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Are zoos and aquariums really beneficial?

Have you ever thought about what happens to animals in zoos and aquariums? How do

animals feel when they are in cages with strangers staring at them? Or are people’s safety really

guaranteed? “Overall the 16 years that I have lived, there has been numerous amounts of

documents about animals being abused, neglected care, shot, caged, behavior worsening, and

people's deaths accumulating to animals in zoos and aquariums. That's not even the worst part,

for the past decades, there has been an increase in animal cruelty, showing zoos and aquariums

getting away with horrific crimes causing more zoos and aquariums to follow their example with

no punishment. Animals should not be in zoos and aquariums because it promotes animal

cruelty, animal behavior changes when held captive and people's safety in zoos and

aquariums are at risk.”

One of the reasons why animals should not be in zoos and aquariums is because

organizations overlook animal abuse promoting animal cruelty. According to Milman, In the

world leading zoo association accused of overlooking horrific cruelty, Zoos belonging to the

World Association have been filmed over the past five years making animals perform dangerous

tricks, confining them to inadequate premises and beating them, contrary to Waza code of ethics,

which demands the “highest standard of animal welfare”(Milman 1). This shows that over the

past five years, Wazas organization did nothing to prevent this cruelty, moreover, contradicts

their code of ethics statement. The article also states that,“Many of zoos and aquariums do take

the code of ethics seriously, but there's clearly a significant number that don’t and Waza itself

doesn’t take it seriously” (Milman 2). This quote is arguing that while some zoos and aquariums

do take the code of ethics seriously, there's a larger amount that do promote animal cruelty.
Another way it promotes animal cruelty is by forcing animals to stay in captivity for human

entertainment and education.

Zoos and aquariums forces animal to stay in captivity for human entertainment and

education. In the article, zoos promote cruelty, no matter what they claim, the very concept of

zoos is to force animals to stay in captivity away from their original families all for human

entertainment and education (Chanderdatt 1). This reveals that constrained animals leave their

families for entertainment and education. The article also states that, “The fact is that zoos are,

first and foremost, businesses. Whether or not they can afford appropriate housing and

maintenance for each animals is not a top priority”(Chanderdatt 2). This fact supports that

animal’s maintenance during captivity don't matter because animals, are businesses for zoos and

aquariums. The last piece of evidence of how zoos and aquariums promote cruelty is by

neglecting the animals care and treatment.

Zoos and aquariums neglect proper care and treatment for animals. In the article,

Mauling, Escapes and Abuse: six small zoos, 80 sick or dead animals, Over the past decade,

more than 80 animals have died, been injured or become ill because of neglect at the zoos, and

more than 200 others were kept in inhumane conditions, according to hundreds of pages of

federal inspection reports, interviews with keepers and court documents (Jouvenal 1). This

clarifies that because six small zoos neglect proper care and treatment for animals, there are now

dozens dead, injured, or kept in inhuman conditions. The article also states, “ That keepers with

no experience or little experience were asked to care for sick animals and even manage

birth,”(Jovenal 2). This supports the argument that zoos neglect in care and treatment for animals

causes others to do the same, thus promoting animals to die the worst way possible. The second
reason why animals should not be in zoos and aquariums is because it causes it causes high

levels of stress altering animal behavior.

Animals being captivated or held captivated are demonstrating high levels of stress. As

stated by Sample, Ian, Stress and lack of exercise are killing elephants, zoos warned, many of the

deaths are thought to be linked to obesity, because the animals are well fed but get very little

exercise in their small enclosures. Scientists also blamed high stress levels, which the animals

suffer most after being transferred between zoos and being separated from their mothers (Sample

1). This explains that animals in zoo enclosures cannot get enough exercise due to the inadequate

premises, making animals develop high levels of stress that kills them. Additionally animals torn

from their mothers tend to cause high levels of stress. The article moreover expresses that zoo

enclosures for elephants are typically 60 to 100 times smaller than the smallest wild territories

(Sample 2). This assists the dispute that, elephants in enclosure don't cover up their natural

habitat, causing elephants to have high levels of stress. Furthermore, animals in small groups or

alone can additionally alter animal behavior.

