In late October of this year two otherwise healthy adult giraffes passed away unexpectedly in the Dallas zoo, sparking an ongoing conversation about whether or not zoos are humane. Fourteen-year-old Jesse and nineteen-year-old Auggie both died during the last week of October due to severe liver damage probably caused by toxins or a contagious zoonotic disease. Although the Dallas zoo removed some trees and plants from the giraffes’ habitat in an effort to prevent another tragedy, these mysterious deaths further add to the argument that animals should not be held in captivity just for human viewing.
When I was a kid, zoos were my favorite place to go, I loved seeing my favorite animals in person. As I have gotten older, zoos have begun to look more and more like prisons for the Earth’s most magnificent creatures. In the wild, animals like lions have territories that can range over one hundred square miles of untouched land, but in zoos they are confined to spaces equivalent to the size of an apartment in a big city. Instead of utilizing their basic instincts to hunt and kill, these powerful animals are fed raw meat cut by their zookeepers. Elephants, the largest mammals on land, are forced to live in small enclosures and spend most of their day standing around instead of walking the fifty miles a day they usually walk in the wild. While it is often true that animals in captivity have longer life spans than in the wild, the poor quality of life these animals have in zoos far outweighs the possibility of a longer lifetime.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the general public got to experience first-hand what it is like to be “trapped in a cage.” When the pandemic hit, millions of people were forced to stay inside of their homes, unable to do simple things like going to the grocery store or going to lunch with a friend. Animals in captivity are deprived of the same experiences. Unable to follow their natural instincts, socialize with other members of their species, and explore their natural habitats these animals suffer in captivity. Throughout the pandemic it was commonly known that mental health was become an even bigger issue in our society, being trapped in your home with nowhere to go forced many people into a depression and even caused a spike in suicides. This sparks the question, can animals suffer from the same mental health issues being locked in a zoo? Luckily for humans, the pandemic is coming to an end and life is returning back to normal. However, the lives of these animals in captivity will never return back to “normal.” Most animals who are born and raised in captivity can never be released into the wild and are forced to spend their entire lives in cages.
Besides zoos, theme parks such as Sea World also have a reputation for the poor treatment of animals. Sea World is home to hundreds of captive animals including the majestic killer whale. In the wild killer whales swim around forty miles a day but at Sea World their tanks are only around 86 feet long and 36 feet deep. Killer whales are unfortunately not the only animals kept at Sea World, dolphins, pilot whales, and sea lions are also forced to perform in front of huge crowds of people. Luckily, the well-known documentary Blackfish brough a lot of awareness to the inhumane treatment these animals face and Sea World has stopped its breeding programs. Hopefully the establishments turn into amusement parks where patrons can enjoy rollercoaster rides and learn more about the animals through photo and video exhibits.
While there is an argument that zoos are beneficial because they teach children about the other species that inhabit our planet, there are many other ways for children to learn the same information. There are hundreds of documentaries and TV shows that can teach not only children, but adults as well, about how incredible wild animals are. I personally have learned more by watching documentaries than going to the zoo, getting to see animals in their natural habitats makes seeing them even more special. Another option to see wild animals in person without having to see them in a very enclosed park is to do a drive-thru zoo or animal sanctuary. These establishments give animals more of the space they need and sanctuaries rescue animals from places like circuses which make them unable to be released back into the wild. Animals are incredibly fascinating for a lot of people which make zoos appealing, however there are plenty of other ways to learn about animals without benefitting establishments that keep wild animals enclosed in cages.
Ughh this is so sad. I totally agree with everything you’re saying, and I like that you drew a comparison between the animals trapped in cages and us getting a taste of entrapment during the pandemic. I felt very identified. I totally agree that zoos are horrible. I’m from Buenos Aires and we had this zoo in the middle of the city that was super dilapidated and frankly apocalyptic. It was incredibly sad (it has since been turned into a park, yay!). I think there are some huge, super lucrative zoos, but it has been interesting to see the public begin to hesitate more and more about them.
I've had a similar experience with zoos, only realizing the bizarreness of them as I began comparing them to other immoral systems as I got older. It is cruel to treat wild animals like we have, and the acceptance of zoos as an educational tool has kept them away from criticism for years.
This is a very well-written op-ed and I admire you for taking on such a brave topic. I loved the comparison to COVID-19 and I think this is a great way to relate the topic to a larger audience. I remember reading about human zoos that used to put people from different cultures on display in the late 1800s and early 1900s. I think it is interesting that people today look upon that practice with shock and disgust (and rightfully so) but often see nothing wrong with animal zoos. It’s as if our culture says it is okay to mistreat someone as long as they are from a different species. I also agree with you that I don’t think education…
I think this is a great op-ed. Incorporating the idea of quarantine in COVID-19 to animals in zoos was a perfect similarity to allow people to understand this. I, like you, have always loved going to zoos, however, reading this has made me realize the suffering and injustice these animals are forced to endure being in captivation. I have also heard about the abuse that has gone on at Sea World and find it horrifying. Overall, something else that really stuck out to me in this blog post was your recommendation and hope for these establishments to transform into a type of educational amusement park, where people can become educated about these animals in a more respectful way.
I loved reading this blog post although it was sad too. The argument whether animals are better off in the zoo or in the wild is such a big argument and you made your points really well. I especially liked how you compared animals being in a zoo to humans being stuck in quarantine during COVID-19. Great post!