Jessica Itabashi

Jamie McBeth-Smith
English-1010-028
April 30, 2015
The Secret of Zoos: Annotated Bibliography
Zoos have become popular among us as a wholesome family activity or school trip that I
believe becomes a memory we all cherish. However, we often hear about animals escaping from
their locations, which could be sometimes be amusing and hilarious, but could also be very
dangerous because the more violent or carnivorous animals may attack humans resulting in death
for either the person or the animal being shot to death. There is also the issue of the animals
dying from stress in the zoos after being taken from the wild. Others also argue that zoos are
necessary because it provides a sanctuary for the endangered animals to preserve the species.
Whether to enhance the programs of zoos or to diminish the ideas of captivating animals, I
believe this is an issue in our society that most of us are not aware of including I, and so I have
done some research to understand more about this topic to determine what the best solution
might be. Here are some of my findings:
"10 Facts about Zoos." Captive Animals Protection Society. N.p., 03 Mar. 2010. Web. 30 Apr.
2015.
This article is written in 10 short sections which titles include: animals suffer in
zoos, surplus animals are killed, animals are trained to perform tricks, animals are still
taken from the wild, and zoos dont serve conservation. It lists many examples and data

concerning each topic to support their claims. The article focuses on the zoos inability to
provide sufficient living qualities for the animals, such as space, or psychological
stability, and also how zoos do not treat the animals humanly by selling lions and other
species to the circus, allowing them to die, or cull surplus animals. The piece is written
from the perspective of European zoos, or UK zoos in specific, and speaks of the irony of
how zoos claim to protect endangered species by spending a lot of money, but in reality
most of the money is used to confine animals while their natural habitats are being
destroyed because of insufficient funds.
This article is written by Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS) which is an
organization who upholds animal rights by strongly disagreeing to the ideas of circuses,
zoos and exotic pet trade. They perform research and investigations of their own, which
is their primary information for the article, for the purpose to raise awareness of current
situations to the public. Although their research is reliable, this source becomes more
credible by incorporating ideas and data from various other organizations and researches.
The format of separating the article into ten short sections with bold titles intrigues the
reader, especially younger audiences, to continue reading to learn more. However,
because it is focusing on the malicious spectrum of zoos, it causes the article to appear
single-minded and unaware of the other side of the argument.
Similar to the article from PETA, it provides strong reasoning to why zoos are not
good. I can use the information in it to support the claims of abolishing zoos as well as a
source to reintroduce an idea of promoting natural habitats in the wild. The article game
me another perspective that we dont have the two extremes of zoo or no zoo, but we

could still be involved with protecting the animals while they are still in the wild. In that
sense, it is similar to Garry Sheens article about how we should switch to protecting the
natural habitats.
"How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?" Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 28
Apr. 2015.
The article, How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?, talks about how there are
more to zoos then just displaying animals to the public. It makes aware that most zoos are
involved in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZAs) to promote the program of
Species Survival Plan (SSP). This programs aim is to protect species that are diminishing
in numbers by managing and monitoring the breeding of them, to achieve the final goal to
reintroduce the species into the wild like they have for the black-footed ferrets, California
condors, and red wolves, and working on 181 other different species. They acknowledge
that the program is still a work in progress, but also note that AZA zoos are a substantial
help because they provide as diversity into the genetics, and a hospitable location to keep
the animals. They believe that zoos are one of the great ways to keep diminishing species
populated, and propose that they in fact are beneficial to the animals.
This article was written by the scientific American magazine, which is a wellknown magazine that concerns current scientific issues. Because it is a well-known
magazine, and is published as a scientific article, the information is very credible. The
article relates to the common reader by writing in a form of answering a question, which
was presented by a woman in Seattle in the beginning of the piece. With the fact that zoos
are a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and are benefiting animals all over

through a program called the Species Survival Plan, the article makes clear that multiple
zoos are participating, and not just the few elite zoos. It does convince the reader that
zoos are helping many animal species by providing examples of animals they have
helped and numbers of animals they are currently assisting.
I did not know that there was an association among zoos and aquariums that
collaborate to protect species collectively. I did gain another perspective that zoos are in
fact making efforts to help conserve species through programs, and not just saying that
they do. With the firm data they have provided of the animals they have saved, I will be
able to add this to my synthesis as a strong supportive source for zoos. It does cause me
to think about how many zoos are participating and how much funding is required for the
program, and also how they accumulate the money. The article has changed my opinion a
little by showing me that there are still hope in zoos.
Sheen, Garry. "The Safest Place for an Animal Is Its Natural Habitat Not a Zoo." Theguardian.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
The journal by Garry Sheen speaks about his viewpoint on Dartmoor zoo owner
Ben Mee who believes that the only way to conserve and protect animals is by keeping
them behind bars. Mee believes this because of the increasing number of dangers in their
natural habitats including conduct with the locals and poachers. However Sheen, as a
member of the Captive Animals Protection Society, argues that zoos in fact do not
protect animals but rather causes the animals to suffer by not providing the basic
necessities of life. He concludes with the idea that zoos are not protecting and conserving

