Pros And Cons Of Captive Animals

Seeing exotic animals behind cages or glass walls at the zoo, watching Shamu do flips for a fish at SeaWorld, and laughing as elephants perform tricks at the circus are all entertaining, but is our entertainment worth the suffering these animals endure behind the scenes? The answer is no. The billions of animals that are subjected to abuse outweigh any claimed benefits that can be made of these businesses. The debate of zoos and parks being ethical or unethical has two main arguments, these being the animal abuse involved and the supposed benefits.
Evidence suggests that captive animals suffer both psychological and physical abuse. For example, being confined in small areas with no privacy offers animals little opportunity for mental and
In addition to zoochosis, the tiny pools dolphins live in expose them to the excessive concentration of sounds, causing them to become deaf (Choo). Another form of unfair treatment is to animals who naturally live in large herds or family groups. These animals are kept alone or in pairs, making them susceptible to depression as well as neurotic behavior (“Zoos”). Evidence of depression among captive held animals is ubiquitous, but hidden from the public by zoo and park officials. Some businesses, like Scarborough Sea Life Centre, have come to an all time low with their desperate attempt to hide the unhappy animals surrounding them. It has been reported that penguins there are on antidepressants (“Times”). The most obvious examples of neurotic behavior are the attacks on humans. Most people believe these attacks are due to the animals wild nature, but according to Jeff Ventre, fatal attacks “are manifestations of stress, even madness, in animals forced into miserable, unnatural conditions” (Bekoff). Studies have shown that captive chimps and elephants display behavior similar to PTSD along with depression (Bekoff). Experts, scientists, and researchers say, “taking