Do you think ZOOs are inhumane to animals?

Question

I often thought of this, when seeing those animals in cages, locked up, and in an environment that isn't their natural habitat. I feel bad for the animals, and watching the kids enjoy their presence when they go through, makes me have mixed feelings about 'zoos' in general. What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

I'm a bit mixed too. However I think by study them in zoos you get a better idea of what they do and need in the wild (even if it provides focus for behaviours for scientists to look for). Also zoos will be a main source for people to be interested in animals and they will make decisions on habitats in the future. I suppose I am saying they are worthwhile.

Answer 2

Absolutely not.
Most zoos are built to resemble an animals natural habitat and have enough space so that the animal comes to define it's territory as that space.
They are well-fed and cared for, and have life spans of much longer than animals in the wild. they do not feel like captives, because they are given all the space, food, and necessities they need. they have much easier and safer lives than their counterparts in the wild who have to struggle every day just to eat, as their territory shrinks due to lost habitat or are hunted to extinction.

Zoos have a very important purpose: Education and conservation.
Most of these animals are endanged because of loss of habitat, hunting, etc, so breeding programs can be started to save animals from extinction, and meanwhile zoos can educate people about these animals, so they will be more willing to put forth the effort to help save animals and their habitats.

Answer 3

i sometimes thought that too. soon primates will have the same right as humans to not be kept in zoos or as pets. although, some of the animals are kept at zoos for reabilitation or because they are unable to live in their natural habitat because of living in captivity. i went to sea life park and found that a lot of the fishes looked unhealthy. a lot of them had physical damages, like the horned fish had its horn bent. my guess is that they didn't properly introduce it to its new enviroment, the fish will then panic and swim crazily until crash. also, the dolphins teeth are worn out. i don't think that they should catch fishes from their habitat and put them into a clear glass tank. i think that they should only do it seasonally rather than anytime they want, because the non-edible mostly for your eyes fishes here are running out.

Answer 4

I have mixed feelings about zoos. I have often wondered the same thing. I just hope the animals are happy and are being treated well.

Answer 5

I see them as an animal jail additionally, and I suppose that circuses are even worse. There will have to be way more oversight of such a lot zoos and circuses have to be baned from having animals.

Answer 6

I do sometimes feel sorry for them being locked up. But They are very well taken care of. They get lots of food, water,toys,vet care and they don't have to worry about being eaten by other animals or hunters.

Answer 7

We are slowly proggressing to open zoos where they have more space, but they are sometimes safer in a zoo with al the hunting and poaching.

Answer 8

Mostly, it depends on the facility. I think animals can be kept in captivity in humane and natural conditions. Unfortunately, at this point, that is most likely the minority of cases.

Answer 9

the idea of zoos is very important, as for some species the zoos are the only asylum

Answer 10

If you were drugged and kidnapped from your home, and then caged up and displayed for people to gawk at, would you feel as though you were being treated humanely.