In recent years, there has been ongoing concern about the mistreatment of wild animals in zoos. Notwithstanding the claim that these facilities offer safe havens and promote the conservation of wildlife, zoos in fact are a form of animal cruelty and should be discontinued.
There are a variety of reasons for people to believe that the existence of zoos is conducive to the protection of wild animals. First, it is apparent that zoos can bring otherwise exotic animals closer to urban inhabitants, which raises their awareness of wildlife conservation. In fact, establishing zoos is a simple and effective way to convey messages about the environment to the city dwellers, galvanising them to the cause of protecting these animals. Second, by organising fund raisers and attracting benefactors, zoos can channel a great deal of money into the safeguarding of wild animals. These funds can be used to invest in reproduction or relocation programmes for endangered species, helping them to escape extinction and hopefully thrive in number down the road.
Nevertheless, there are a myriad of drawbacks to keeping wild animals in zoos. First, since the original purpose of these facilities is to entertain the curious citizens, they have no regard to ensuring the animals’ well-being. For example, from a human perspective, a cage means safety and food being delivered on a daily basis, but to a bald eagle that has spent most of its life in the air, it is only bitter imprisonment. Second, the change of habitat as well as being on display for myriad visitors, subject these animals to stress, which negatively affects their physical health. In fact, animals held in captivity are reported to have various health issues and have a lower desire to reproduce, which is actually detrimental to their conservation.
In conclusion, notwithstanding the fact that zoos are an integral part of every major city, they should be deemed a form of animal cruelty and cease to operate. The resources currently being spent on zoos should be diverted to actual conservation programmes to improve their effects.
In recent years, there has been ongoing concern about the mistreatment of wild
animals
in zoos. Notwithstanding the claim that these facilities offer safe havens and promote the conservation of wildlife, zoos in
fact
are a form of
animal
cruelty and should
be discontinued
.
There are a variety of reasons for
people
to believe that the existence of zoos is conducive to the protection of wild
animals
.
First
, it is apparent that zoos can bring
otherwise
exotic
animals
closer to urban inhabitants, which raises their awareness of wildlife conservation. In
fact
, establishing zoos is a simple and effective way to convey messages about the environment to the city dwellers,
galvanising
them to the cause of protecting these
animals
. Second, by
organising
fund raisers
and attracting benefactors, zoos can channel a great deal of money into the safeguarding of wild
animals
. These funds can be
used
to invest in reproduction or relocation
programmes
for endangered species, helping them to escape extinction and
hopefully
thrive in number down the road.
Nevertheless
, there are a
myriad
of drawbacks to keeping wild
animals
in zoos.
First
, since the original purpose of these facilities is to entertain the curious citizens, they have no regard to ensuring the
animals’
well-being.
For example
, from a human perspective, a cage means safety and food
being delivered
on a daily basis,
but
to a bald eagle that has spent most of its life in the air, it is
only
bitter imprisonment. Second, the
change
of habitat
as well
as being on display for myriad visitors, subject these
animals
to
stress
, which
negatively
affects their physical health. In
fact
,
animals
held in captivity
are reported
to have various health issues and have a lower desire to reproduce, which is actually detrimental to their conservation.
In conclusion
, notwithstanding the
fact
that zoos are an integral part of every major city, they should
be deemed
a form of
animal
cruelty and cease to operate. The resources
currently
being spent
on zoos should
be diverted
to actual conservation
programmes
to
improve
their effects.