Ethical Concerns of Keeping Animals in Zoos

This assignment delves into the ethical complexities of keeping animals in zoos. It argues that removing animals from their natural habitats causes them numerous problems, including restricted freedom, unnatural behaviors, and potential genetic issues due to inbreeding. The document emphasizes the importance of animal welfare and challenges the practice of captivity, advocating for a greater understanding of the impact on animals' well-being.

Running head: HUMANS AND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
Humans and cruelty to Animals
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

1HUMANS AND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
Man and animals have coexisted together since the very beginning. There is a close
inherent relationship between them both and can be analyzed from different perspectives both
positively and negatively. With the progress of time, the gap between humans and animals has
kept on increasing and therefore the rights of the animals have become solely in the hands of the
humans. Due to this reason, in several occasions the animals have been misused by the human
beings which is wrong and needs to be prevented under any circumstances. Due to this reason
several animal rights have been implemented over the years and those need to be followed in
order to protect and preserve animals on the earth. People who believe in such philosophical
thinking and positivity towards animals have implemented several animal rights and policies
which need to be implemented and also respected.
The animal movement works towards the implementation of the animal recognition as
equals with mankind. It also advocates the fact that they need to enjoy life and freedom in the so-
called societies predominated by humans. Most animal activism and campaigns utilize the
concept of equal rights for animals. Increased number of debates and campaigns has led to the
inclusion of animal rights in the mainstream legal status. However, the animals need to be
protected by the humans instead of giving them social contracts as it is irrelevant (Hosey, 2000).
Animals are a part of the welfare system and hence according to the theory of
utilitarianism they are to be used by mankind. This concept or philosophy is fundamentally
different from human rights. Animal rights states that they have certain rights and privileges
though not exactly the same as humans (Young, 2013). It is true that animals also have sensory
sentiments which make them feel certain amount of pain when they are being tortured or made to
do certain things against their will for the amusement of the humans. Animals should not be
utilized at will just because they cannot say anything against whatever is being done to them

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(Fernandez et al., 2009). Therefore the moral responsibility of humans is to protect the animals
and treat them with proper amount of responsibility without inflicting any amount of pain on
them or subjecting them to any sort of inhuman tortures or sufferings.
Since a long time, animals have been kept as pets as they provide companionship to the
humans. In the present times the issue of the animal care and protection has taken centre stage.
No matter whatever the conditions the feelings and the sentiments of the animals need to be
respected (Young, 2013).
Gradually the concept of confinement started to spread in other avenues as well. Along
with this, the lines between the utility of animals for human pleasure and respecting their
sentiments have blurred. One such case in which the utilization of animals is debatable is that of
zoos. Originally the zoos were formed in order to make them available for visitor viewership.
The focus of the zoos have changed according to the changing times and scenarios (Fraser,
2009).
It also needs to be understood that the needs of the animals needs to be protected at all
times. In many cases the major function of the zoos is conservation. According to reports it can
be said that without breeding in captivity several endangered species would now be extinct. Zoos
can be preserved from future generations. This is in the case when there is a lot of genetic
diversity and the possibility of the introduction to the wild exists (Hosey, 2005).
The future of animal society and the zoo establishment plays an important role in
entertainment. This process is also viewed with controversy and there is sufficient amount of
speculation. According to many people the zoos are good for the preservation of life and play an
important role in the development of interest. People consider that the zoos also allow them to

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learn more about the animals. Keeping several species available in the zoo and is a beautiful; and
rare experience worth viewing and is a source of fascination to the viewer. Zoos also help in the
conservation of an emerging environment (Melfi, 2009). In a constantly changing world, and
also in case of the uncertain nature of the earth’s habitat the Zoos acts as a place for saving the
endangered species. This is done so that they do not disappear from the world completely.
Therefore the Zoos need to provide the capacity to be educational (Melfi, 2009).
The existence of zoos was not something that was given much of consideration. Zoos are
entertaining. People of all age groups love visiting the zoo apart from it being a learning
experience. However there has been discussion about the morality of keeping animal and also
different creatures in captivity as there are sufficient amount of animal rights as well (DeMello,
2012).
It has been stated that instead of encouraging the animals to live in natural settings, zoos
provide unnatural boundaries. In the zoos, the polar bears are kept in spaces which are
incomparable to their home range. Those animals who stay in huge distances nature often
experience claustrophobia and also memory loss and symptoms similar to dementia. There are
typical behavioral patterns which result from boredom and distress at the time of their placement
in the zoo enclosures. Animals have come about from nature and each being is undisturbed in its
own habitat. The animals should not be allowed to do things which are against their will as it is
completely immoral (Hosey, 2000).
It is the responsibility of the humans to treat them in a humane and proper way. It should
not happen that the animals in the zoos suffer from problems of early death, through varying

