Advantages and disadvantages of Zoo life
Have you ever wondered if zoos are a benefit or determent to the safety of animals in captivity?
There are various diffracting factors which can be broken down into benefits and drawbacks of the zoo environment, allowing room for open conversations on this dividing topic.
Advantages of Zoo’s Include:
· Zoo can help protect endangered species through providing a safe environment. Zoos have been able to bring multiple animal species back from the brink of extension. There are over 230 AZA credited zoos which collaborate allowing breeding and reintroduction program to take place, this allows species such as the black-footed ferrets and red wolves to be breed in captivity until the species can be safely reintroduced into the wild without the risk of extinction.
· Zoos allow for a comfortable environment for animals who would be variable in the wild due to injury or illness, a safe environment to recover in a life like environment to what they would experience in the wild. A fact which the majority my find shocking is that many animals which are held in captivity are either injured or breed into captivity. When zoo adopt a new animal due to illness, they take appropriate action such as quarantine, to ensure that the illness doesn't spread to the other inhabitance.
· Under the Zoo Licencing Act 1981 zoos are by law required to provided animals with a sustainable environment in the reflection of the biological wildlife environment the animals would be accustomed to. This allows the species the opportunity to express the most natural behaviour possible for their circumstances. This law ensures all animals in captivity are protected and have the best life possible. As well as applying and maintaining the regulations to all aspects of the Zoo environment, zoos must go through a lengthy accreditation process which include providing evidence of security, daily ani
Disadvantages of Zoo’s Include:
· When animals are born into captivity, they become dependent on human contact, meaning some may lose old instincts, such as how to hunt and survive in the wild causing them to fail when transiting into the wild. Animals born into zoo’s become dependent on zoologists to feed them, leading them to lose their behavioural instincts as they no longer must hunt for their food. This can cause prolonging issue as when they are relaced back into the wild, they may not be as in touch with nature as they once were causing them to move lower down the food chain and may lead them to become pray.
· When animals are transported from a natural environment to a manmade enclosure it can take months even years to allow them to even feel comfortable. However, zoos can never fully mimic the true nature of a species environment. Temperature is an example of this polar bears are used to cold temperatures this cannot be truly mimicked same as how polar bears would naturally have ice burgs and cold seas to explore and prey on fish. This cannot be mimicked in a manmade environment. The natural environment is more than grass, trees and rocks as well as a glass screen to separating the animals from the visitors so animals can never truly feel at home in the zoo environment.
· However, the ethical question must be answered, it is proven through years of evolution that animals thrive best in the wild. Many species have evolved to overcome temperature and environment. Is taking them out of their natural environment doing more damaged than good? Scientists have seen a 70% decrease in life span on animals in captivity. Even the best manmade enclosures cannot mimic the natural environment these species need.
In conclusion, I believe zoos can be both an advantages and disadvantage to animal welfare depending on the situation. I can see how zoos can be a benefit to animals which are endangered or hurt, however I do not believe animals who do not need the assistance of human contact should be in captivity just as a visitor attraction.
-Amy-Leigh Barclay
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