For many people, the zoo is a source of childhood amazement and fond memories: swinging monkeys, laughing hyenas and growling tigers. Conservationists say zoos advance their educational and preservationist efforts, but others see zoos as prisons where innocent creatures are unjustly held captive. The next time your child asks you to take them to the zoo, what will your answer be?
Well, firstly we have to lay out the different pro's and con's about keeping the animals in cages because, between keeping them in cages/zoos and or releasing to the wild, there is no "correct" answer.
If we keep them in zoos, the thing is that they will have much resources and supply, not to mention for some educational purposes. Some zoos are trying its best to create an environment similar to that of their original habitat, however none can be exactly the same as the habitat. But, it does have some similar effects, like learning how to interact with other animals (unless if the animal is placed separately) or maybe even differentiate what is right and wrong, "humanly" speaking. Some zoos can give almost everything the animal needs which is good and that animals should be kept there, because nowadays, some animals can't find sufficient food supply/water supply or a good location for rest, thus resulting in a hard life and maybe even death. And by "hard life", I did not mean that animals will never have a hard life once they are placed in zoos/cages, however at least there is a certain percentage of preventing it from happening frequently. On the other hand, some zoos do not provide the best qualities or resources for the animal, thus resulting in various diseases and maybe even cause them to be badly educated, thus may result in death for our human population and etc.
Now because of some zoos in which do not provide the sufficient resource or needs for the animals, contradictions rise to this because the animals don't deserve such treatment. Therefore, some would want the animals to be free. The good thing is that it will learn who "it" really is, whether it was meant to kill, whether it was meant to be a vegetarian or etc. As the habitat is most suitable for them, they can adapt well to their environment and may learn how to depend on themselves or their animal parents rather than to depend on us as they can never learn how to survive without any help. Also, they can be free, and roam around the areas and experience more things rather than to sit in a zoo in the same old mundane, monotonous environment. However, the thing is that if they are educated in a way that it has to hunt to kill (such as Tigers in which they learn how to hunt for food), and that since we share our world with them, they may try to kill us when we encounter them. Now some people would say that they won't encounter them. They are most likely wrong unless for certain rare cases such as that they stay in their homes forever or being overly-protected and that it lasts forever. The percentage of you not encountering them may be high, but that doesn't mean you will never encounter them. So if they kill some of us, our human population will decrease and since we spend almost millions of dollars helping out with the population today, it wouldn't be worth it if one of us die because we are killed by animals.
Through the above mentioned, it is hard to say whether they SHOULD or MUST be kept in zoos because both are good and bad in their own different ways, therefore the only answer is whether the government or the agency comes with a final statement or confirmation of doing such. But overall, I support both while depending on their own pros and cons.
Zoos in my oppinion should stop looking for new animals to capture and torture. I will never take my child to a zoo. They go against moral values and God's law!!! Zoos need to take care of what they have until they pass and then SHUT DOWN!! They have no right to capture animals that they have in their midst. They're beautiful creatures that need to be left alone in the wild. That is where these creatures belong
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If animals should not be kept in the zoos, then animals should not be kept as pets as well. Animals belong in the wild for their natural purpose (because all living things have one whether we understand it or not). Dogs and cats have not received the best treatment they could receive, some of them developing dog and feline tumor out of human carelessness towards their pets.
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Sherwin Chen
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my interview on the matter.
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Michael Lanfield
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Who are we to speak for the animals? Does anyone know what goes inside the mind of another creature (or another human being for that matter?) I don't like the idea of animals being kept in cages for entertainment, but educational purposes. However, I do enjoy going to the zoo with my family and friends.
All in all, I feel highly unqualified to speak for the animals, seeing as how they never elected me as their spokesperson..
they carnt runn around and catch their preditor think wht u could do people can help by adopt one and they can more things help them they need us when u go to the zoo ur there to look not scare the animals or tease them if tht was u wht will u do think about it u might change ur mind
I say yes to the animals in zoos. I love animals in all. but what kind of society would we be if we just assumed the animals are unhappy or happy in the Zoo? Just think about it the animals in the zoo were more then likely born there or was orphaned at a young age an was raised in the zoo. so wouldn't the animals be unable to care for themselves they wouldn't know how to hunt, scavenge, protect themselves. The animal could be so use to humans and would find a village go in there thinking that they would feed them and be friendly but end up dead. So what kind of society would we be if we assume the animal would be okay or no. Animals in zoos are Educational to the younger generation and its been around for ever so why get rid of it now.
well i would like to see you in a cage having food when they tell you even if its dirty or not why would you say yes if they probably are bored to deaf alone or with couple people and also animals are qettinq extict!
i think Animals in zoo's Should be let go!
