Introduction
Albert Einstein once said: “Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty” (Popova). This statement may be understood if one considers people’s usual efforts to support animals and nature. Deforestation, water pollution, and other processes harm the environment and all living creatures because humans only have compassion for themselves, not for nature as a whole. Zoos are daily examples of people’s indifference and cruelty towards other species. Although zoos are often seen as significant in today’s society, they are actually a way of imprisoning animals while harming them in doing so. This opinion is proved by the fact that living creatures in captivity suffer from boredom and stress, cannot protect themselves or escape danger, and are killed instantly if considered to be ‘surplus’ individuals.
Stress and Boredom
The first argument against zoos to discuss is the lack of interesting activities, joy, and ways to get rid of stress that animals can access in the wild. Such circumstances make living creatures in captivity stressed, bored, and confined. First, according to Bashaw et al., who examined behavior patterns of captivated and wild tigers and lions, animals in zoos tend to be more pessimistic, passive, and indifferent (95). Bashaw et al. notice that “in captivity, they spend the most time on exhibit sleeping or pacing,” not being able to hunt or socialize properly, and the way most zoos are projected also contributes to animals’ boredom and reduced activity (95). Thus, chain-link fencing may be a source of uncontrolled sensory contact for many animals, interfering with their behavior patterns.
Further, it is well-known that humans experiencing deprivation are at risk of developing various mental issues, like anxiety or depression, and losing their interest in life. The same happens to many captivated animals: “Elephants, orcas and other animals with large brains are likely to react in similar ways to life in a severely stressful environment” (Jacobs). Moreover, the term ‘zoochosis’ describes how living creatures in zoos perform unhealthy activities like swaying, rocking, self-mutilation, and others. It happens because they are held in captivity without any possibility of being engaged in common for their actions.
No Right to Protection and Safety
The second argument that highlights unethical zoo practices refers to the fact that animals are deprived of any opportunity to protect themselves or escape danger. One may wonder what kind of danger animals in a zoo can be exposed to in the first place. Unfortunately, most cases are related to humans’ foolishness and irresponsibility: for example, many zoos are unable or unwilling to make sure that no contact between animals and visiting people is possible.
As service providers, zoos have an obligation to keep people and animals safe, but their protection mostly covers the former. For instance, if a person accidentally falls into an animal’s enclosure, even a not curious or aggressive animal can be killed by the zoo staff in order to save the person. One terrible story of a gorilla named Harambe being murdered after a boy fell in its cage is told by Gambone. Unfortunately, since “we prioritize the entertainment or even the education of humans first, rather than the needs, especially the need for freedom, of self-aware, autonomous nonhuman beings like Harambe, they will continue to die” (Gambone). In situations like this, the creature cannot defend itself or escape. Moreover, with inadequate behavior of visitors, the animal may try to attack for self-defense but will also suffer.
‘Surplus’ Animals
Finally, there is also a shocking and unethical practice when zoos get rid of animals that are considered excess or ‘surplus.’ Statistics are terrifying: according to Bekoff, “European zoos kill as many as 5,000 healthy animals every year” merely because these individuals are no longer useful, pretty, or profitable. This inhumane practice again proves the need to apply stricter control over zoos or eliminate such places. When zoos need more room for younger animals to attract more visitors or reproductive animals to become more profitable, they terminate healthy individuals and may sometimes even make it a show in front of the audience (Shuchat). In other words, these terminations are not euthanasia but actual murders because there is no mercy in them (Bekoff). This practice also demonstrates that animals are considered property that can be thrown away when no longer needed.
Conclusion
To draw a conclusion, one may say that zoos are not a significant and ethical part of the modern world but places where animals are imprisoned and deprived of their rights. In the wild, different species have more opportunities to engage in their common activities, and in captivity, they suffer from boredom, stress, and depression. Moreover, animals in zoos are valued and protected less than visitors, and they cannot even escape when facing danger. In cases when they try to defend themselves, animals merely get killed. Finally, there are also situations when they are cruelly murdered because of being considered ‘surplus.’ Therefore, it is recommended that people get more information about the zoos they visit and avoid such unethical places.
Works Cited
Bashaw, Meredith J., et al. “Environmental Effects on the Behavior of Zoo-Housed Lions and Tigers, with a Case Study of the Effects of a Visual Barrier on Pacing.” Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, vol. 10, no. 2, 2007, pp. 95-109.
Bekoff, Mark. “Zoothanasia: The Cruel Practice of Killing Healthy Zoo Animals.” Salon, Web.
Gambone, Emily. “Why We Fight for Nonhuman Rights: Harambe’s Story.” Nonhuman Rights Project, Web.
Jacobs, Bob. “The Neural Cruelty of Captivity: Keeping Large Mammals in Zoos and Aquariums Damages Their Brains.” AP News, Web.
Popova, Maria. “Einstein on Widening Our Circles of Compassion.” The Marginalia, Web.
Shuchat, Shimon. “Honoring Animals Purposely Killed by Zoos on World Zoothanasia Day.” In Defense of Animals, Web.