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amounts of distress and also health problems. Restraining the natural spaces harm the animals
and worsen their mannerisms as well as their physical health and longevity.
Overall it can be said that presence of people and animals in the same area makes the
public educated by the zoos and also brings about animal appreciation. This exposure and
education allows the people in order to care for the animals (Moss & Esson, 2013).
There are many zoos for supporting endangered species as well. They have breeding
occasions for the species which are at risk of extinction. Positive arguments state that the zoos
are a tradition and the zoo visits are often a wholesome, family activity. Animals might face
problems in finding food as well as mates. Seeing an animal in person is a more personal and
memorable experience than seeing that the animal in a natural documentary or in pictures
(Mason, 2000).
Some zoos also facilitate the rehabilitation of wildlife and also involve taking exotic pets
which people no longer want or cannot care about anymore. Apart from these the reputable zoos
are accredited by the Association of Zoos and aquariums and are held in high standards
regarding the treatment of the animals. In case there is official recognition or Approval for ac
zoo, there is not much of an issue in this regard (Whitham & Wielebnowski, 2013).
As discussed it has been stated that there is no right to breed, capture and confine other
animals even if the animals are endangered. Being a member of an endangered species does not
imply that the individual animals have fewer amounts of rights (Melfi, 2009).
The animals in captivity suffer from high degrees of stress, boredom as well as
confinement. Though it is a fact that baby animals bring visitors and money, the incentives to
breed new baby animals leads to overpopulation (Lees & Wilcken, 2009). The surplus animals

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are sold not only to the other zoos but also to the circus and even for slaughter. The vast majority
of the captive breeding programs do not release animals back into the wild. The offspring are
forever part of the chain of zoos, circuses, petting zoos and also exotic pet trade buy. Removing
animals from the wild will make them face several problems. There will be loads of problems for
them (Young, 2013).
Putting a wrong message to the children about animals is not possible. The children’s
minds are impressionable and hence should not be influenced in a wrong way. The removal of
animals from the wild might endanger their existence. This should not be done in any way.
The animals are born wild and it is their right to be allowed to die wild while being
allowed to roam free during their lifetime. It is rather morally wrong to keep them in enclosures
in the zoos. This is because they do not act natural. The animals cannot hunt for their prey, or
experience the nobility of staying with others belonging to their breed. There is also inadequacy
gene pool of a species in zoos. It also leads to in breeding which would then create mutations and
defects in the offspring (Melfi, 2009).
Keeping animals in closed spaces is not good as they do not have freedom of conveyance.
Even the best of the natural environments cannot be close to the space, diversity and freedom of
the animals in their natural habitats. The animals are troubled throughout the day by observing
them which hints great amount of danger in the wild. All these factors contribute to the
sensitivity towards the topic.

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References:
DeMello, M. (2012). Animals and society: an introduction to human-animal studies. Columbia
University Press.
Fernandez, E. J., Tamborski, M. A., Pickens, S. R., & Timberlake, W. (2009). Animal–visitor
interactions in the modern zoo: Conflicts and interventions. Applied Animal Behaviour
Science, 120(1), 1-8.
Fraser, D. (2009). Assessing animal welfare: different philosophies, different scientific
approaches. Zoo Biology, 28(6), 507-518.
Hosey, G. R. (2000). Zoo animals and their human audiences: what is the visitor
effect?. ANIMAL WELFARE-POTTERS BAR-, 9(4), 343-358.
Hosey, G. R. (2005). How does the zoo environment affect the behaviour of captive
primates?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 90(2), 107-129.
Lees, C. M., & Wilcken, J. (2009). Sustaining the Ark: the challenges faced by zoos in
maintaining viable populations. International Zoo Yearbook, 43(1), 6-18.
Mason, P. (2000). Zoo tourism: The need for more research. Journal of Sustainable
Tourism, 8(4), 333-339.
Melfi, V. A. (2009). There are big gaps in our knowledge, and thus approach, to zoo animal
welfare: a case for evidence‐based zoo animal management. Zoo Biology, 28(6), 574-588.
Moss, A., & Esson, M. (2013). The educational claims of zoos: Where do we go from here?. Zoo
Biology, 32(1), 13-18.

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Whitham, J. C., & Wielebnowski, N. (2013). New directions for zoo animal welfare
science. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 147(3), 247-260.
Young, R. J. (2013). Environmental enrichment for captive animals. John Wiley & Sons.