Many animals need freedom! Would you like it if you were kept in a cage? many animals want to be like any other animals free and hunt and be on there own. other people think its safe for them but are they really safe?
my names joe moreland and raping animals is wrong and gross!!!
zoos are never going to go away. they will always be here. so the question is how can we justify what ever it is that peta (ect) is saying is wrong with zoos, this is the answer. hire ex- animal rights activists. hsus, aspca, peta, yes. even people from the (alf) animal liberation front. to put it another way, animals in zoos should be treated as you would want to be treated if you were that animal.
Those who say zoos are bad are being far too general (as they are well aware). Here's my proposal: I'll support the release of all animals from zoos if they are replaced by wingnut PETA activists.
When animals die in the zoo after a long and healthy life, who gets the carcasses? I ask this because of the beautiful Tiger in the article picture. Is there an auction, or a lottery? Because I might be interested in purchasing the carcass or merely the pelt to decorate my home. I already have many beautiful wild animal pelts, but some animals are very difficult to get a permit to shoot in the wild.
Any information you have would be very helpful.
Jack Hanna has made a fairly good living for himself promoting animals in captivity.I can see why he finds nothing wrong with it.
Hanna might have begun with good intentions long ago but probably has talked himself into seeing nothing wrong because he only views the animals as a means to an end for his career. They're just commodities to him. If he really cared about the lives of animals, he'd fight to preserve their freedom in the wild and would have a great legacy as an animal activist (like Bob Barker). Instead he defends SeaWorld and even circuses, despite endless documented cruelties to the animals. He recently said that many people say they enjoy SeaWorld. No doubt he's right. But that pleasure comes at the expense of the animals. If most people realized how much misery the animals suffer, they'd boycott these glorified prisons . Yeah, a big paycheck and media popularity cloud a person's basic sense of right and wrong.
Zoo must give more room and privacy for the animals and above all
peace and quiet from human's loud and rude noises. Zoos must very soon
turn the zoo into a sanctuary where both animals and humans can ber
happy. Too many zoos think they must please the public, but, believe
me, this is so very, very wrong. If animals are happy and doing what
they normally would do in the wild, then people are happy and have
something interesting to talk and write home about. Zoos must change
for the better and very, very soon. In fact it costs less to have a
more natural environment for the animals than it does to build
simulated junk that make both animal and people depressed.
zoos have saved over 100 endangered animals , and scientist are able to mimic the habitat mostly, plus
animals have a better life expectancy and infant mortality rate in zoos.
the real danger: PEOPLE!
I Find It Odd How Some People Will Argue That Zoos Are Necessary For ''Species Conservation''. If Man Didn't Hunt Animals To The Brink Of Extinction,Factory Farm (The #1 Cause Of Global Warming,The Cause Of Avian Flu,Swine Flu,Etc.)etc. Mankind Wouldn't Have To Take Such Drastic Measures As Keeping Zoos,Artificial Insemination & Cloning To Try And Save A Dying Species! Wild Animals Should Be Kept In The Wild,If You Want To See The Animals,Go To Nature..Or Get A Book At The Library!
well said my friend.
Some animals should be kept in zoos ; matter of fact, zoos have kept several species from going extinct. Some animals should not. Cheetahs were made for speed, which implies open spaces, not for sitting in a cage.
Indeed there is much to be learned from animals in zoos, and this should not be put off. The idea of 'enslavement' is hilarous; would you like to be near the polar bear exhibit when the 'cage' broke? You would be dead.
Zoos also serve as hospitals. Many wild animals are treated at zoos, kept for a while as they regain their strength, then released . But to keep an animal for its entire lifetime in an area that is much, much too small for it is very questionable.
