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Zoo, as defined in Merriam Webster, is usually an indoor and outdoor settings where living, typically they kept wild animals especially for the public exhibition (Merriam Webster). According to National Geographic, zoos first started as a collection of wealthy to show power. Aristocrats bought exotic animals such as elephants, giraffes, and bears. Modern Zoos today house and display different species of animals from land, air, and sea for the public (nationaleographic.org). Zoos, however, present different problems, mainly the tendency of zoos to exploit animals, leading to the animals compromised survival instincts, unhealthy living conditions and eventually the death of animals.
Mainly affected by the problem are the animals held in zoos.
There are many reasons zoos are inappropriate and should no longer exist, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ website listed down why zoos are considered prisons for wildlife. Zoos do not invest that much to the animal’s well-being, such as hygiene, spaces, cleanliness, and health support, leading to multiple animal risks and deaths.
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Animals are also mistreated in different ways in zoos. A video of Papanack Zoo shows that stolen baby animals from mothers are used for “self-ie props” for the visitors. In the same zoo, a trainer beat a lion cub on the face (Pajda, 2017). In 2014, a healthy giraffe called Marius from Copenhagen Zoo was shot in the head and fed to carnivores because of his inability to produce offspring (bbc.com). Another controversial incident happened in 2016 when a gorilla from Cincinnati Zoo named Harambe was killed because of the fear that he may inflict harm to a boy who fell in the cage.
According to Dr. Thane Maynard of the zoo, the gorilla was not trying to hurt the boy and Harambe was only agitated because of the screaming audience (bbc.com). These are only a few among many incidents of animal abuse.
With poor living conditions, wild animals cannot practice how they should behave and live in the wild. As a result, captive animals in zoos also show a change in behavior which may affect their survival skills once released in the wild. Research conducted by the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. Shows the survival rate of captive animals such as tigers and wolves is only 33 percent. The author of the research points out that lack of hunting skills, lack of fear of humans contributes to this low survival rate (Owen, 2008). Confinement in zoos also causes “zoochosis”, a type of psychosis resulting from captivity (Smith, 2014). Smith (2014) further pointed out that animals with zoochosis display repetitious behaviors such as bar biting, reinfestation (vomiting and eating the vomit), figure-eight swimming and Trichotillomania (hair plucking).
Similarly, in the Philippines, animals caged in zoos are subjected to harsh living conditions. In September 2018, footage showed Raffy, a lion from Manila Zoo having seizures, which may have been caused by stress from the strong winds of a typhoon (Edera, 2018). Many visitors also added malnourished lionesses, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) addressed the issue situating of the animals in Manila Zoo is alarming. After the state of the lion name Rapee (Rafee), they call for the shutdown of Manila Zoo and that the animals are better off in sanctuaries (Bartolome, 2018). Mali the elephant is also one of the animals living in the zoo. According to an article in Rappler, Mali was taken from her mother in Sri Lanka and is now suffering from loneliness as she is the only living elephant left in the zoo.
Zoos are not the natural habitat of animals. Conservation scientists point out that zoos give “a false mind-set that a species is safe so destruction of habitat and wildlife can continue” (freedomforanimals.org.uk). Instead of zoos sanctuaries may be the better alternative for the well-being of the animals as well as preserving the environment. Zoos house animals in cages and concrete for the public while sanctuaries provide animals natural habitat. Sanctuaries are natural environments where animals are protected (environment.sa.gov.au). It also receives animals which can no longer survive in the wild instead of capturing them, compared to some zoos which catch animals (Lin, 2018).
Sanctuaries not only benefit the animals but also the environment as well with conserving land and other natural resources. In the United States, The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust built more than 100 permanent sanctuaries which helped protect acres of wildlife habitat. In the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle Foundation conserved 8.4 hectares of forest in Mt Apo as a sanctuary for the Philippine eagles and other animals. The foundation also collaborated with indigenous people by hiring them to be forest guards (Cepada, 2018).
An example of an existing sanctuary in the Philippines is the Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu which is considered the 11th major nesting site in the world. It comprises of 400 islands, specifically the group of islands Lihiman, Boan, Langaan, Great Bakkungan, Baguan, and Taganak. The largest island Taganak measures 124 hectares while the smallest island Langaan measures 7 hectares (Philippines National Commission for UNESCO, 2015).
Since construction of the sanctuary, the number of turtles laying eggs have increased, according to unesco.org, the turtles lay 80-150 eggs every night in peak season. In addition, the habitats of the turtles also improved; 200 species of were identified 10 of which were seen growing in Boan and Taganak Island and 19 species of ferns are found on all six islands. In all of the Turtle Islands, thirty - four species of avian species have also been observed (Philippines National Commission for UNESCO, 2015). The sanctuary not only contributed a safe space for the animals but also the cultivation of flora and other species of animals.
The advocates aim to address the problem by informing the public regarding the state of the animals in zoos through social media. This propagate the advocacy. Acts such as petitions are also a way to pave the way to making a change into the animals’ lives. Collaboration with animal welfare organizations can also be an avenue in lobbying for the creation of bills that will support the advocacy.
The animals deserve to live freely as much as humans do, without fear and danger lurking around them. This is something that zoos will not be able to provide. Sanctuaries are open lands that bring a new home to wildlife victimized by human actions. It serves as a haven for those animals to live the life they did not have in breeding farms, fur farms, zoos, circuses and other places where animals are being exploited. Sanctuaries not only benefit the animals but also contribute to the preservation of the environment as well. Lands turned into sanctuaries give the assurance that nature will avoid being destroyed by the people.
Why I Believe Zoos Shouldn't Exist. (2024, Jan 24). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/why-i-believe-zoos-shouldnt-exist-essay
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