Animals in Captivity
Karina Rodriguez
English 101, Section 1582
16 April 2014
Paper 4A: Argument
Zoos: Animals in Captivity
A zoo is a place where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to view. The word “zoo” is short for “zoological park.” Zoos contain wide varieties of animals that are native to all parts of the Earth. It is an important debate whether animals should be kept in the zoos or not. Some say that it is necessary to capture them in order to protect them from poachers. Regarding all the efforts to kill animals for ivory, skins and medical aims, zoo is quite a safe place for them. In contrast to this, it is necessary to note that animals have their natural rights and once they are put into cages these rights are broken. It is known that there are zoos where workers treat animals very cruelly. Fortunately, day by day all the zoos become more and more improved and it wouldn’t be fair to close all the zoos because of the mistakes of some of them. But no matter how good the conditions of the place where animals are kept are, the animals are still suffering because their natural behavior is limited by zoo’s walls. We can endlessly discuss the issues of zoos.
Zoos vary in size and quality from drive through parks to small roadside menageries with concrete slabs and iron bars. Millions of people visit zoos annually, but most zoos operate at a loss and must find ways to cut costs or add gimmicks that will attract visitors. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2003 that “nearly half of the country’s zoos are facing cutbacks this year … [a]ttendance, meanwhile, is down about 3% nationwide.” Precious funds that should be used to provide more humane conditions for animals are often squandered on cosmetic improvements such as landscaping, refreshment stands, and gift shops in order to draw visitors. Ultimately, animals and sometimes visitors are the ones who pay the price.
Tatiana, a Siberian tiger, escaped her substandard enclosure at the San Francisco
English 101, Section 1582
16 April 2014
Paper 4A: Argument
Zoos: Animals in Captivity
A zoo is a place where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to view. The word “zoo” is short for “zoological park.” Zoos contain wide varieties of animals that are native to all parts of the Earth. It is an important debate whether animals should be kept in the zoos or not. Some say that it is necessary to capture them in order to protect them from poachers. Regarding all the efforts to kill animals for ivory, skins and medical aims, zoo is quite a safe place for them. In contrast to this, it is necessary to note that animals have their natural rights and once they are put into cages these rights are broken. It is known that there are zoos where workers treat animals very cruelly. Fortunately, day by day all the zoos become more and more improved and it wouldn’t be fair to close all the zoos because of the mistakes of some of them. But no matter how good the conditions of the place where animals are kept are, the animals are still suffering because their natural behavior is limited by zoo’s walls. We can endlessly discuss the issues of zoos.
Zoos vary in size and quality from drive through parks to small roadside menageries with concrete slabs and iron bars. Millions of people visit zoos annually, but most zoos operate at a loss and must find ways to cut costs or add gimmicks that will attract visitors. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2003 that “nearly half of the country’s zoos are facing cutbacks this year … [a]ttendance, meanwhile, is down about 3% nationwide.” Precious funds that should be used to provide more humane conditions for animals are often squandered on cosmetic improvements such as landscaping, refreshment stands, and gift shops in order to draw visitors. Ultimately, animals and sometimes visitors are the ones who pay the price.
Tatiana, a Siberian tiger, escaped her substandard enclosure at the San Francisco