Many of the animals kept in zoos would be extinct otherwise. Zoos primarily preserve, protect and try breed endangered animals. Many of the animals in zoos were born in the zoo and are not wild. They might never adapt to the wild. I am vegan, I am want animals not to be property, but if the choice is between extinction and being in a zoo , I think I would rather the animal was taken care of in a good zoo with proper vet care and good food .
If there was no loss of habitat, no poachers, and species were not dying out - then great- we could release all the animals.
They are fine. Some zoo's suck, but for the most part they are fine. They are treated like a dog in your home. You probably trained it somehow you love it you keep it in your home or yard.. AKA Cage. You'll never set it free. All of this and you're not even being paid to do it. Zoo keepers and their animals at the zoo have the same type of relationship.
When a Kid goes to a zoo they see up close an animal that is new and amazing to them. They can learn alot more about the animal by watching TV, but they wont care as much about the animal as if they see it up close. Zoo's give children sympathy for the animals they see.
I just took my children to the zoo last month.They liked it better then disney world.For the most part there was not any long lines to stand in.
And it did look as thou the zoo keepers and the animals at the zoo have the same type of relationship
that the whole world is just a giant zoo at this point? The real question becomes "What size zoo is appropriate"?
Zoo associates can make the argument that zoos enable people to get closer to wild animals without having to travel thousands of miles, but its not natural. Animals dont deserve to be in cages in the middle of skyscrapers and traffic. Visitors of zoos aren't even looking at the real thing, they are looking at a product of what, us humans, have made. You can learn more about lions, for example, through a wildlife documentary on the National Geographic Channel, where lions are in there natural habitat, than some sleeping lion at the zoo. Conservation to an endangered species is a good point in why we have zoos but this is also flawed, the only reason we have conservation is because once again humans have damaged the natural world of animals through deforestation and poaching. Animals should be studied in the wild, if it takes traveling to the ends of the earth ,so be it, you will be observing nature at its purest which is how it should be kept. Conservation should not be put in captivity, because the species will be more and more influenced by humans depriving animals from the true wild spirit, who knows maybe decades or centuries from now tigers will be the new domesticated house pet. Of course zoo keepers all over the country are not just going to open their cages and set all the animals back free, partly because the animals themselves wouldnt be able to survive by themselves in the wild, but zoo assocites should try to keep animals in their natural habitat as much as possible.
-- just a voice for animals..
because animlas need
to be heard
too :)
I don't remmember what the name of the zoo was when I went when i was a little kid, but it was a 10000 acre reserve that was open range for animals to roam freely throughout the park. Guests toured the zoo by taking trucks through the park and to different places where the animals usually roamed. I think this is an acceptable way of keeping animals in zoos . If the animals can move around freely in a simulated non cramped environment , I don't see what is wrong with that. Zoos promote research on animals, and education to teach kids how to help the environment and svae dying animal species. In the wild if a certain animal is going exctinct, they have a much better chance of surviving in a zoo. That is why I think zoos are acceptable in society
stop thinking about how zoos are good for education or conservation
think about how the animals in zoos feel
how do they feel to be imprisoned for no reason?
How do you determine how an animal feels? I assume you have an idea of how you might feel if "imprisoned with no reason." Can you explain how you would get an answer from an animal?
As I understand it, very little is know about what and how animals "feel." Less is known about how a human can make sense of what an animals "feels" without comparing them to humans. It's a tough riddle. How do you scientifically solve it?
of animals and even their moods are very easy to read for a person that spends their time with the animals. It is not hard to discern the feelings of an animal without applying a humanistic metric. Of course we will still use the same words like frustrated, sad, or angry but that does not mean that we gauge an animal by how a human would respond. Animal psychology is an extremely valuable tool. I don't mean psychotherapy for your cat. I am referring to animal biologists understanding the natural emotions of each animal in question.
While it may be harder for a behaviorist to figure out the diggings of an ant than it is to monitor a temper tantrum of an orangutan, it's not hard to discern the moods or mental health of animals. Do you have a dog?
Let's face it..the animals are imprisoned due to the entertainment that many individuals feel they need. There have been numerous situations where the animals either did not, or could not receive the proper care they needed to maintain a healthy life. The other issue..How many have been attacked by one of these animals? No matter the reason, it should have never happened. How is captivity good for any animal?
