Environmental Ethics: A Debate on the Role of Zoos and Animal Welfare

This essay delves into the contentious debate surrounding the role of zoos in modern society. It begins by outlining the arguments of those who believe zoos are essential for animal conservation, education, and research, highlighting their potential to protect endangered species, provide safe environments, and educate the public. Conversely, the essay presents the viewpoints of critics who argue that zoos are inherently cruel, depriving animals of their natural habitats and causing mental and physical distress. The essay draws on various sources to support both sides of the argument, including discussions of animal behavior, conservation efforts, and ethical considerations. The author then offers a personal reflection, concluding that while zoos can serve a valuable purpose in protecting endangered species, their effectiveness hinges on proper management and a commitment to animal welfare. The essay emphasizes the importance of balancing the benefits of zoos with the need to minimize any harm to the animals in their care.

Running head: ARE ZOOS BENEFICIAL OR HARMFUL FOR THE ANIMALS?
Are Zoos Beneficial or Harmful for the Animals?
Name of the Student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1ARE ZOOS BENEFICIAL OR HARMFUL FOR THE ANIMALS?
Zoo is present in every cities and is one of the popular attractions for the children as
well as the adults alike, to see the animals in their “habitats”. Along with the upturn of the
standard of living, zoos have become an important facility of cities. However, there
continuous pop up is raising the debate on the notion whether zoos are actually beneficial for
the animals or are cruel to them and hence, should be abolished. This essay is going to
elaborate on this debate and would present a personal reflection at the end.
According to several environmentalists and scholars who have opined that Zoo has no
useful purpose (Wang and Chan 2017). Keeping the wild animals in cages for the purpose of
public exhibition is a tradition that human beings are performing since ages. For most of the
people this is just an amusement and for kids, is an educational purpose but, there for others
who think it to be an inhuman act. As per Kagan (2017), the idea of keeping the animals in
cages is very brutal and human beings should not be proud of this action like this. No one is
given the power and the authority to forcefully bring any animals to the zoos and let people
being hilarious watching their activities. There are several children parks and amusement
parks for the entertainment of humans and therefore, there is no necessity of zoos, which
represent nothing but the brutality of human beings over animals. Animals always look
beautiful when they are in their natural habitat and when human beings put them in cages,
they just interrupt the natural law.
However, Safina (2018) in context have claimed that zoological gardens or zoos have
many useful purposes. The most useful of all is the purpose of education, particularly for the
children. The Children who visit zoos get the chance of knowing different types of animals
and can also broaden their perspectives. With the same, they are educational for the adults as
well. It is the best place for families to go for short trips. Also, as claimed by Hosey et al.
(2018), there are many animals in zoos who get good care and researchers and this show that

2ARE ZOOS BENEFICIAL OR HARMFUL FOR THE ANIMALS?
human beings are saving the endangered animals. They are given proper care, medicine,
treatments, environment and food. It is a true usefulness of zoos.
Critics of Zoos have argued that animals being in zoos, often suffer from mental and
physical illness for being enclosed (Boyle 2016). It has been argued that even with the best
provided artificial environments, animals cannot come even close to matching the diversity,
space and the freedom that get in their natural habitats. This causes most of the animals in the
zoos becomes mentally ill and stressful. Furthermore, it is also to note that as per Doidge
(2018), capturing the animals in the wild also results in many sufferings like splitting away
from their families. Also, there are zoos that make the animals behave artificially or
unnaturally such as the ones in the natural parks that often force the whales and the dolphins
to perform several tricks. These mammals might die earlier as compared to their wild
relatives and also, there are many who commit suicide by not eating days after days.
The supporters of Zoos in this regard have argued that by bringing the animals and
human beings together, zoos have the potential of educating public regarding the
conservation issues and at the same time, inspire time to protect the animals as well as their
habitats (Hosey et al. 2018). Zoos provide a safer environment for the animals, who would
otherwise been mistreated in the circuses or kept as pets. Zoos also carry out some really
important researches on animals into the subjects such as how to treat illness and animal
behaviour (Walker 2017). Furthermore, as per Fisken et al. (2018), one of the most important
functions of Zoos is the fact that it support international breeding programmes, especially for
the endangered animals. It is to note that in the wild, there are some rarest species who face
difficulties in finding their mates and perform breeding. They might also be threatened by the
loss of predators and their habitat, poachers etc. Zoos enable these animals to live long and
breed in safe and secure environment.

3ARE ZOOS BENEFICIAL OR HARMFUL FOR THE ANIMALS?
In my view, I think, zoos should exist. People who are against this view point always
show the logic that human beings should not keep the animals in cages taking away from
their natural habitat and that is a complete mockery of true humanity. I do think that they
have their logics and to a level, this is surely logical but from my perspectives, when they
question the humanity for this action, they are wrong. Zoological gardens does not keep every
animals in cages and there are many latest zoos that ensure natural environment for animals
and they do keep their places. In many countries, the zoos are been monitored strictly and the
food, health and treatments of the animals are ensured. Authorities ensure that animals are
been taken care of in proper manner and they do not die in diseases. When they talk about
inhumanity for keeping the animals caged in zoos, then when where is the humanity when
people kill thousands of birds and animals by selling them in the well-decorated shops?
Hence, I feel Zoos serve as a great means for protecting animals until and unless the
individual zoos are managed and monitored properly.
Hence, it can be said that people are divided in their opinions and perspectives and
therefore, there are different views on whether zoos should exist or not. In my opinion Zoos
are necessary as I feel like it saves the endangered animals and becomes a safe house for
them. Notwithstanding this fact, it is also to state that it all depends on how well the
individual zoos are managed. The advantages of zoos can surely outweigh the harmful
impacts that they possess. However, it is also to mention that imprisoning the animals for
personal reasons is simply wrong.

4ARE ZOOS BENEFICIAL OR HARMFUL FOR THE ANIMALS?
References:
Boyle, B., 2016. Free Tilly: Legal Personhood for Animals and the Intersectionality of the
Civil and Animal Rights Movements. Ind. JL & Soc. Equal., 4, p.169.
Boyle, B., 2016. Free Tilly: Legal Personhood for Animals and the Intersectionality of the
Civil and Animal Rights Movements. Ind. JL & Soc. Equal., 4, p.169.
Doidge, N.R., 2018. Dreams of Animals. In Cultural Zoo (pp. 45-91). Routledge.
Fisken, F.A., Carlsen, F., Elder, M., de Jongh, T., Pereboom, J.J.M., Pohl, B., Rietkerk, F.,
Ross, S.R. and Taniguchi, A., 2018. Global population records and managed‐programme
updates for the great apes. International Zoo Yearbook, 52(1), pp.212-226.
Hosey, G., Birke, L., Shaw, W.S. and Melfi, V., 2018. Measuring the strength of human–
animal bonds in zoos. Anthrozoös, 31(3), pp.273-281.
Kagan, R., 2017. Zoos of the Future?. Increasing Legal Rights for Zoo Animals: Justice on
the Ark, p.131.
Safina, C., 2018. Where Are Zoos Going—or Are They Gone?. Journal of Applied Animal
Welfare Science, 21(sup1), pp.4-11.
Walker, S., 2017. A very, very basic introduction to Zoos for non-scientists-Why do we need
Zoos?????. ZOO'S PRINT, 32(3), pp.1-4.
Wang, Y. and Chan, P., 2017. Animal Mistreatment in Business: Ethical Challenges and
Solutions. International Business Research, 10(5), pp.159-168.