Keeping Animals in Zoos Is Unethical. Do You Agree? Essay Example
The issue of whether keeping animals in zoos is amoral, and has been widely debated in our communities recently. The treatments of animals at Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary published in The Age have raised a conflict amongst Australians again. Some believe that the presence of zoos is inevitable so as to rescue animals from extinction, whilst others are not in favor of zoos due to the captivity of wildlife. If one was to take into the reason why the conservation is not fully effective, the inappropriate perception about wildlife and the ugly truth of the life in the zoos, then there would be no debate. Australia should not retain animals in zoos.
It has been argued that the conservation programs aim to save endangered species from the edge of extinction (Lyons, 2009). The zoos also take part in breeding and funding programs that try to enhance the population of endangered wildlife and protect their habitats. For example, the Melbourne Zoo had raised over $9000 by collecting and resale old phones in order to safeguard gorilla habitats (Dean, 2009). We must admit that these actions are quite effective in the evidence that supporters provide. However, it must be remembered that there are still difficulties of those programs that hardly overcome. As stated by Whiting, the problem of genetic diversity can be a burden. The idea is that a small population can possibly cause inbreeding with the result of frailer offspring (Whiting). This may well lead to the hurdle in the concept of re-introduction. In fact, captive bred animals often struggle with the environment since they are lack of instinct or knowledge to survive in the wild (Whiting). Moreover, there will be no so called home for them, as poaching and habitat destruction still remain a threat (Whiting).
Supporters of zoos claim that the zoos acknowledge about wild animals behaviors and carry out research that help people to improve their understanding about wildlife. This position goes on to assert
It has been argued that the conservation programs aim to save endangered species from the edge of extinction (Lyons, 2009). The zoos also take part in breeding and funding programs that try to enhance the population of endangered wildlife and protect their habitats. For example, the Melbourne Zoo had raised over $9000 by collecting and resale old phones in order to safeguard gorilla habitats (Dean, 2009). We must admit that these actions are quite effective in the evidence that supporters provide. However, it must be remembered that there are still difficulties of those programs that hardly overcome. As stated by Whiting, the problem of genetic diversity can be a burden. The idea is that a small population can possibly cause inbreeding with the result of frailer offspring (Whiting). This may well lead to the hurdle in the concept of re-introduction. In fact, captive bred animals often struggle with the environment since they are lack of instinct or knowledge to survive in the wild (Whiting). Moreover, there will be no so called home for them, as poaching and habitat destruction still remain a threat (Whiting).
Supporters of zoos claim that the zoos acknowledge about wild animals behaviors and carry out research that help people to improve their understanding about wildlife. This position goes on to assert