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Jenna Huffstetler

Mrs. Hofmann
English 1102-057
22 April 2014
Note to Reader: I thoroughly took in consideration of the comments provided. I reworded
sentences to make them more understandable while including context of the quotes to give
more voice. I added examples to relate my topic to the information given and I feel that the
examples added gives the paper more relations to society. The title has been a work in
progress, but I did not want to leave it blank so I came up with what I thought sounded
profound.
Domestication: A Lifestyle, An Opportunity, A Choice
Although animals cannot talk nor can they reason, can they suffer? This is motivating
question and argument for animal rights activists on how they feel that there should be extreme
measures taken for animals safety. Animal rights activist groups, such as PETA, have done
things like protesting for the cause of animal rights or making a point of not wearing animal fur.
The importance of these groups are that the supporters of animal rights believes that animals
have inherent wortha value completely separate from their usefulness to humans (PETA). If
you think about it, everyone who likes animals or who owns a pet should be a supporter of these
animal rights for the sake of the animals in the zoo that are caged and domesticated as well as the
sake of their own pet. As an animal lover, I would like to do what I can to support the safety of
animals altogether: in the home place, in the circus, and specifically in the zoo. Not knowing the
debates on if an elephant or tiger is safe in the zoo, one can bring forth the inquiry of curiosity
and research along with the question about what is the relationship between animal rights and the
domestication of animals in the zoo?
Domestication is in definition to tame (an animal), especially by generations of
breeding, to live in close association with human beings as a pet or work animal and usually
creating a dependency so that the animal loses its ability to live in the wild (Dictionary.com).
By reading this definition, domestication has been seen from having pets like cats and dogs to
using cattle and horses for transportation to taming animals in the circus. Domestication actually
started with dogs about 14,000 years ago, but scientists believe that it may have started earlier
and evidence has not been found yet to prove those beliefs. In the wide range of animals,
domestication has been known as a way to spread diseases. Farm animals are the perfect example
of this due to the fact that we live in close proximity to them, which allows for disease causing
agents to spread more effectively from host to host. Cows pose the risk of transmitting TB, pigs
risk the spread of influenza, and horses could have rhinoviruses. A common method of the
transfer of parasites is through fur, which is very evident in house pets. Aside from this
downside, domesticated animals play a vital role in mankinds history and have remained
shaping our culture.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is an animal rights activist
organization that is pro-animal rights and anti-domestication specifically within zoos. PETA
believes that zoos contain too many cramped areas and cages which prevent the animals from
living their lives as nature intended. The animals need to flourish in their environment
unrestricted. Some natural behaviors of wildlife animals include having enough space to run,
scavenge, and select a partner. However, before jumping to conclusions, remember that not all
zoos are created equal. This refers to the overall quality of a zoo, which varies in species
preservation, education, research, and in having both well-kept and unwell-kept exhibits for the
visitors. For example our local zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina is world renowned for being the
first American zoo to have the natural habitat philosophy, which pairs animals up with plants
and other vegetation that would normally coexist in their respective natural habitats; this reduces
many behavior problems which could be caused by solitary confinement. The North Carolina
State Zoo also has signs and other plaques which display educational and factual information to
further enhance the visitors wildlife experiences within the zoological facility. The quality of the
zoo is important because the quality is based off the treatment and protection of the animals
well-being which can attract or detract the population in that region.
There are four major purposes of zoos and three of them - entertainment, scientific
research, education are largely human centered (DeGrazia). All three purposes are solely for
our needs and our desire to learn about different ways in which scientific research can improve
mankinds ability to care for animals around the world. Recently, some zoo advocates have
argued that zoos can and should educate visitors about the importance of conservation and
species preservation, ultimately benefiting animals by changing attitudes and inspiring activism
(DeGrazia). Some zoo advocates believe that identifying species preservation is the main goal
for zoos, but only small budgets are made toward this cause which can prevent them from
achieving that goal. One might wonder if the goal of species preservation justifies further capture
from the wild and if humans should even keep animals in the zoo. There are two questionable
sides to species preservation. Some argue towards how captivity frequently causes death, but for
others captivity can also increase genetic diversity for the endangered species (DeGrazia). An
explanation on why animals should not be in zoos is not because animals are full of diseases, not
well fed or comfortable, but because most zoos do not fulfill the adequate needs that the animals
should have for survival in the wildlife aspect such as adequate portions and ample space for
exercise. A great example of this occurred in 2010 at the Los Angeles Zoo over an issue
concerning an elephant named Billy having feet problems due to small confinements and
constantly having to stand on concrete or hard dirt surfaces. A leader of the activists states that
Billy has had foot abscesses twice Something is going on with his feet its called captivity
(Bluemel). However, because all zoos are not on the same level, there are some zoo facilities that
have already met these needs, whereas some have planned to improve to reach those standards.
Aside from the pros and cons of zoos, the thought of how an animal can be fit for such
measures of domestication can come to mind. Evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond identified
six things that an animal must meet in order to be domesticated; these six things that an animal
must have is a: flexible diet, reasonably fast growth rate, ability to breed in captivity, pleasant
disposition, temperament that makes it unlikely to panic, and a modifiable social hierarchy
(Lear). With these qualities in mind, the elephant is the perfect example why such a creature
could be domesticated in a zoo habitat due to the fact that they meet all of the criteria needed for
an animal to be able to survive under domestication. Elephants flexible diet consists of grasses,
leaves, roots, and grown crops like bananas and sugarcane which most of these are readily
available depending on the location. Since adult elephants can eat up to 300-400 pounds a day,
this shows that they constantly grow which means they have a reasonably fast growth rate.
Elephants were known to have been used for warfare during captivity many centuries ago which
shows that they were still able to breed in captivity. Mating season occurs during the rainy
season and it takes about 22 months to birth their capacity of one calf; even though captivity
involves hard times, it was still possible to breed. As for having a pleasant disposition and a
temperament that makes it unlikely to panic, elephants are known to be the largest animal and is
closest to human regarding intelligence because they have characteristics that are hard to even
find in man; these qualities include justice, respect, loyalty, having memories that span many
years and that they display signs of grief, joy, anger, and play (Kalof, Defenders of Wildlife).
Even though elephants were used for warfare, those experiences may have given them the
qualities that are so rare compared to other animals. The lesson that we can draw from this kind
of domestication is that the importance of animals is written and told that humans ironically
dont think of their capacities to where one solely bases off their superiority (Kalof). In other
words, humans dont look past their own desires and only see animals, especially elephants, as
path ways to benefit them aside from the many other capabilities that animals originally uphold.
By looking at the elephants traits and its compatibility with being around humans, we can see a
case where domestication doesnt produce many negative effects. Animal rights activists still
oppose this despite the argument that domestication isnt necessarily always harmful towards the
animals in question. PETA, the well-known animal activist group, loves animal companions but
they do not believe that pet keeping should have ever existed because it causes immeasurable
suffering, which results from manipulating their breeding, selling or giving them away casually,
and depriving them of the opportunity to engage in their natural behavior; this was their opinion
on what is in the best interest for all animals (PETA). Many pet owners might agree or disagree
with PETAs views depending on how they take care of their animals, but the previous statement
explains why activists do not like or agree with the domestication of animals as a whole.
There have been many cases where zoos boundaries have efficiently evolved for the
protection of endangered species. In 1974, New Jersey opened the Great Adventure safari park.
The park was issued permits to import twenty-four tigers on the foundation that on-site breeding
would affect species circulation. Due to fighting between six tigers who resided at the zoo and
resulting in their ultimate demise, the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums
(AAZPA), unlike Great Adventure, wanted to cut down on the number of animals taken from the
wild in order to continue to protect not only the wild populations, but also preservation of species
for display. Species that are considered endangered by The Department of the Interior have
certain restrictions set upon them. Some of these restrictions apply not only to the animals in the
wild but ones in captivity. For example in order to get a loan of an endangered animal from
one zoo to another you must obtain an Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit. The AAZPA
challenges this practice, they think that The Department of the Interior should be able to
downgrade some animals ESA status from endangered to captive self-sustaining in order to
allow for the exchange of animals from zoo to zoo without the use of permits. Eventually Interior
loosened up their requirements where zoos could have expedited permits for individual transfers,
which would help with making the breeding of animals more efficient. Another change came in
1977 when the AAZPA setup a system where zoos could apply for a 2-year permit that would
allow them exchange any animals from an approved captive self-sustaining population species
with other permit holders.
Earlier in this writing I had explained how elephants can survive easily in a domesticated
environment. But is this okay? The elephants dont want to survive, they want to live. Although
there are many varied views toward zoo domestication, there have been more valid reasons why
zoo animals should not be domesticated due to losing their wildlife abilities that they were
created for. Legislations have been passed for both domestication of animals and zoo
improvements to be allowed to keep animals under their protection. Zoo domestications and
animal rights activists are inversely related, but there are valid reasons to agree with one or the
other or, if you really care and want to know more, conduct your own research and develop your
own opinions on the matter. Early on in my research and inquiry I had been focused on two sides
to the story, the side of the zoos or the side of the activists. I do believe domestication has been
seen as more negative than positive, I still see how a zoo can be more of a safe haven depending
on the quality of animal care and from what kind of environment the animal came from
previously. However, as I actually began to understand the problems and conducted more
research, I realized that maybe its not that simple. After all its not about whose side you are on,
its about the rights of the animals.













