Lyca Manzano 11 – HUMSS Gornez

Animals Should Not Be Kept In Captivity

How would you feel if you were locked in a cage for the rest of your life?
Animals should not be caged and that what the zoos do. Zoos are places where
wild animals are kept for public display. Zoos are often the sites of sophisticated
breeding centers, where endangered species may be protected and studied.
(National Geographic) Animals should not be kept in captivity because zoos
cannot provide enough space for animals, living in zoos causes animals stress
and discomfort, and the captive breeding does not actually benefit the
endangered species.

Firstly, zoos cannot provide the amount of space animals have in the wild.
This is particularly the case for those species who roam larger distances in their
natural habitats. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos
than they would in the wild. Polar bears have one million times less space.
(Freedom for Animals) Animals that roam far and wide in the wild fare worst in
zoos. (Sample, 2003)

Secondly, a zoo can be the most stressful place on Earth for an animal.
Zoos, contrary to what many people believe, often cause great suffering and
stress to the captive animals. (Animal Equality) A government-funded study of
elephants in UK zoos found that 54% of the elephants showed stereotypies
(behavioral problems) during the daytime. One elephant observed during day
and night stereotyped for 61% of a 24-hour period. Lions in zoos spend 48% of
their time pacing, a recognized sign of behavioral problems. (Freedom for
Animals)

Finally, zoos may actually hurt conservation efforts, not help them. Another
argument put forward by those who defend the existence of zoos is that they
perform conservation, in other words, in these places; they breed, raise and
enclose endangered species through captive breeding programs. (Animal
Equality) Zoos claim to breed animals for eventual release to the wild but
breeding programs are primarily to ensure a captive population, not for
reintroduction. Lions are popular in zoos, but the vast majority are generic
animals of hybrid or unknown sub specific status, and therefore of little or no
value in conservation terms. (Freedom for Animals) Captive breeding is
considered by some conservation scientists to be a diversion from the reasons
for a species’ decline giving “a false impression that a species is safe so that
destruction of habitat and wild populations can proceed”. (Freedom for
Animals)

Some people think that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.
Others however, believe that zoos are all cruel and should be close down. Zoos
cannot provide sufficient space for animals. Animals in captivity suffer from
stress, boredom and confinement. Zoos are not helpful in wildlife conservation.

REFERENCES
Animal Equality. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zoos:
https://www.animalequality.net/entertainment/zoos

Freedom for Animals. (n.d.). Retrieved from 10 FACTS ABOUT ZOOS:

https://www.freedomforanimals.org.uk/blog/10-facts-about-zoos

National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zoo:

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/zoo/

Sample, I. (2003, October 2). The Guardian. Retrieved from Wide roaming
animals fare worst in zoo enclosures:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/02/environment.science