 |
| Photo Credit: CHRGD.ca |
Zoos has been a
major point where people comfortably view and study animals both for pleasure
and research purposes. There are so many zoos in the world housing different
kind of animals ranging from the small sized mouse to the big sized elephant. The first modern day
zoo opened in 1793, in Paris, France following the London Zoological Gardens, which was
opened for scientific study in 1828 and to the public in 1857 and since
then the love for viewing wild animals in captivity increased. It is a stale
truth that one cannot just walk into the forest, unskilled to view or study
animals, it will be putting the individual in a great risk of life and death.
Over the years, the growth of zoos around the world increased the captivity of
wild animals. Being held in captivity takes
away your natural freedom, limits you motor activities and mobility and
then causes a lot of mental stress. Now, these animals are just like humans
with developed body system and a brain (some are not too advanced though) and
they are bound to feel all the downtrend coming up from Captivity in the zoo.
Zoos hold strongly that they maintain a strong welfare standards for animals in their
care but nevertheless, going round some of the zoos will tell you otherwise.
This will bring me to the big question in a bit, Should
animals be kept in the zoo?
 |
| Photo Credit: topchinatravel.com |
While there
continue to be challenges in the global implementation of animal welfare
standards, the world association of zoos and aquariums (WAZA) has set up codes of ethics and animal
welfare
, guidelines on animals
interaction
and positive animal welfare. "The World Zoo and Aquarium Animal
Welfare Strategy recommend that zoos and aquariums should apply a simple
welfare model – the "Five Domains" – and make an ongoing commitment to
animal welfare in all operations and to all animals in their care. The Strategy
recommends continued education and training of staff in animal welfare, and a
commitment to animal welfare research, to applying animal welfare knowledge to
exhibit design and to being leading centre for animal welfare".
Keeping wild
animals in the zoo and in captivity has its benefits and demerits, and we will
take them one at a time.
BENEFITS
* Endangered
Species: The zoo is quite a safe place for some of the endangered species as
against their natural habitat where they will be opened to poachers
who care for nothing more than economic
gain.
* Research and
study: A lot of scientific research has cropped up from zoos with animals in
the zoo as subjects. This has helped in the mental, social and physical study
of animals which has led to the development of vaccines and drugs to maintain a
good health condition.
* Health: Zoo
managements keep up with the routine of checking the health status of animals
to prevent illness and possible death
* Educate:
Students from different schools around the world visits the zoos to get a
firsthand experience of what they are being taught in their various
institution.
DEMERITS
* The health
standards in some zoos are and comparatively too low
* Some animals
does not do so well in captivity
* Zoo owners
puts their profit motives before the welfare of the animals
The world association
of zoos and aquariums and governments at all levels should put up enforcement
measures to ensure that the welfare of animals is a priority to zoos and zoo
owners. Cruel treatment of animals should be discouraged and zoos selling
animals to circus should be frowned at. Some animals do not do well in
Captivity, as such they need to be left in their natural habitat, where they
can live freely and reproduce to ensure continuity and prevent extinction.
At this point,
I will say that Animals but not all animals should be kept in the zoo.
Now tell me, what do you think, should animals be kept in the zoo?
