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Should zoos be banned worldwide?
Zoos are places people may visit to see different types of animals. Exotic, strong, mysterious species that one may not see anywhere else. But zoos might not always be what they seem to be. Not always are they “safe havens” for the many species that people fantasize about. Zoos aren’t always that “pretty.” Sometimes, instead of being a place where animals can flourish, they are a place where animals face potential harm. Zoos should be banned worldwide because they cause animals to suffer, mentally and physically. They limit species’ living space, and in a respective amount of zoos, animals are forced to serve as entertainment.
Animals are kept in enclosed spaces that do not suit their natural lifestyle. Zoos should be prohibited internationally because animals need to be able to live and flourish in their own respective environments. Conditions in zoos may differ greatly from conditions in natural habitats, suppressing the natural instincts of wild animals. Evidence states that “While the conditions at roadside facilities are certainly far worse than in AZA-accredited facilities, even the ‘best’ zoo setting can never recreate the complex environment that most species encounter in the wild or simulate all the stimuli which keep the animals active and alert.” (Born Free USA). Even though zoos can come extremely close to replicating natural habitats, it will never be able to create the same ‘feel’ of nature, or be able to drive the same survival instincts from animals. A man-made environment physically cannot compare to that of a natural environment. Negative pathologies can result from unsuitable living conditions as well. Animals can behave abnormally, or show signs of depression. “Other pathologies [include], [a]pathy, sadness, boredom[,] eating disorders… self-mutilation… excessive cleaning…” (Adda Ong). These are only a few of the pathologies resulting from captivity. With food, water, and shelter plentily provided, an animal might start experiencing zoochosis, or a repetition of same or similar behaviors and actions, which are detrimental to its health. Banning zoos worldwide can benefit the population of both endangered and non-endangered species alike.
Animals suffer mentally and physically in captivity. Zoos should be banned worldwide because of this. They limit species’ living space, and in a respective amount of zoos, animals are forced to serve as entertainment. “They provide animals with the smallest possible cages, limit access to veterinary care, and do not provide animals with the social companionship that animals need to be happy.” (IDA USA). This shows that animals are not only physically restricted but also emotionally harmed, as the lack of space, medical care, and companionship can lead to stress or depression. Animals in zoos also experience health problems due to confinement and a lack of natural simulation. “Captive whales and dolphins suffer from high mortality rates, low breeding success, and often endure physical and psychological disorders.” (Born Free USA).This shows that confinement shortens their lives and prevents them reproducing naturally. It proves that even intelligent, social animals cannot thrive in captivity. The lack of space, companionship, and illnesses of animals show that zoos harm both the mental and physical health of animals.
While some people believe that zoos harm animals mentally and physically, others believe otherwise. Some critics argue that zoos are a safe haven for animals, and that they provide protection for animals that are endangered. The source, Britannica, states “Corroboree frogs, eastern bongos, regent honeyeaters, Panamanian golden frogs, Bellinger River snapping turtles, golden lion tamarins, and Amur leopards, among others, have been saved from extinction by zoos… By keeping populations of animals and conducting wild re-population, zoos can help preserve species in danger from climate change.”(Britannica) While zoos do at times provide protection for species that are endangered, and while they do preserve animals from dangers such as climate change and deforestation from time to time, species being held at zoos doesn't always come with its own benefits. Sometimes, for species, zoos mean suffering, even death. In zoos, many animals are prone to death and diseases that can leave them suffering for an extended period of time. Wild species being exposed to diseases that they had never encountered in their natural habitats make them highly vulnerable. Also, bad treatment of the animals can lead to death. The source, Born Free USA, states “...Yet, the news abounds with stories of animals responding to the unnatural conditions at zoos, whether by escaping the confines of their enclosures or injuring a human, at times resulting in animals being killed, such as the well-known case of Harambe the gorilla, who was killed after a child entered his zoo enclosure…In addition, elephants can transmit diseases to humans, such as tuberculosis. For instance, an Asian elephant named Dondi, who was used to give rides at Southwick’s Zoo in Massachusetts, died of tuberculosis, which is transmissible to humans.” (Born Free USA)From the examples of Harambe the gorilla and Dondi the elephant, it is evident that some zoos do not exactly provide the protection that they are supposed to. For example, Harambe was killed because a child had slipped through the bars of his cage. Instead of tranquilizing him, they killed him. And in the case of Dondi, the elephant died of tuberculosis that was supposedly transmitted through contact with humans. In the end, it is clear that even though zoos strive to save and conserve endangered animals, it seems that these endangered species are more prone to death in zoos than in their natural habitat.
In conclusion, zoos should be banned worldwide due to their history of causing animals mental and physical suffering, the hardly suitable space that zoos offer, and the forced interactions and entertainment that species have to provide, often for a zoo’s own profit. Animals deserve to be in the wild, not behind bars. Take a stand today, be aware, and speak for those who can’t themselves.
