By Anugya Pandey
2nd Year Law Student at Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur
"Why is it admirable to "rescue" creatures whose natural habitats are vanishing as a result of human activity? “Because we are, in a sense, playing God by enslaving wild creatures and pushing them to breed in the hopes that our children will be able to see them alive and in person."
Zoos are captivity and entertainment centres where collections of wild animals are exhibited in solitary, often in solitary confinement, with the main aim of satisfying the curiosity of visitors.[1]
The animals kept in zoos are under complete control of the zoo authorities and this, in turn, affects the physical as well as the mental condition of those animals. It may be intriguing to observe how wild animals respond in person rather than on TV, but keep in mind that once a zoo shuts for the day, the zoo animals remain locked in their cages while visitors return home to their families.
Pet animals, such as dogs and cats, are easy to adore because we are taught implicitly that these are the creatures we should care for. But, much like us, animals killed for food, experimented on, and exploited for amusement have feelings and want to be free. Some animals bite their body parts not because they are hungry (although some zoos starve animals due to a lack of money or negligent employees), but because they are anxious about living in a cage that will never be as large as the space they have in the wild. This action is commonly misinterpreted as an animal's way of acting sweet or asking for food, but it is actually a call for help.”
Zoo animals are confined for their whole lives, denying them the ability to develop and fulfil their full range of interests and requirements. They lose control of their lives as well as the surroundings in which they live. The agony of solitary confinement is often forced upon social species. Animals who prefer to live alone are frequently compelled to live in confined spaces with others. Some animals are kept in closer range with their predators, while others are kept in cramped, desolate conditions where they are continuously tormented by their cagemates.
Animal Equality has noticed animals in distress living in filthy conditions among their own faeces. Many animals in zoos are separated from their families and relocated to other zoos, or killed when their group size exceeds the space allotted to them.”
The alleged ‘educational’ role of zoos needs to be challenged if we want to live in a just and equitable society that respects animals. If zoos teach anything, they teach us dangerous lessons. They teach us that humans have the right to enslave animals and reinforce the notion that animals have no other purpose other than for our gain. Zoos do not teach us to respect individuals.[2]
Zoo animals behave similarly to many other animals kept in captivity. It's hamstrung and unnatural. “Zoos do not teach children about the physical beauty of animals; rather, they present a distorted image of animals and teach them how animals should not live. The disturbed and often bizarre conduct of animals in zoos gives ample evidence that keeping animals captive is simply wrong. If we want to instil values in our children, such as respect for others, we should start by not visiting places that enslave and cage animals for life.”
Why is it admirable to "rescue" creatures whose natural habitats are vanishing as a result of human activity? “Because we are, in a sense, playing God by enslaving wild creatures and pushing them to breed in the hopes that our children will be able to see them alive and in person. Individual animals suffer in captivity in zoos, and are forced to use their reproductive systems to bring new wild animals into existence to add to zoo populations, which is an irony in conservationists' quest to rescue a species.”
“Even if zoos have mastered the art of keeping confined animals alive and compelling them to reproduce, keeping wild creatures is fraught with ethical issues. Although zoos have successfully reintroduced animal species into the wild on occasion, this does not excuse the reasons for their confinement. The responsibility of zoos to wildlife conservation is put into question because many profits from the sale of surplus animals to other parties rather than restoring them to their natural habitat.”
Zoos exploit caged animals by doing more harm than benefit to them. And their wildlife conservation initiatives are at best ineffective, and at worst, harmful. While zoos claim to support conservation measures, they sell surplus animals to roadside zoos or private collectors, such as male lions. Concentrating anti-poaching efforts would be extremely beneficial to wild species on the verge of extinction. Another option is for international policymakers to work diligently to end the invasion and appropriation of these creatures' natural habitats. Without zoos, these options can address the conservation needs that zoos are attempting to meet.
“If you care about animals, do not visit the zoo. Educate your children to respect others.”In zoos, animals suffer. They become miserable, psychologically disturbed, and irritated; they injure one another; they grow ill; they go hungry, and they must endure harsh and extreme temperatures. These creatures are unable to live their lives as they might desire. Animals such as dolphins and sea lions are derided in zoos in degrading and humiliating acts, and animals might be stressed out by screaming visitors. They are subjected to camera flashes and the throngs of people who gather in front of their cages every day to observe but not learn. Do not visit the zoo if you care about animals. Respect for animals should be encouraged in the children.”
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