Sad Eyes and Empty Lives
M. G.
Professor Molly Sides
English 101-D260
10 December 2013
Sad Eyes and Empty Lives The forced captivity of wild animals in zoos is a widely debated topic. Supporters point to conservation efforts and education of the public as important functions of zoos. Non-supporters claim the conservation efforts of zoos are not fruitful and education of the public is misinformed. Non-supporters say the enrichment needs of many species are not being met. I believe wild, non-domesticated animals should not be kept in captivity whenever possible. Better options for public education and conservation exist. Zoos present a distorted image of countless wild species. This is an education on captivity not wild animals. Space given to animals in zoos rarely comes close to the animal's natural range. Frustration and boredom lead to obsessive behaviors. Zoos often cause great suffering and stress to their captive animals. No zoo can truly meet the needs of many captive species due to their extremely high intelligence. Most reputable zoos build large and elaborate enclosures for their animals. Enclosures do not compare to the space animals have in the wild. Many species of dolphins in the wild swim over 100 miles each day (Perrin 578). There is not a tank in existence big enough to mimic this natural behavior. The enclosures for terrestrial animals at zoos also fall short. The space requirement for an adult elephant in captivity is 1800 square feet for outdoor space and 400 square feet for indoor space (“Elephant”). Many zoos possess larger elephant enclosures than this minimum requirement. Zoos still fail to mimic an elephant's natural habitat. In the wild an elephant inhabits a home range of up to 5,000 square kilometers (“Elephant”).African elephants typically walk several miles daily and travel up to fifty miles per day if needed (“Elephant”). Zoo enclosures for elephants make this natural behavior impossible. Flying animals are another overlooked group. In the wild
Professor Molly Sides
English 101-D260
10 December 2013
Sad Eyes and Empty Lives The forced captivity of wild animals in zoos is a widely debated topic. Supporters point to conservation efforts and education of the public as important functions of zoos. Non-supporters claim the conservation efforts of zoos are not fruitful and education of the public is misinformed. Non-supporters say the enrichment needs of many species are not being met. I believe wild, non-domesticated animals should not be kept in captivity whenever possible. Better options for public education and conservation exist. Zoos present a distorted image of countless wild species. This is an education on captivity not wild animals. Space given to animals in zoos rarely comes close to the animal's natural range. Frustration and boredom lead to obsessive behaviors. Zoos often cause great suffering and stress to their captive animals. No zoo can truly meet the needs of many captive species due to their extremely high intelligence. Most reputable zoos build large and elaborate enclosures for their animals. Enclosures do not compare to the space animals have in the wild. Many species of dolphins in the wild swim over 100 miles each day (Perrin 578). There is not a tank in existence big enough to mimic this natural behavior. The enclosures for terrestrial animals at zoos also fall short. The space requirement for an adult elephant in captivity is 1800 square feet for outdoor space and 400 square feet for indoor space (“Elephant”). Many zoos possess larger elephant enclosures than this minimum requirement. Zoos still fail to mimic an elephant's natural habitat. In the wild an elephant inhabits a home range of up to 5,000 square kilometers (“Elephant”).African elephants typically walk several miles daily and travel up to fifty miles per day if needed (“Elephant”). Zoo enclosures for elephants make this natural behavior impossible. Flying animals are another overlooked group. In the wild