Imagine you are walking around the zoo like you did when you were a little kid, except now you notice that the animals don’t look very happy. In fact, many of the animals are staring off into space and walking in circles.
Zoos are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole world. However, even though they are widespread, it does not mean that they are ethical or highly approved. There have been reported issues with animal mental health and the status of cages. Because of the harm and also the popularity, zoos are controversial for abolishing.
The federal government should abolish zoos because animals are being taken from their natural habitat, animals in zoos are mistreated, and zoos contribute to pollution and take up a lot of resources.
To start off, animals are being removed from their homes. According to Adda Ong, “Captivity suppresses the natural instincts of wild animals. Animals suffer permanent frustration because they have no freedom of choice and cannot behave as they would in their natural environment.” Because zoos aren’t able to replicate the animals’ wild environment, animals are forced to learn how to live between fences, losing their memory of how to live in the wild. This means that they can almost never be rereleased into the wild and live back in their real home successfully. The consequences of living in the zoo with limited space and resources instead of their massive natural habitat can cause many issues, including mental health problems.
In addition, animals in zoos are mistreated. According to National Geographic, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) reported that the constant interactions between animals and visitors “…can be damaging for animals’ mental and physical well-being.” Furthermore, WAZA reported, “A 2019 worldwide study found that 75 percent of zoos and aquariums offered at least 1 type of animal-visitor interaction experience that went against established guidelines.” Animals are often mistreated when they come in contact with a visitor. This is an issue because zoos are constantly being visited, as it’s one of the key ways they make money. Therefore, zoos are using visitors’ money to keep their business running but at the same time, the animals are struggling because of these abusive interactions. English philosopher Jeremy Bentham stated, “The question is not, ‘Can they reason?’ nor, ‘Can they talk?’ but rather, ‘Can they suffer?’” It is unethical to treat animals in an abusive manner, even though they don’t have the same abilities as humans. Animals are being mistreated for the profit of the zoos.
Equally important, zoos contribute to pollution and use up a lot of resources. According to Earth.orgearth.org, “…overall zoo infrastructure creates significant emissions that impact the environment negatively. The carbon footprint of zoos is huge…” Zoos use excessive amounts of food and electricity for lights, fans, and heating/cooling systems. Taking the resources from the natural environment to use for the fenced-infenced in cages is hurting the world by increasing climate change and providing less for the animals that are trying to provide a life for themselves in their real habitat. This is causing a revolving circle between taking resources to help animals, but also causing more animals to indirectly need help.
As the Dalai Lama claimed, “There is no justification in indulging in such acts of brutality.” It is essential that we get involved in government and vote to abolish zoos in order to prevent animals from being taken from their natural habitat, prevent animal mistreatment, and prevent pollution and the use of resources.