I remember going to a game ranch near my home several years ago. I was excited when I arrived, and disgusted when I left! All the animals there looked quite unhealthy, but what really got me was a mountain lion imprisoned inside a 15 x 15 cage with a bare cement floor. This majestic cat, whose typical range approaches hundreds of miles, was trapped in a filthy cell. It really bothered me to see all the ignorant people just enjoying the hell out of this mountain lion who just laid there, uninterested.
ALL problems with animals are due to humans encroaching on their habitat. I get so angry when a wild animal is summarily executed for roaming close to humans and following their predatory instincts. We are killing animals and then blaming them for it!
A game ranch is not a zoo and bears NO comparison to a zoo.
And, you are correct that humans are encroaching on the habitat of wild animals .
That is actually the primary reason for most endangered and threatened animals.
Let's stop making a human-created problem worse. Let's protect animals in the wild, where they evolved to adapt in their own ecological niche.
Ideally, this is the best solution. But, given that many species are nearly extinct and many more will soon be extinct, isnt it better they were saved, even if it meant depriving them of liberty? At least animals in a zoo get good veterinary care, are protected and some are eventually released into the wild. If a very endangered species like the snow leopard were to be protected in a zoo, I think it is preferable to allowing it to become extinct.
Aren't we already protecting them by taking them from other zoos instead of the wild.
Silly people
Let's say I want to open my own zoo for a business and make money. Let's say I get my animals legally, by purchasing them or if allowed by trapping them with a license..or however. Then I make the cages to keep them in and I charge people to come see them. Wow, this is my business. I make money. I own the land, the zoo, the animals. Period. I can do what I want with them. I can also do what I want with the money I make from the zoo..so perhaps I donate it to a habitat charity - or I hire scientist to work with the animals to develop better ways to keep the animals healthy- because they are my property and I want to keep them alive to my business runs well. So..its really not about the animals - its about the zoos. Of course if there was a State or Federally run zoo --well I would really be frightened for those animals - we all know how government run property ends up (look at how HUMANS can barely make it on government welfare support---let alone some tigers!)
Personally though I wouldn't start a zoo.. - wild animals - let them live in the wild. If we are worried about their survival in the wild - poaching..we need to address the black market for these animals ---get rid of the black market for hides and tiger's penises and we'll prolly fix stuff.
Zoos are under very strict guidelines established by law and the USDA inspects zoos on a routine basis. The housing for the animals is inspected as well as every aspect of their care. Zoos are NOT allowed to do anything they want with their animals. They have very strict record keeping and accounting that is required for EACH and EVERY animal in their care.
Many people apparently do not understand that animals in zoos are primarily domestic bred and not snatched from the wild. Perhaps their parents or ancestors were wild, but not most of the animals we see today in zoos. Zoos also partner with conservation entities and support conservation projects for animals in the wild. In some cases zoos are responsible for saving representatives of endangered species. So, should animals be kept in zoos? YES. That is a major way that the general public learns about animals and thru this learning they become familiar with conservation projects and then can choose to donate to help support animals in the wild.
Keeping animals in zoos, entrapped in a small, artificial atmosphere, depriving them of their instincts to survive, to hunt, taking every purpose out the animal's life itself - that is how zoos work.
They strip animals bare of, if it exists, their dignity, just to entertain the masses. to have ever seen a noble panther "in real life", seeing him sleeping or walking up and down his small cage, waiting for insanity to kick in, wating for something to relieve him from this prison.
Sure, zoos do ensure the existence of animals that are endagered and whose habitats cannot sustain them, but what is the price the animals pay for existing? I don't call that living, vegetating a lifetime. Sometimes it sure would be better to not cling too much on the existence of an animal, but to let it die or even go extinct in dignity. If we took all the money from the zoos and put it in animal protection, there would be no need of them at all.
The attitude you take sounds much like what a poacher of wild animals would think. If they can't survive, let them go extinct? I prefer to fight the masses of people that are encroaching, killing, poisoning, and destroying wildlife at every corner of the globe, through captive conservation. If you really believe that money will solve the issue, you are in need of some social education . People will pay for education and entertainment , better housing , and safe places for the little humans to go. That often means encroachment of wild areas, and the destruction of eco-systems. Animal protection is what zoos do. When did you last visit a zoo? Small enclosures are not the norm anymore.