Works Cited
"Animal Rights Uncompromised: Zoos." PETA. People for the Ethical Treatments of Animals, n.d. Web.
26 Mar. 2014. <http://www.peta.org/about-peta/why-peta/zoos/>.
"Basic Facts About Elephants." Elephant. Defenders of Wildlife, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.defenders.org/elephant/basic-facts>.
Bjorkenstam, Melissa. "Legal Rights for Animals - Petfinder." Petfinder Legal Rights for
Animals Comments. ASPCA Animal Watch, Spring 2001. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.petfinder.com/helping-pets/information-on-helping-pets/legal-rights-
animals/>.
Bluemel, Dan. "LA Zoo Cruel to Elephant, Says Animal Rights Group." LA Zoo Cruel
to Elephant, Says Animal Rights Group. L.a. Activist, 19 June 2010. Web. 26
Mar. 2014. <http://www.laactivist.com/2010/06/19/la-zoo-cruel-to-elephant-says-
animal-rights-group/>.
DeGrazia, David. Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002.
Print.
"DOMESTICATION." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/domestication>.
Donahue, Jesse, and Erik Trump. The Politics of Zoos: Exotic Animals and Their
Protectors. DeKalb: Northern Illinois UP, 2006. Print.
Kalof, Linda. A Cultural History of Animals in Antiquity. Vol. 1. Oxford: Berg, 2007.
Print.
Lear, Jessica. "Our Furry Friends: The History of Animal Domestication | JYI
The Premier Undergraduate Research Journal." JYI The Premier Undergraduate
Research Journal. Journal of Young Investigators Science, Feb. 2012. Web. 24
Mar. 2014. <http://www.jyi.org /issue/our-furry-friends/>.
Leavitt, Jackie. "The World's Worst Zoos." GlobalPost. GlobalPost, 23 July 2010.
Web. 26 Mar. 2014. <http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/global/100629/worst
-world-zoos>.

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