Discussion On Whether The Establishment Of Zoo Is Essential For Wild Animals And Human Beings

In the zoo, people can observe a variety of animals from all over the world. From aquatic animals to terrestrial animals, those vivid creatures are displayed in front of human beings. The origin of zoo can be dated back to ancient Egypt. Animals represented the power and the wealth of an empire. The Romans usually captured animals, such as lions, elephants, and bears to battle with criminals. According to Poultry, Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences (2014), “Collections of animals during ancient times could also be effective instruments of political statecrafts, with the exchange of particularly rare or valued specimens helping to forge alliances or ameliorate past offenses between feuding kingdoms.” That is to say, in Western Europe, rare species were favored to rulers because those animals could help sustaining peace and power among kingdoms. Nowadays, zoos have several functions. Zoo helps conducting scientific research and experiments. On one hand, we are more familiar with the behavior of animals, on the other hand, animals are contributed to blood and drug test. In addition, zoo motives public education. Through being close to these wild animals, people are able to learn how to preserve these extinct animals. Last but not least, zoo provides a stable environment which prevents endangered animals from being intimidated by human and natural threats. Nevertheless, many controversies lie in the establishment of zoos. Due to the captivity, animals’ behavior and instinct may change, which leads to both physical and mental damage.

Being transported from natural environment to the zoos, the space is restricted and limits animals’ activities. Take animals for example, we know that elephants are bigger than any other animals. Once they are moved to smaller enclosure, their instinct to migrate may be deprived. As a result, aggression may occur. Elephants are active animals, so it is important to make sure that they have plenty of time and place to conduct activities. As a matter of fact, we keep wild animals in captivity in order to deter them from facing predators. Nevertheless, their liberty of searching for foods or building social orders may be interrupted by human beings. Humans confine these animals so that they can take care of them and increase their living qualities. However, according to The Captivity Industry, “Yet science shows that the stress and the trauma of capacity compromises the mental and physical health of individuals. The result is that coutless efforts to re-introduce into (a mostly desecrated) wild have failed.”

Even though human tries to imitate the original place for animals, there are nothing but hard cage and a place full of noise. Furthermore, some animals should live in a group, but keepers separate them, making animals feel depressed and arise health problem. It shows that keepers are not familiar with their living habit. A lot of factors gives rise to physical and mental problem, which undermines animals’ well-being. Despite the fact that laws can protect animals from living in an uncomfortable place, the truth is that there are many accidents and studies proving the disadvantaged of confining these animals. According to Zoos, circuses, and marine mammal park are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act and its regulation, and are inspected for compliance on a regular basis. But regulations are general. And while there are penalties for violations. They are small and the agencies that perform such inspections are extremely understaffed relative to the number of institutions requiring examination.

It seems that visiting zoo can not only receive entertainment, but also educate children the value of biodiversity and convey the importance of conservation. Witnessing these different kinds of animals in person may be better than reading information on books. According to Zoos through the ages, “The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) clarified the importance of wild animal collections in educating the public and advancing our scientific knowledge. Also, during this time, zoos began cooperating with each other. Nonetheless, study demonstrates that most people take a look at animals and walk away. Edward G. Ludwig (1981) observed zoo employees, children and adults’ reflection when they approached animals. Based on People at zoo (1981), “People will usually stop, at least momentarily, for 1) animals that beg, 2) animals that are feeding, 3) baby animals, 4) animals that make sounds, or 5) animals that are mimicking human behavior.” That is to say, they may ignore animals if they are sleeping, remaining silence, and taking a rest. In addition, Ludwig also observed guided schools of children. Indeed, docents put emphasis on the education of preservation and conservation, however, people gradually lost the interest to listening to speakers, and children run away from one place to another. It shows that people are reluctant to pay attention to docents, and the education of zoo is a big question. Therefore, we should think about the necessity of the zoo. If zoo can educate people, we should know what aspect of knowledge that we convey to people. To show the behavior of animal, we can find a method that is not to capture animals but observe them at the same time. To inspire the compassion for endangered animals’ situation, displaying animals in zoo may be not the utmost way.

Books, films, and other technology are beneficial to students on acquiring knowledge and cultivating a sense of sympathy to animals. Accordingly, the existence of zoo is worth considering. Amusement plays an important role in our life, and zoo brings a lot of entertainment. However, based on Mortality’s progress, Dale Jamieson mentioned “the most curators and administrators reject the idea that the primary purpose of zoos is to provide entertainment. Indeed, many agree that the pleasure we take in viewing wild animals is not in itself a good enough reason to keep them in captivity.” Out of curiosity, humans want to know more about animals and be entertained by animals. In recent years, scientists cost a large quantity of money. Financial problems are a significant issue. Once animals suffer health problems, zoo keepers have to choose whether to cure animals or send them to euthanasia. Many factors lead to Animals suffering painfulness, such as the incorrect humidity and heat. Some zoos make effort to mimic habitat for wild animals but comes to failure. In addition, some zoos emphasize profit not animals’ well-being. Despite the fact that many zoos denounces that they are contributed to animals’ health care and meet the standards of ethical and moral principles, the truth is that little effort is made behind the statement.