Zoos and aquariums are forcing animals into small groups making animals experience

abnormal behavior. In the article, elephants at risk of abnormal behavior because of small

groups, elephants in zoos are at risk of depression, according to a new study that found captive

animals are unhappy kept alone or in small groups (Gray 1). This displays the irrelevant

experience of herd animals staying in small groups. In addition to this, it can alter animal

behavior which as a result risk animals with depression. The article also proves that the research

found that most elephants in zoos still remain in groups of four or smaller. Scientists say this is

unnatural for the herd animals. It not only means young elephants cannot learn important socials

skills but many begin showing "abnormal behaviour" that suggests depression such as swaying
on the spot or pacing in circles (Gray 2). This fact states that animal behavior in herd changes

when put in small groups. Animal behavior can then change by the animals captive premises.

Animals held in inadequate premise result in animals acting stereotypical. The article,

what's keeping polar bear in zoo and aquariums does to these animals will shock you, shows that

animals in captivity are known to exhibit certain stereotypical behaviors, such as pacing,

associated with environmental stress (Pittman 1). This shows that due to the animal association

in their inadequate premise, it distributes a change in their behavior, therefore provoking animals

to act stereotypical. The article also states, “Whether animals are in cages at a small roadside zoo

or a large exhibit complete with grass and trees, they’re still unable to fully exhibit natural

behaviors, which can have a negative, and devastating, impact on their emotional well-

being,”(Pittman 2). This quote agrees that the animal's environmental stress on premises affects

animals behavior as a result of animals not having the proper premises. The last reason why

animals should not be in zoos and aquariums is because animals attend or attempt to escape from

their premises putting people's safety at risk.

Animals in captivity often attend or attempt to escape from their premises risking

people's safety. According to News, ABC, they're natural born killers: wild animals in captivity

in currently dangerous,"These animals are bored. They're smart, they're agile, they're emotional

and they're working 24/7 to get out of their prison because that's what they're in: a prison cell,"

said Mark Bekoff, a former professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of

Colorado (News 1). This confirms that because animals feel tortured everyday in captivity,

animals feel compelled to escape their enclosures due to the fact that animal's behavior and

emotions results them to act this way. The article next states,"I would not frankly want to live

around a zoo that has big cats in it now — they're bound to get out, it's just going to happen," he
said (News 2). "This quote supports the argument that animals in zoos and aquariums will escape

someday making people's lives at risk everyday. The other way how people's lives are put at risk

is by people's lack of responsibility.

People's lack of responsibility when visiting zoos and aquariums tend to provoke

incidents harming people and animals. In the article, Harambe death a stark reminder of zoos

accidents, Officials at the Cincinnati Zoo on Saturday shot and killed, a 17-year-old western

lowland gorilla, in an effort to protect a young child who had fallen into the enclosure (Greshko

1). This shows that because the parent wasn't watching her child carefully it ends up causing an

incident to happen to both gorilla and baby. Humans lack of responsibility tend to put animals

and other people in danger. The article further states, “On May 21, officials at Chile’s National

Zoo were forced to shoot and kill two lions, after a suicidal 20-year-old man jumped into the

enclosure (Greshko 2). This fact is supporting the argument that because people lack the

responsibility or right judgment when visiting zoos, visitors attend to risk people's and animals

lives. Another reason how people's lives are at risk is due to the fact that animals tends to turn

savage and attack.

The two graphs below represent the 3 reasons, how animals and people's lives are in

danger. The first graph shows an increase of big cat deaths and people's injuries over the past

five years of animals attempt of escapes and people's lack of responsibility. The second graph is

providing support for the first graph by giving information of circumstances that leads to animals

and peoples deaths or injuries. These two graphs explain that animals should not be in zoos and

aquariums because it causes harm to both humans and animals.