"If we took all the money from the zoos and put it in animal protection, there would be no need of them at all."
Are you saying that if we foreclosed on all the zoos (most of which are operating at a loss according to one of these arguments), auctioned their property to the highest bidder and used that money to protect animals we could stop animal extinction?
Apart from being illegal, (talk about depriving someone of something), I don't think there'd be nearly enough money to counteract the economic situations that are driving people to hunt animals and develop the land they live on (care to vacate your home so an animal can live there?)
In short I think that zoos are a fine place for animals. Where people who love animals and want to see them and protect them is a great place for them. We should be complaining about crappy zoos that are too small and applauding great zoos that are large and allow animals to have all the benefits of wild life without the dangers that exist there.
I've also seen first hand these beautiful creatures pacing, pacing, pacing back and forth in small cages, deprived of their natural instinct to run, hunt and live their lives in their natural environment. It's not pretty, and CANNOT be compared to criminals in prison. A lot of those criminals have better lives in prison than they would being free. Television, education, exercise, 3 meals a day.and on and on. Plus the fact that prisoners have a choice! They chose to be in prison by committing a crime...what crime did those beautiful 4 legged beings commit?
Animals in zoos are (99%) born into a captive environment , and therefore are not being punished, but procreated. In the wild many species are being poisoned, hunted, and persecuted through encroaching human settlement. Many captive animals live far longer than the same species would survive in the wild, and many are kept in a safe , comfortable, and inspired way. Stressed animals walk, even in the wild. I have seen first hand a thin leopard walking fast through the wild in Africa, fear of running into lions, another leopard, or not finding food clearly a part of his daily life. Who are you to decide which is better? Why can't the species have both? Some will be happy and thrive, others will not accept the fate that has been given them, whether they are born wild or captive. The wild leopard is forced to kill - a skill they are taught by mother - perhaps it would prefer to be a meat eater that doesn't see the face of what it eats, like so many humans are.
Education is, of course, important. However, if visitors do appreciate and respect animals, they would respect the animals' freedom too. Most visitors would want to visit the zoo again because they are more than amused by the antics that the trainiers have taught them. The animal shows and rides attract more visitors than those kept in cages, as they get to interact with the animals and they laugh at the funny tricks or 'talents', which were actually taught by trainers.
Just like our understanding of true love, being wishing the ones that you love happiness, only those who truly love them will start making a change for them.
Another point is preventing extinction. Do we really wish for joy for the species, or is it just a challenge to keep as many species alive as possible? Perhaps they would be happy not living on this earth, fighting for their own survival, while we are forcing their kind to live on.
I am not in the position to say anything yet, but I hope you will think about i
Why must we assume such ridiculous things in these discussions? It becomes apparent that those who would challenge PETA on the grounds that "they want to release all animals from zoos, today" are either consciously mischaracterizing the argument, are being purposefully dense, or are ignorant and therefore shouldn't involve themselves in the conversation.
anyone has the right to live independent life whether animals or human beings. So, in my opinion this is not fair. the animals should be free from any prison. consider if for 1 day you are put into jail or prison what you will feel. Definitely, you wish to come out as soon as possible. so as are the animals.
Please, protect the animals being make of fun
Muhammad Sajid
Consider the life long inmates in prisons . There are many now in prison that like it there, and are not comfortable in our "civilized" society . Consider the walls you put up around yourself, that keep you from the whole of the world. Is violence, starvation, and fear a part of your every day life? It is for most animals . Not for most animals in zoos though.
What would you prefer: 1) To be put up, free of charge in a 5 star hotel where there was free room service, no parasites, no predators or thugs to hunt you--where you had food , water and medical treatment
or 2) to be left out on the street in your natural habitat - no food, shelter or clothes.
Yes you would have food water safety ect. but sitting there all day??? You could have kids, take care of babies, and feel like you accomplished at least one thing in your life. But no you have shots so you cant have kids and your all by yourself, sitting in a small cage ( five star hotel??), and staring at little kids making faces at you and banging the glass just to get you to do something. Fun