas ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source. Would you like to create a debate and share it with the netivist community? 9 Reasons Not to Visit Zoos 2022-11-17 Should zoos be banned facts Rating: 4,9/10 1414 reviews "Sab Din Hot Na Ek Saman" (meaning "Every day is the same" in English) is a common phrase that reflects the monotony and repetitive nature of daily life. Zoos also pose a risk to animal health. Zoos save species from extinction and other dangers. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 6 Powerful Prayers for Binge Eating Disorder, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. This is due to the fact that many zoos want to keep as many animals as possible to show them to the general public. Do they really help preserve endangered species or it is more a business and a cruel source of entertainment? Explore conservationist Damian Aspinalls opinion that zoos are outdated and cruel.. Not only can we benefit from the experience of learning about new animals and their habitats by visiting a zoo, but it also gives families an opportunity to spend time together while enjoying the outdoors. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Zoos can do an excellent job at conservation if they make the effort, but far too often profit is the primary motivation.