Keeping Animals In Zoos?

Question

Anyone Who Feels Like Stating Their Views On Wether Animals Should Be Caged In Zoos Or Not Would Come In Really Handy For My Case Study.. Go Nuts! = ]

Answer 1

1. Some animals don't mind or don't notice being in cages. Plenty in the reptile house like that.
2. Some animals don't like to be caged/housed in enclosures that are too small or don't provide enough stimulation.
When I went to the zoo:
The black eagle did not seem happy. I think he would have preferred an enclosure where he could fly freely.
One of the wolves just paced back and forth.
A gorilla punched the plexiglas
Some of the big cats seemed bored (hard to tell, though, since they're probably not so active in the daytime anyway)

Answer 2

It always surprises me when people ask this question. I guess because living on the farm I have a different outlook on animals than people from the city.

That aside, consider this. If it were not for zoos then many people would not know or care about so many animals. Little would be known about them at all since not only do zoos fund all types of research, but they also raise public and personal awareness to such a level that governments are willing to spend money and people are inspired to study these and other animals.

Without zoos, no one would know that there is a mouse on the island of Java that has a mouth with lower teeth that spread apart! That hippos are the only aquatic animal that can't swim! That condors can have a ten foot wing span! That pandas really are bears and not related closely to the raccoon.

These animals act as spokemen for the other animals of their species and indeed all the animals that live in their native habitat, and they do all this without saying a word!

My point? Support your zoo. Most really have no idea how lucky they are to have one!

Answer 3

I believe in zoos, but I may be a little biased, because I worked at one for five years, but zoos do provide a very important role for animals and the public.
Most zoos do important research that helps to preserve disappearing species.
There are some species that were extinct in the wild, and are still around, because of zoos. For example the Red Wolf.
Zoos also provide education in various ways, from signs on the exhibits to formal classes and lectures.
Plus it provides a place for families to spend time together and discover animals from all over the world.
If the zoo is a good zoo, the keepers will make sure that they provided enrichment for their animals, something for them to do, instead of pacing back and forth. Alot of enrichment is food based. For example, fish frozen in a block of ice for a polar bear to play with on a warm summer day, or a hallowed out gourd with holes that primates can reach in and find food. Toddler toys make great toys for primates as well. Some enrichment in scent based. The keepers will go into the enclosures before the animal and spray various scents, like perfumes. This works well for big cats or bears, that rely on their sense of smell. Sometimes the design of the enclosure are enrichment as well. Like having a predator being able to see prey, but not get to them.
Some animals in zoos are there because they would have no chance at all to survive in the wild. They serve as an ambassador to their species. How can you care about something you've never seen or heard of?
Zoos have come a long way in the past century. Animals are no longer kept behind bars in concrete enclosures. Most habitats mimic their natural conditions. Zoo animals have longer life spans than their wild counterparts. If I had the choice to life a life where I get regular meals, healthcare and no threat of predators, I think I would choose the zoo!

Answer 4

Zoos provide an important service to endangered species and habitats. Without zoos, many people would be unlikely to care about protection of wildlife and the environment. It would be so foreign to them, they would not see the point in abstaining from the destruction of rainforests and other important ecosystems. Zoos bring animals to people so that they can sympathize with the animals and better understand the damage humans are doing to biodiversity all over the Earth.

I also feel bad when I see animals caged, since I'm sure they'd rather be free. But if they weren't made available for the public, many of the species that we see in zoos today might be extinct in the wild.

Answer 5

Although it's not nice to keep animals in places like zoo's, sea life centers etc they are not always better off out there in the wild. Because some animals for eg, tigers are use for skin, stole for trades and kept for entertainment but then you have fish like sharks finned and becoming more extinct by the day. Re educating people about the cause and effect can't always be done out in the wild so sometimes these places do serve a purpose and how many governments do you see pay for these places to exist? Exactly, so they have to raise money to maintain, re educate and so on hence why they do visiting centres etc.

Nothing is as straight as it seems but it's a shame they can't stay in their own habitat in peace.

Answer 6

maximum Zoos presently have very stable breeding courses, and function succeeded in breeding some animals that are on the severely endangered lists. Zoos additionally serve a purpose for animals that have been injured interior the wild, and function been rehabilitated, yet no longer able to return to the wild, the zoo has been a refuge for those animals. maximum Zoos even have the terrific centers and vets handy in case of emergencies. i think of presently Zoo's have become lots extra functional places for a great sort of animals, as there are additionally so lots extra regulations for them to stick to, unlike years in the past, the place Zoo's have been seen as cruel, and housed animals in cramped cages etc.. presently the animals have extra freedom, and additionally many of the bigger zoo' s have replicated the animals habitats.

Answer 7

Yes, we as the the world should keep animals in zoos to protect the ones that are labeled as "endangered species".

Also, families go to zoos to pass the time during certain points during the year, because not all animals can be taken home as pets for them to keep.

In fact, some animals need to be in a certain type of environment and/or a habitat/climate to survive in for a long period of time.

Answer 8

I feel awful for some of the animals when i go to the zoo, like the tigers...sometimes they are in such small enclosures and seem to be so unhappy.

but other animals are really benefitting from being there at the zoo, even if they arent happy...they are having trouble existing in the wild and we (humans) are trying to help them reproduce in zoos so they can get their numbers back up. So its helpful to the species even if the individual animals arent happiest, its for the "greater good".

Answer 9

I think the only good reason for zoos is to protect endangered species. I have always thought it cruel to cage up animals unless you are doing something very beneficial for them.

Answer 10

no its wrong and just mean animals shouldn't have to be put in a cage to be safe they should be out in the wild where they belong e.g parrots should be in a hot country sleeping in trees and using there wings which every human dreams of so let them be free not behind bars with little kids staring at them with ice creams in there hands having fun when the poor animal is stuck in a tiny cage its wrong!