Critical Thinking

Teddy Beamer

Green

4/3/17

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, must receive a

higher budget and require spot checks of zoos because of the high rate of death of

zoo animals, the physical abuse of animals by zoos, and the higher risk of animals
having health problems while being held in captivity. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA),

put in place in 1966, regulates animal treatment in research, transport, and

exhibition, and is a division of APHIS. The government must address violent actions

committed by zoos toward animals.

Using exotic animals for entertainment became popular during the late 19th

and early 20th century, and has remained popular until now (Evans). Over time, it

has become apparent to the media and many humanitarians that zoos are not as

animal friendly as they appear. Due to a strong push from the public, legislation was

passed in the 1960s to protect animals used for entertainment, resulting in the

creation of the Animal Welfare Act (Evans). The AWA, however, has been attacked

by activists for regulating minimal standards that are being minimally enforced

(Evans). The AWAs rules are currently being enforced by APHIS, which has also

been questioned on whether their intentions are truly beneficial for all animals in

captivity. One of the main ways of checking for issues in zoos is through spot

checks by officials who inspect in order to ensure that nothing out of the ordinary is

occurring (Royston). The main problem is that spot checks are expensive, and are

only conducted if a formal complaint is filed (Royston). If the budget for APHIS was

raised, from the 29 million dollars they received in 2015, spot checks could be

conducted much more often (Royston). One of the main criticizers of the AWA and

APHIS is the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). HSUS also criticizes

state anti-cruelty laws for not being proactive, and for not meeting standards

(Evans). HSUS has also advocated for a ban of mental or physical abuse that can

inflicted upon animals by zookeepers. APHIS would be able to be more proactive

and make massive amounts of change, especially through spot checks, if the

funding given was increased.

In zoos, a considerable number of animals are killed by people, rather than

from natural causes. Many animals are euthanized, more commonly known as a

mercy killing, when the animals life and/or conditions are considered inhumane. It

is often the zoos fault, however, for putting the animals into such conditions in the

first place (Farinato). In one particular case, a bobcat was euthanized after it was

noticed to walk with a limp, which was discovered post-mortem to be caused by an

ingrown claw, a problem with a simple solution (Farinato). A pair of zebras also died

of starvation because they were given an insufficient amount of the wrong food

(Farinato). Both the case with the bobcat and the zebras occurred in the National

Zoo, in Washington D.C., where several other strange and random deaths of

animals have occurred, including the death of two red pandas and a black pygmy

hippo. These events occurred under the tenure of zoo director Dr. Lucy H Spelman,

whose job it is to monitor the wellbeing of all animals. These animals could have

survived if proper inspection and funding went to APHIS so more spot checks can

be conducted.

Zoo animals are also physically abused by zoo keepers and owners who

blatantly break rules put in place by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

and Animal Welfare Act. A jarring example of this abuse from zookeepers took place

at a roadside zoo named Tiger Safari in Oklahoma where four baby tiger cubs

were taken from their mother, were punched, kicked, choked, dragged, and tossed
when they did not cooperate at a photoshoot, and were fed insufficiently and denied

meat regularly so

as they could be subdued easily (Amini). They contracted coccidia, giardia,

ringworm, urinary tract infections, and a contagious zoonotic disease, and were not

taken to veterinarians even when fecal tests came back positive for these diseases

(Amini). A two day investigation by the USDA found that the zoo had violated the

Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide veterinary care, adequate shelter to protect

animals from extreme cold temperatures, a proper diet, and drinking water,

separation of incompatible animals, and an adequate number of trained employees

(Amini). Spot checks provided by APHIS can eliminate situations similar to these in

the future, to protect animals purposefully put in danger and with higher funding,

APHIS will be able to conduct more spot checks.

Animals in captivity are more likely to contract diseases and have higher risk of

experiencing health problems. Keeping carnivores in captivity is bad for them, as

they normally cover large areas of land in which they are captive (Evans). As a

result, they can have reproductive and behavioral problems, which are believed to

be due to the small area of land (Evans). Many zoo animals also suffer

psychological problems caused from distress, such as rocking back and forth or

pacing repeatedly (CAPS). Gus, a polar bear at the Central Park Zoo, swam in

continuous loops around his cage for twelve hours a day while afflicted with

zoochosis, leading to him receiving $250,000 worth of behavioral therapy (Smith).

This strange disorder known as zoochosis is believed to stem from relentless

boredom, loneliness, and sometimes even abuse (PETA). The effects can
sometimes turn violent, and animals begin harming themselves, attacking and

chewing at a specific limb or part of their body (Lamont). The disorder can also

result in over grooming, where the hair is pulled out, and rashes and bald patches

form (Lamont). Some animals are even given sedatives and antidepressants to

deter the effects of zoochosis (Lamont). Making animal enclosures more hospitable,

similar to the animals natural habitat, as well as ending zoochosis, should also

become a priority for APHIS and organizations of its kind. With a higher budget,

APHIS can conduct more research towards ending the phenomenon known as

zoochosis, ensuring the necessary modifications to zoo animals enclosures to

make them safe.

