Sabrina Distad

English 2010
Persuasive Argument
Zoos: helpful or harmful?
When I think back on all the times that I visited the zoo or the aquarium as a
young child, never did I question if the animals were sad or suffering. I enjoyed the
exhibits to my own satisfaction but never considered their well-being. It wasnt until I
was older and returned to the zoo, that I actually was concerned on whether or not the
animals could be missing something. It got me questioning all of the animals that are kept
in captivity for entertainment, education or even just pets. It got me thinking about all
the times that I have gone to zoos, circuses, sea world or even just a pet store. I realized
that animals are everywhere and that while dogs and cats can be easily justified, some of
these animals can be quite exotic and dont belong in cages.
Even worse than the zoo, circuses. In my opinion these circus environments that
dont even attempt to offer any kind of nature resembling amenities are horrible. They
force animals to perform show after show, day after day and in return small doses of
treats and affection. Some of the tasks the animals are required to perform are inhumane
in their own. Tigers jumping through hoops lit on fire and elephants forced to have person
after person ride them around a tiny arena. The conditions these animals are forced to live
in are horrendous.
When I think about exotic animals I picture them in their natural habitats. For
example parrots, when I picture these beautiful birds, I see them in their natural rain
forest habitats, I dont picture them in a cage in somebodys home. The same goes for

majestic animals like dolphins, whales, tigers, elephants, giraffes, etc. I do not picture
them in small enclosures inside of a large city zoo. I picture them in their natural homes,
doing natural things. Wild life documentaries, nature shows and magazines all represent
these animals and their actions that are true to their instincts. Hunting, mating, migrating,
all things that animals cannot do inside of an enclosure. All of these natural activities are
things that animals need to do, the instincts are in their DNA.
After doing research on the behaviors that are created or altered after the animals
are stripped of their wild freedoms, I realized that the animals that I had been viewing for
entertainment and personal enjoyment were suffering from depression, boredom, sadness
and loneliness. In the article From an animals point of view: Motivation, fitness and
animal welfare by Dawkins, M.S. She agrees by saying that animals in captivity living
in restricted environments are likely to prevented from taking the natural steps in
situations like removing themselves from danger or making other correct natural choices.
Choices that in my opinion, are imperative to their well-being. In the article Behavioral
ecology of captive species: Using behavioral adaptations to asses and enhance welfare of
nonhuman zoo animals by Paul Koene, this idea is strongly supported with Koene
arguing that in the wild, animals have a behavioral routine that is not only species
specific but also specific to a population and the individual. This behavioral repertoire
includes behaviors that the animals must perform to thrive in his or her natural
environments. The lack of ability to satisfy these natural instincts causes new, unnatural
behaviors to be created.
Some of these new behaviors that are created are things like self-mutilation,
pacing and fake chewing. Animals will over groom or pull hair and fur out as well as

pace back and forth, research suggests these acts are out of boredom. Another negative
effect that is common is fake chewing or sham-chewing. Animals that are underfed or
suffering from poor nutrition fake chew in the absence of food. Research also suggests
that stress or boredom could also cause animals to chew. This sham-chewing also
includes real objects like chewing of bars of cages, cement enclosures and tanks, chewing
on items in their enclosures that are not meant to be chewed on. This chewing causing
animals to break teeth, injure gums and swallow items that can cause internal damage. In
the article Beyond the zoo: How captivity affects the mental well-being of all animals,
on the Greenplanet.org website it explains some of the above listed effects and also adds
that pigs living in intense farm conditions spend up to 90 minutes each day shamchewing due to their living conditions and the stress that the environment causes. This is
just one effect on one animal in one living condition. There are animals of all habitats that
are being affected and suffering from various effects.
Now dont get me wrong, I do understand that in some cases zoos can be
beneficial. If an animal is sick or injured and it is not something that nature can cure, I do
believe that a zoo could be a great tool in assisting that animal in surviving. But only if
there is minimal human exposure, the habitat is as realistic to their natural homes as
possible and they can be released again afterwards to their natural environments. After
animals become too dependent on humans, they cannot survive in the wild with their
natural peers. They become lazy, depressed and stop acting in ways that they wouldnt
normally. Things like hunting for prey, searching for food, fighting for sport and mating
all diminish.

I also think that in certain circumstances zoos can be beneficial in assisting in

conservation of wild life. I am torn between agreement and disagreement with this in that,
if the animals are unhappy and mistreated, it seems inhumane to preserve them. (As
heartless as that sounds) I am also wondering if altering the natural patterns of extinction
and creation are having bigger effects than we know on Earths natural patterns.
Regardless, the well-being of our fellow creatures is something that we as people
need to reevaluate. We are cognoscente in the knowledge that zoos, circuses and
aquariums exist and most of us participate in visiting and supporting them but how many
of us are concerned with the animals within them. We as humans have a duty to be
humane. It is part of our moral responsibilities to respect the planet, the animals, their
freedoms and instincts. I believe that the idea of animals in captivity needs to be
reevaluated and outlawed in most circumstances. The negative effects that are being
caused to these helpless animals is real and research has proven it.

Citations
Brian Miller, William Conway, Richard P. Reading, Chris Wemmer, David
Wildt, Devra Kleiman, Steven Monfort, Alan Rabinowitz, Beth
Armstrong, and Michael Hutchins. Evaluating the conservation mission
of Zoos, aqauriums, botanical gardens and natural history museums,
Essay in Conservation Biology, Pages 8693Volume 18, No. 1, February
2004, http://naturallycurious.co.uk/sites/default/files/j.15231739.2004.00181.x.pdf, November 23rd, 2016
Di Lamont. Beyond the zoo: How captivity affects the mental well-being of
all animals. Onegreenplanet.org, May 4th, 2015,
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-captivity-effectsthe-mental-well-being-of-all-animals/, November 18th, 2016.
Marian Stamp Dawkins. From an animals point of view: motivation,
fitness and animal welfare. Behavioral and brain sciences volume 13:1
pages 1-61, March 1990,
http://www.bib.uab.es/veter/expo/benestar/Behanvioral.pdf, November 22nd,
2016
Zuolo, Federico. "Dignity and animals. Does it make sense to apply the
concept of dignity to all sentient beings?." Ethical Theory and Moral
Practice 1-14, 2016,
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Federico_Zuolo/publication/29317
1838_Dignity_and_Animals_Does_it_Make_Sense_to_Apply_the_Conc
ept_of_Dignity_to_all_Sentient_Beings/links/56b5fb2208aebbde1a79bd
55.pdf, November 23rd, 2016