 Animals in zoos and aquariums turn savage when kept in captivity. In the article, Why

killer whales should not be kept in zoos and aquariums, the 2013 documentary Blackfish argued

that his violent outbursts were directly brought on by the stressful conditions of his captivity

(Hogenboom 1). The documentary Blackfish demonstrates a killer whale named Tilikum, that

killed his trainers and others, though he was not to blame because of the conditions the keepers

put on him. The article also states, “In line with this, several decades of observation show that

orcas are not naturally violent towards humans. There are no recorded cases of a wild orca

killing a human (Hogenboom 2).” This is supporting the argument that animals turn savage and

attack because of the conditions in their captivity. Stressful conditions causes animals to attack

and injure or kills people. Even though animals should not be kept in zoos and aquariums, some

people argue that animals should be kept for conservation, and education.

Zoos and aquariums conserves and educates both animals and humans. In the article by

Padle Ruth, Don't let good zoos go extinct, Since the 1970s wild animals' habitats have

disappeared. Responsible zoos have become places of education and science whose prime

concern is conserving the wild (Padle 1). This displays that due to animals loss of habitat, zoos

have become animal conservation allowing human to help and learn about animals wildlife, also

making zoos gain funds to help animals. The article then states, “Between 1998 and 2005, 12%

of dedicated tiger conservation funds came through zoos. London Zoo is run by the Zoological
Society of London (ZSL), a charity dedicated to conserving wild animals and where they live.

Ten percent of what ZSL invests in displaying gorillas and tigers goes to protect the same

animals in the wild (Padle 2). This supports the agreement that animals should be in zoos and

aquariums for conservation and education. However, what this argument fails to consider is the

fact we the humans were the ones who put the animals in danger by destroying their habitat

causing animals to be put in zoos and aquariums for conservation. That's not all destroying the

animals habitat forced animal into captivity, thus causing them to die younger. Last but not least,

what this article fails to consider is the fact that, although there are some zoos that are good for

animal, there is a large quantity of zoos that don't care promoting harm to animals and people

safety.

In conclusion the reason zoos and aquariums should not keep animals is due to the fact

that it allows animal abuse, changes in animal compartment worsening, and safety lapses in zoos

and aquariums threatens human lives. To be more specific animal abuse is often shown in news,

websites and everywhere. However despite the amount of evidence organization or people get

and seen, no one does anything to prevent it, therefore promoting animal abuse. Due to all the

animal abuse that was given, animals compartment worsens and as a result animal's started

experience symptoms of abnormal behavior. Additionally, after they received these symptoms

animals in turning savage, attacking, and escaping putting people's lives in danger. It is

important to not keep animals in zoos and aquariums for the safety of everyone.

Works Cited

Chanderdatt, Rachel. “Zoos Promote Cruelty, No Matter What They Claim.” The

Odyssey Online, Odyssey, 28 Aug. 2017.

 Gray, Louise. “Elephants in Zoos at Risk of Abnormal Behaviour Because of Small

Groups.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 23 Feb. 2009.

Greshko, Michael. “Harambe's Death a Stark Reminder of Zoo Accidents.” National

Geographic, National Geographic Society, 30 May 2016.

Hogenboom, Melissa. “Why Killer Whales Should Not Be Kept by .” BBC, Www.bbc.com, 10

Mar. 2016.

Jouvenal, Justin. “Mauling, Escapes and Abuse: 6 Small Zoos, 80 Sick or Dead

Animals.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 18 Sept. 2015. Milman, Oliver. “World's

Leading Zoo Association Accused of Overlooking Horrific Cruelty.” The Guardian,

Guardian News and Media, 24 Mar. 2015.

News, ABC. “'They're Natural Born Killers': Wild Animals in Captivity Inherently

Dangerous.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 28 Dec. 2007.

Padel, Ruth. “Don't Let Good Zoos Go Extinct.” The Guardian, Guardian News and

Media, 22 Mar. 2013.

Pittman, Arianna. “What Keeping Polar Bears in Zoos and Aquariums Does to These

Animals Will Shock You.” One Green Planet, Onegreenplanet, 10 May 2017,

Sample, Ian. “Stress and Lack of Exercise Are Killing Elephants, Zoos Warned.” The

Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 11 Dec. 2008.