Odds are if you are an adult, you have probably visited a zoo at least once in your life. Zoo’s offer an interactive experience, getting close up to wildlife that we would otherwise not be able to see in person. Although this sounds nice, when looking at other factors it is easy to see that zoos are more unethical than not in today’s society.
First off, zoos keep animals contained to environments that are very different from their natural habitats. Many animals, such as primates, large cats, elephants, etc. are territorial and require more space to explore and interact with their environment. In zoos, these animals are typically kept in enclosures that restrict their space and limit their natural behaviors. Obviously, an animal in the wild is used to having miles upon miles to roam, but this is impossible for most zoos to offer for their animals, which affects the animals negatively. For example, elephants in zoos often show signs of distress, such as repetitive pacing, a behavior not seen in the wild. This lack of space adds to both physical and mental harm, leading to what is known as “zoochosis,” a condition where animals engage in abnormal behaviors due to the stress of captivity.
On top of this, while many zoos market the idea that their goal is to educate the public about wildlife conservation, they often do not succeed in providing impactful educational experiences. Viewing animals in unnatural enclosures does not help people understand the full importance of wildlife conservation or the role these animals play in their natural habitats. Instead of educating visitors about the importance of preserving animal’s habitats, zoos typically promote the idea that animals exist for human entertainment, which is why they are in captivity.
Although zoos also help preserve endangered species, overall, the idea of keeping wild animals enclosed in small spaces is not right. I feel that an animal that was born to roam free in the wild probably feels like they are in prison with the limited space that they have in a zoo. There are ways for humans to help preserve species without having to display so many animals in zoos for human entertainment.