animals, but just keeping them behind bars, and that we need to use those resources of
zoos towards keeping the natural habitats protected to conserve animals.
The journal The Safest Place for an Animal Is Its Natural Habitat, written by
Captive Animals Protection Society member Garry Sheen, is a piece written as a reaction
to zoo owner Ben Mee who believes zoos are the only way to protect animals. Although
Sheen is a CAPS member, because it is a journal entry with his personal opinion as his
main point, it is no very credible. He does provide information concerning the opposite
point of view, which is to uphold zoos, but does not support his belief to protect natural
habitats of the animals.
Sheens article opposes to the idea of zoos, but integrates the idea of protecting
the natural habitats instead of promoting zoos. I found this idea to be the best solution,
although it doesnt answer my initial question. I can use this in my synthesis by
introducing the idea as a conclusion to my solution.
Thomas, Mike. "Study Shows Zoos Have Big Economic Impact - San Antonio Business
Journal." Widgets RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
Reporter Mike Thomas identifies the impact that zoos have on the economy in his
article, Study Shows Zoos Have Big Economic Impact. He begins with stating the
economic benefits in the AZA-accredited zoos in Texas alone, which they generate
$884.2 million in economic activity, employ almost 9000 people, and provide $312.1
million in salaries. He basis his article on the study by a nationally recognized economist,
Stephen Fuller, who says These benefits accumulate and expand the economys total

output which is referring to the zoos annual spending generating more money flow in
the jurisdictions they are located. Mike continues to state the nationwide benefits, but
focuses on the San Antonio Zoo in particular, referring to the amount of money it spends,
salaries paid, number of people who come to the zoo, and students who visit through a
school trip.
This is a good source because it does not bring in any personal emotions, but
strictly facts from an economist worded so the public may understand. Reporter, Mike
Thomas, writes for the San Antonio Business Journal, and wrote this piece for the
audience of the public in San Antonio who is interested in the business and economy. He
focuses strictly on how zoos affect the economy, mainly in San Antonio with one of the
largest zoos, and concludes that it is very beneficial for the area that the zoo is located
because it generates a greater money flow.
This is a whole different angle on zoos because it is not focused on the practices
of the zoos, but about how it impacts the economy because of its business. Despite what
may be happening inside of the gates of the zoo, it does benefit a community by
increasing the money flow and make the economy better. I can use this as a supportive
evidence for why zoos may be a benefit for our society, alongside with the article about
the association of zoos to protect endangered animals.
"Zoos: Pitiful Prisons." PETA. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.
In the article, Zoos: Pitiful Prisons, by PETA, they argue that zoos are more
harmful to the animals than beneficial. The article focuses on the fact that zoos operate to

make more money, which they need to attract people to gain a profit, then leads them to
spend their finances on landscaping and souvenir stores rather than on the living qualities
of the animals. There are several examples of how the animals suffer because of their
treatments such as bears pacing around in circles or other psychological distress
symptoms known as zoochosis, elephants only living about a fourth of their estimated
regular life span because of being in zoos, and many animals being shot to death because
they escape out of their locations. They say that zoos are more for entertainment, proven
by a study of the short duration of time people spend at each animal not sufficient to learn
anything written on the plaques of information. Zoos also do not focus on the
preservation of endangered species as they claim because they tend to keep the exotic and
popular animals to attract more customers. In the end, they urge people not to support
zoos by not visiting them or offering any donations, but rather support the facilities and
organizations that preserve and protect animals in the wild and their natural habitat.
PETA is an organization known as the People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals, which is the largest animal rights organization with more than 3 million
members and supporters. They mainly focus in the areas of farms, animal testing and
entertainment to protect animal rights through legislation, protest, animal rescue,
investigations, and public investigation. By having a strong back ground and evidence for
their opinion about how the ideas of zoos are not beneficial and the ideas of them should
be abandoned, it makes the article very supportive to their claims. The source is
convincing because it does not bluntly accuse zoos for their practices, but also provides
reasoning for why they need to perform these acts. For example they state that zoos have

to cut funding for the animals treatment and living quality for landscaping and shops so
they can attract more guests so they can gain revenue.
This article answers my question by clearly stating that zoos should be abolished
because of their malicious practices. It made me aware of some facts about zoos that to
be honest shocked me because of their disgusting attributes. I can use this in my synthesis
as a reference for being against zoos in general, and as a source for reasons why zoos are
not a desirable industry.
Through my research I have found that there are malicious practices in zoos, such as
selling unwanted babies or killing the surplus, keeping them in confinement until they get
psychological distress, or neglecting to care for them. Zoos are also an industry that requires a
tremendous amount of money to operate, so to attract customers they have to result to use their
money on attractions not on the physical care for the animals, but this can also benefit the society
because they are increasing the flow of money in that area. There is also an AZA association
present among zoos to help promote the protection of species. However, I have found that
reducing zoos only for the purpose of education, and focusing on helping the animals
conservation by protecting the natural habitats is the best solution for my question of how we
should improve the zoo program to be most beneficial to our society.