Argumentative Against Zoos

Allyson
Dr. Will Curl
Composition II
May 15, 2013
Zoos should be Banned. Approximately 175 million people visit a zoo each year. That’s half of America’s population. Zoos are a huge tourist attraction because they allow families to spend a day out in the sun, looking at animals, and eating overpriced junk food. But what most people don’t know is that zoos are far more sinister than selling $5.00 bottles of water. Statistics show that in all zoos fifteen percent of animals die every year in captivity. Zoos are an unsuitable environment for wild animals and should, therefore, be abolished. A zoo is an unnatural environment that exposes animals to numerous dangers. Diseases often spread between species that would never live together naturally. For example, many Asian elephants have died in US zoos after contracting herpes from African elephants. In addition, zoo animals are exposed to diseases from humans. Many strains of influenza are fatal for animals that do not possess the antibodies to fight off. A handful of animals die in zoos, not only from disease, but also from poor living conditions. These conditions range from not nearly enough free space to not proper climates. Zoos cannot provide the same amount of space that animals have in the wild. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would have in the wild, and polar bears have one million times less space. When an animal is in a tight space and feels closed in they start to display stress related behavior such as biting the bars, knowing on their feet, shedding massive amounts of fur, pacing, and even attempting to attack the humans behind the glass. In 2010, a C.A.P.S. (Captive Animals Protection Society) investigator filmed sick animals left untreated and dead animals to rot on the ground of a zoo in the UK. C.A.P.S. had to take rabbits to a vet to have infections treated, local police confiscated a monkey who had been kept alone and given only cake and junk food to eat. In addition to lack of space and poor treatment, animals in zoos are also put into foreign climates which can cause sickness and even death. Supporters of zoos argue that they are a great source of education for those wishing to learn about different species of animals. This, however, is false. A study of UK aquariums found that over 40% of the animals on display didn’t even have signs to identify the species. A US study found no compelling evidence at all for the claim that zoos promote attitude change, education or interest in preservation of species to visitors. The study authors, in fact, urged zoos to stop falsely claiming an educational benefit from visits “As this conclusion is unwarranted and potentially misleading to consumers.” Another counter argument for the abolishment of zoos is that zoos preserve animals from extinction by breeding and the eventually releasing the animals. This is also false. Zoos claim to breed animals for eventual release to the wild but breeding programs are primarily to ensure a captive population, not for reintroduction. Zoo Director David Hancocks said in the book ‘Who Cares for Planet Earth’ by B. Jordan, “There is a commonly held misconception that zoos are not only saving wild animals from extinction but also reintroducing them to their wild habitats. The confusion stems from many sources, all of them zoo-based… In reality zoos have had no contact of any kind with any reintroduction program.” Warehousing animals for life is not the way to save them from extinction. Their salvation lies in protecting habitats, not in creating animal prisons. An animal Sanctuary, which is a facility where animals are brought to live and be protected for a time ranging from a few month to the rest of their lives, is a much more viable option that zoos. The mission of sanctuaries is generally to be safe havens, where the animals receive the best care that the sanctuaries can provide. Animals are not bought, sold, or traded, nor are they used for animal testing. The resident animals are given the opportunity to behave as naturally as possible in a protective environment. In conclusion, a zoos only purpose is allowing thousands of people per day to gawk animals and spend way too much money on souvenirs and junk food. Zoos do not protect or help to repopulate animals, nor do they educate people on the specifics of these animals and therefore should be abolished.

Works Cited
"Animal Rights Uncompromised: Zoos." PETA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Website.
Bostock, Stephen St C. Zoos and Animal Rights: The Ethics of Keeping Animals. London: Routledge, 1993. Print.
"Captive Animals Protection Society." Captive Animals Protection Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Website.
Captive Animals Protection Society. No Place Like Home. N.d. Television.
"How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?: Scientific American." How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?: Scientific American. E/The Environmental Magazine, 15 Apr. 2009. Web. 15 May 2013. Article.
Jordan, Bill. Who Cares for Planet Earth?: The CON in Conservation. Brighton, Portland, OR: Alpha, 2001. Print.
Morino, L. Do Zoos and Aquariums Promote Attitude Change in Visitors? A Critical Evaluation of the American Zoo and Aquarium Study. N.p., 2010. Web. 16 May 2013. Study.
"Should We Ban the Keeping of Animals in Zoos?" Debate.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Website.
"Zoos Should Be Banned :: Zoo Animals." Zoos Should Be Banned :: Zoo Animals. 123helpme.com, 06 May 2013. Web. 15 May 2013. Website.

Cited: "Animal Rights Uncompromised: Zoos." PETA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Website. Bostock, Stephen St C. Zoos and Animal Rights: The Ethics of Keeping Animals. London: Routledge, 1993. Print. "Captive Animals Protection Society." Captive Animals Protection Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Website. Captive Animals Protection Society. No Place Like Home. N.d. Television. "How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?: Scientific American." How Do Zoos Help Endangered Animals?: Scientific American. E/The Environmental Magazine, 15 Apr. 2009. Web. 15 May 2013. Article. Jordan, Bill. Who Cares for Planet Earth?: The CON in Conservation. Brighton, Portland, OR: Alpha, 2001. Print. Morino, L. Do Zoos and Aquariums Promote Attitude Change in Visitors? A Critical Evaluation of the American Zoo and Aquarium Study. N.p., 2010. Web. 16 May 2013. Study. "Should We Ban the Keeping of Animals in Zoos?" Debate.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Website. "Zoos Should Be Banned :: Zoo Animals." Zoos Should Be Banned :: Zoo Animals. 123helpme.com, 06 May 2013. Web. 15 May 2013. Website.