For thousands of years, animals have been used as entertainment for

humans. Animals have been ridden, domesticated, hunted, eaten, and dead stuffed

animals have been kept as trophies for humans. Affluent animal-lovers also donate

to these wildlife organizations, not realizing that their money and donations will not

be allotted properly and that the animals they care for so deeply are better off in the

wild. This harsh mistreatment of all kinds of life from around the world has been

tolerated for many years, but it is now becoming more apparent to the general

public and activists that animal life is just as precious as human life. To protect

animals, APHIS must be better funded and more strict with regulation to ensure that

animals are not subjected to any unnatural threat while kept for entertainment.
 Works Cited

Amini, Naseem. Undercover Investigations Reveal Abuse of Tiger Cubs at

Roadside Zoo. Human Society of the United States, HSUS, 22 Jan. 2015,

www.humanesociety.org/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.

CAPS. Zoos. Captive Animals Protection Society, papertank,

www.captiveanimals.org/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.

Evans, Kim Masters. Entertainment Animals. Animal Rights, 2009 ed., Gale, 2010.

Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2017.

Farinato, Richard. Too Many Deaths at the Zoo. The Washington Post. Humane

Society of the United States. Feb. 23, 2003. (Sept. 5, 2008)

Lamont, Di. Beyond the Zoo: How Captivity Affects the Mental Well-Being of All

Animals. One Green Planet, 4 May 2015, www.onegreenplanet.org/ Accessed 31

Mar. 2017.

Smith, Laura. "Zoos Drive Animals Crazy." Slate, The Slate Group, 20 June 2014,

www.slate.com/. Accessed 14 May 2017.

PETA. Zoos and Other Captive Animal Displays. People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals, PETA, www.peta.org/issues/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.

Royston, Staff Chief, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, USDA, Ret., Gerald.

Interview. 31 Mar. 2017.

Annotated Bibliography

Amini, Naseem. Undercover Investigations Reveal Abuse of Tiger Cubs at

Roadside Zoo. Human Society of the United States, HSUS, 22 Jan. 2015,

www.humanesociety.org/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.

 Aminis retelling of the cruelty done to animals in a zoo is necessary for

understanding what is really happening behind the closed walls of a zoo. It also

emphasizes the importance of spot checks, and how they can save animals from

harm.

CAPS. Zoos. Captive Animals Protection Society, papertank,

www.captiveanimals.org/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.

CAPS, though not a United States based operation, still provided critical

scientific information on the psychological effects on the brain of animals held in

captivity.

Evans, Kim Masters. Entertainment Animals. Animal Rights, 2009 ed., Gale, 2010.

Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

link.galegroup.com/ Accessed 28 Mar. 2017.

Evans article was one of the most useful sources I had, describing the

treatment of animals in zoos and the faults with the AWA and APHIS. Evans in

depth article also described why zoos became popular in the first place and how

this bizarre action of placing zoos behind bars has become controversy over time.

Farinato, Richard. Too Many Deaths at the Zoo. The Washington Post. Humane

Society of the United States. Feb. 23, 2003. (Sept. 5, 2008)

Farinatos 2003 article retelling the stories of easily avoidable deaths of exotic

animals in the National zoo also was quite eye-opening. The description of the way

animals were being treated and the carelessness of zoo directors perfectly shows

why parks need spot checks and better funding.

Lamont, Di. Beyond the Zoo: How Captivity Affects the Mental Well-Being of All

Animals. One Green Planet, 4 May 2015, www.onegreenplanet.org/ Accessed 31

Mar. 2017.

This article also provides new insight of the phenomenon of self-mutilation has

a side effect of Zoochosis. The fact that animals will harm themselves because

PETA. Zoos and Other Captive Animal Displays. People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals, PETA, www.peta.org/issues/ Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.

PETA is one of the most renowned animal rights activist groups in the United

States and the scientific information provided, specifically about Zoochosis. PETA

also specifically describes the conditions that animals are in that lead to zoochosis

forming.

Smith, Laura. "Zoos Drive Animals Crazy." Slate, The Slate Group, 20 June 2014,

www.slate.com/. Accessed 14 May 2017.

Smiths analysis of the strange changes that animals go through while in zoos

is eye opening. Giving specific examples of the effects of zoochosis and the

behaviors that animals present when afflicted with such a disorder shows that a

zoos essentially cause PTSD.

Royston, Staff Chief, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, USDA, Ret., Gerald.

Interview. 31 Mar. 2017.

 This interview, conducted over the phone (with Dr. Simels husband!!!) is what

truly made my paper. Mr. Royston explained the faults with the budget in APHIS

and helped me form my thesis properly. This paper would not have formed the way

it did without Mr. Roystons inside knowledge of the animal welfare groups and their

budgets.