Zoos: Ethical or not? November 6, 2009
People love to see animals up close. They like them on television, but really, they love even more to be ten feet away and make eye contact with the subject of interest. I don’t think anyone can deny that it’s thrilling to see an animal up close. But does that desire trump the animal’s right to freedom? Or, in the case of many animals that are taken in by zoos because they can’t survive in the wild due to some stupid human who wanted a chimp of their very own - how about a space where they don’t have to be heckled by adults and small children. Most credible sanctuaries aren’t even open to the public. They do that because it’s in the best interest of the animal to have huge amounts of space to move around in, and zoos aren’t conducive to that.
Some arguments I’ve heard people make for zoos:
1. They do a lot of work for conservation. They put money in habitat preservation and help breed endangered species.
2. Many animal lovers and conservationists develop their love of animals through early childhood visits to the zoo.
I personally think zoos are horrible places. During my junior year of college at Sarah Lawrence I took an animal rights elective. We went to the Bronx Zoo to see what we thought. Please note that in terms of zoos, the Bronx Zoo is like the Four Seasons. And even the Four Seasons of zoos made me want to cry. Kids banging on the plastic partition to get a gorilla to look their way. The lion exhibit is TINY and depressing. Yes, they do a lot of good work. Yes, many people develop their love of animals by going to the Bronx Zoo. But at the end of the day, the animals are used as an attraction. People pay to gawk. The animals are not given enough space - how could they get enough room to live in the Bronx, especially when the enclosure has to be small enough that people can see the animal at all times.
I believe that if a child is going to appreciate an animal, they need to see the animal living for herself rather than as an attraction for spectators. People already believe that animals are here for our amusement rather than for their own lives. And zoos perpetuate that belief. It cultivates it from an early age.
Also, please note that most zoos are in no way as good at the Bronx Zoo. That’s the top of the line and still falls short. Many are roadside zoos or small zoos that keep animals in cages rather than in simulated natural environments.
Now, I’ve gone on for a while. My question to you all is how do you feel about zoos? For or against? Do you think it’s a good place to bring children or a sad prison for sad animals? Here is a little bit to think about from HSUS on the topic…
I think zoos are vital to inspiring care and concern of animals (and the environment) as well as protecting species. As humans have ruined habitats, hunted to extinction, etc., we do need to take care of and preserve what we can. Honest to goodness tigers are in danger of being lost in my lifetime, for heaven’s sake!
And even should the magical day come when no animals are in danger, zoos perform educational services. Sure, a family may come for the novelty of animals on display; but most walk away with a care for animals (at least a favored animal), and that contact inspires them to care about the animal, the environment, continuing preservation, science, and an overall care & concern for the world beyond themselves.
If people are offended by how children “bang on the plastic partition to get a gorilla to look their way” they should worry more about how the child is being educated than anything else. To respond by removing the animal removes the responsibility humans have to behave. We all get excited, but we need to be taught how and why to care of others.
There are plenty of adults who need to learn not to bang on the glass of aquariums at the doctor’s office, and do not stop even when told hot horrible it is for the fish — which proves people need to be taught respect. That’s the matter here, respect for living things, be it a fish in a tank or a great ape protected & on display at a zoo.
I can’t vouch for all zoos, but based on my volunteer work (requiring paid training) at the Milwaukee County Zoo, I don’t see them as bad places.
I can also tell you that there are many private animal shelters that may or may not put animals on display which commit horrors upon the animals (for reasons as varied as “loving the animals” but treating them like people, poor funding, little-to-no monitoring of practices & care, etc.).
Zoos do valuable work; they have organized breeding and medical programs, they are regulated/monitored, they do their best with the money & space they have to create safe (and yes, happy — unhappy animals do not breed very well, if at all) environments for animals. People should respect that and learn how to properly behave themselves — and train others to do so to.
I agree with many of the points Deanna made, yet am still go back and forth on the issue. I live in Chicago and we have two amazing zoos here. The Lincoln Park zoo is free to all and has an amazing research and preservation program. And yes, I see the children (and adults) banging on the plexiglass, and it is disturbing. I see the big cats pacing when they return to their interior spaces from their outdoor “habitat.” But, I do think the good zoos do is important to cultivate human compassion and education. And although I’m not normally an “animal person,” (I know that’s odd from a non-meat eater) my last trip did prompt me to start donating monthly to the WLF. So…I just don’t know. Flaky, I know, but I can’t be black or white on this one.