Natalya Overn

05/09/2016
English Q4
Zoos Eradicate Animals Rights
The earliest zoo dates back to the beginning of summer 1874 in Philadelphia. Initially, the
intentions of zoos were to broadcast the exotic and endangered animals and satisfy the interest of
the wildlife that settlers had. On opening day, flags flew, and a brass band welcomed more than
3,000 visitors. Admission was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children, a rate that held for
the next half century (Philadelphia Zoo). Recently zoos intentions have become corrupt and the
best option for the animals is shutting them down. Zoos often times are exceedingly active
bringing flows of currency into the financial world of zoos. However, funds are often spent on
tourist attractions rather than the necessities of the inhabitants. Research has shown a significant
drop in the lifespan of animals in captivity.
All sort of zoos has surfaced around the world from the beginning of their times in the
1800s. This includes even human zoos, which exposed different culture habits, for example: In
the 1800s there were European travelers that paraded an African tribe that culturally stretched
their bottom lips with rings. This leads to the creation of circuses that had large animals exposed
to childish tricks and performances. Circuss lead to the creation of Zoos, which were created to
educate the public about endangered animals and inspire future zoologist. Zoos are creating a
dangerous environment for animals that provoke abnormal behavior and animal cruelty. Recently
Zoos have experienced some corruption and become about the financial profit rather than the
care of these beautiful animals. Animals living in these conditions experience a wide variety of

mental and behavioral problems from their containment. Humans wouldnt want to live like this,
so why to put animals in this situation.
Forcing animals to inhabits zoos decrease their lifespans, limits the sufficient space
needed and animals are forced out of their natural habitats to captivity. Animals also experience
signs of stress that cant be diagnosed easily, because they arent noticed. These symptoms
include excessive grooming, increased laziness, loss of appetite, and much much more. Animals
also experience abnormal behavior that creates tension and aggravation, that can lead to events
that animals should not be at fault for. If animals get put into these events of distress their actions
should be disclosed as psychiatric patient's actions are.
The lifespan of animals living in captivity is significantly shorter than animals living in
the wild. Animals get the necessary exercise daily with other companions that keep their hearts
healthy. They play, bathe in rivers and engage in constant exercise. In their natural environment,
they can live up to 60 or 70 years(Sentenac). They interact with a wide variety of animals,
initially helping their body produce antibodies that help fight against diseases. Daily social
interactions promote healthy lifestyles and prevent the development of abnormal behaviors that
can conclude from isolation. Captive animals are deprived of everything that is natural and
important to them, and as a result, they become bored and lonely and many even suffer from a
condition called zoochosis(Carr). Animals that grow up with social interactions with others
develop healthy interaction habits that induce patience behavior and prevent depression from
isolation. Elephants, for instance, have tribes up to one-hundred, they often bond with other
members and begin to rely on the companionship. They develop compassion, more perception,
and social. Overall, the lifespan of an elephant living in the wild is typically sixty to seventy,

versus the typical lifespan of forty in captivity. The difference in lifespan is also a factor of the
limited space that animals inhabit in captivity.
Animals living in captivity experience life in a restrictive environment. Habitually,
animals in zoos are in smaller areas that are bounded by wire electrical fences, cement cells with
little light exposure, and other companions that make the area succeedingly smaller. For
example, animals like tigers and lions who naturally nomadic are at a lost in their isolation.
Research has shown that from the confinement of the environment animals begin to develop
depression, anxiety, or abnormal behavior. Tigers and lions have around 18,000 times less
space in zoos than they would in the wild.(CAPS). Typically feelings of isolation come from the
only source of activity the animals have are the millions of people who visit, so the only form of
the outside world these animals have are the unknown humans they encounter. Often, theyre
chained in place and receive little to no exercise. They frequently become depressed and
overweight, and depending on where theyre kept, can be subjected to abuse by bullhooks and in
other forms(Sentenac.) More often than not, times animals can deal with hazing from outside
sources, which can create aggravation over time. This leads to the escape of animals and puts
both humans and animals in danger. Arguably the habitats of zoos can be viewed as a sanctuary
and secure environment.
Zoos provide a steady diet and security. There are many zoos that have a number of acres
available for the inhabitants. They give large areas to each species and provide observant care. It
can be argued that animals in zoos are given a better chance of staying alive because they are
provided a meal routinely. However, these provided diets arent always nutritional or in moderate
portions. As for security, animals tend to herd naturally, so any type of security in the wild would
come from their natural habit to form groups. Nevertheless, natural selection is a necessity in the

ecosystems and food chains, so for a zoo to provide both security and a steady diet, there has to
be a balance in an ecosystem. Food chains arent recognized for captivity animals, because they
havent been given the opportunity to establish a natural food chain.
Zoo inhabitants are taken from wild life environments and put into confining one's. For
an extremely long period of time people have been captivating animals for the intentions to put
them into environments to be viewed publicly. These animals are captured purely for the income
that come from their presence. A CAPS study found that 79% of all animals in UK aquariums
were caught in the wild(CAPS). Animals have been treated like currency already, because they
are being bought between two countries or two outside sources. Nonetheless, animals deserve to
be in environments where they arent used for profit and are cared for.
Imprisonment from zoos are preventing animals from living their max capacity life spans
available from living in wildlife environments that include the ability to develop social skills.
Along develop social skills from interacting with animals living in their natural habitats by their
ability to form groups and find a natural diet that gives them the nutrients that they need. Zoos
dont have the size capacity to hold the number of animals that they do and the animals suffer
from it. To create a zoo animals must be plucked from the wild and thrown into cement cells with
limited food. Putting an end to zoos would improve our ecosystem, promote a healthy lifestyle
for animals, and prevent the development of abnormal behavior.
The quality of life should be one-hundred percent for any living organism. Animals cant
speak for themselves, so they must be spoken for. Standing up to prevent the counterproductive
conservation of animals in zoos is the next step to creating a well-balanced ecosystem.
Originally, the creation of zoos was to ensure conservation of endangered animals, but now that
purpose has been fulfilled and they must be freed now. Overall, animals should be placed back

into their natural environments, so that they can reduce their amount of stress and become
themselves again.

Work Cited
"About the Zoo." - Philadelphia Zoo. Philadelphia Zoo. Web. 07 May 2016.
"10 Facts About Zoos." Captive Animals Protection Society. 03 Mar. 2010. Web. 07 May 2016.
Carr, Michelle. "The Reality of Zoos." PETA The Reality of Zoos Comments. Web. 07 May 2016.

Sentenac, Hannah. "Empty the Cages and Tanks! Heres the Truth About the Lives of Animals in
Captivity Versus the Wild." One Green Planet. 28 Aug. 2014. Web. 07 May 2016.