Essay Example on Zoos and Aquariums: Protecting Animals and Improving Lives

Introduction

The issue of zoos has brought about a lot of debate with different people having varying perspectives on the issue. According to Dr. Robin Ganzerd, zoos were not made to be of harm to the animals, but rather improve their livelihoods. Both Zoos and aquariums ethically are geared towards protecting the ultimate lives of animals. The latter is achieved simultaneously by taking care of humans and also other wild lives. Even at a point when animals are never taken back to the wild, putting them under the care of humans can still contribute to improved livelihoods of their counterparts in the wild. Modern aquariums and zoos act as bases for research and observation and in return that protect wild animals. This critical review will help understand why Zoos are not prisons and that they improve the lives of animals.

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Writer's specific arguments

The establishment of zoos can be based on different motives. The mushrooming "roadside zoos" are being pioneered by crooks. They are exploitative ventures, which are known for their systematic disregard and misuse of animals. However, responsible aquariums and zoos do exist to expedite and also stimulate animal conservation. Therefore, the urge for intensive conservation campaigns is more needed as compared to the time before. Naturally, in zoos, many of animals live together. Some animals can have the freedom and enjoy every bit about nature, but some do not. That is to say, some animals may comfortably coexist in the wild and make it, but others will survive better when human intervention is offered at some point in their lives (Ganzert).

The author believes that both aquariums and zoos are uniquely placed to deal with some of the evolving threats posed today. By use of unique and robust breeding programs, the institution facilitates and even funds many initiatives to spread species as well as maintaining genetic biodiversity. Consequently, the move aims at the reintroduction of critically endangered species back to the wild.

Even with the idea that such animals may not be reintroduced back to the wild, putting them under the care of humans. Today's zoos act as grounds for research and observation on ways to protect wild animals. Moreover, the positive impacts of Zoos and aquariums in wild animal conservation should not outweigh the well-being of such animals living under the care of those institutions.

Dr. Ganzerd feels that such institutions holding animals should not be criticized based on a single mistake or misrepresentation of facts. They are pointing out to the death of 'Harambee,' a gorilla who was shot dead at the Cincinnati Zoo after the boy's incidence. Otherwise, the incidence was used to advance the narrative that all aquariums and zoos are inherently cruel and even unethical. Just like other institutions, zoo operations may not lack those bad characters whose motives are not conservation and reservation but rather advised by their selfish motive. However, the greater majority are for the good of the animals to improve upon their lives rather than just caging them.

Worldviews motivating the author's arguments

The world we are living in today is approaching the "sixth extinction" as well explained by Elizabeth Kolbert. As compared to the preceding extinctions, which were as a result of natural events, the current mass extinction emanates from human activities, which are constantly impinging on wild spaces. Considering what the Phoenix zoo did to the Oryx antelope, it is a clear answer to the role of zoos and aquariums in the lives of the wild. The zoo managed to help in ensuring enough breed from the remaining nine to over two hundred calves and then reintroduced them back to the wild.

Another worldview is that people have varied convictions on the idea of zoos and aquariums being prisons which are not right. What crosses their mind is a mental picture of the old Victorian concrete establishment, which looks like prisons. In such facilities, animals cannot do much besides pace within the enclosures that are too small to accommodate them. Such conditions were disgraceful and are believed to be the ones who turned people off the idea of zoos or aquariums.

Zoos, for instance, in the US, are no longer structured like those old Victorian, but rather they follow strict protocols that prevent pitiable care (Powell, David & Jason, 230). Additionally, they have drastically changed to benefit the animal's health. Therefore, currently, most of the Zoos have resulted in changing their names from just zoos to Safaris or even wildlife parks. The reason for the change is that the term zoo over the time it has held many negative connotations like animal prison. It is from this current state of the zoos that gives confidence to the author of their capabilities to improve the lives of animals. Zoos are associated with the greater good since they can promise a better place for animals rather than a prison for them.

The author is informed by the fact that most of the zoos nowadays do not capture wild animals which are healthy. Most of the animals in those facilities are there because of one reason or the other that it will be hard for the animals to survive in the wild. For instance, in the zoos, some animals were hit by the vehicle, orphans, illegal pets that were apprehended, or even species that are on the verge of extinction.

However, some healthy animals in the Zoo may be part of the reintroduction plan and are only on exhibit as they are being prepared to be reintroduced to the wild. For example, as Dr. Robin explains it in his text, the case of Arabian Oryx, which was endangered at one point but after the intervention of the zoo. It has been removed from the list. "Breeding programs at the zoos have since saved several other species from extinction.

Zoos and aquariums are not ethical is another perspective that may have influenced the author in proving otherwise about zoos. As a world view, they are unethical because they are more not about learning but rather entertainment. Considering that, many zoos claim that they can teach scientists and help young people learn matters animals that they have captured. But the truth is that scientists are not able to learn about those animal's natural behaviors when they are caged in those artificial environments.

It is from the above misconception that the author gives an example of the study of animal infection and diseases at various zoos across the world. For instance, the zoological society of London is coming up with innovative approaches to assessing the possible risks of animals contracting disease upon reintroduction to the wild. It is from the earlier worldview that zoos aren't a learning site, the author explains it explicitly with examples of how zoos are scientists training grounds. Zoos are of great essence to the long-term survival of various species. Not only on protecting, breeding or reintroduction of them, but rather to learn about them and help those animals and their world

Another twist on the unethical bit of zoos is the fact that zoos take in animals that are popular; that people want to see even when they are not endangered. The perception that zoos are unethical because they lack of safety for the animals and thus they don't help conservation rather they serve other selfish interest, gives the author grounds to write his piece that "zoos are not prisons." From the text, the gorilla was shot dead by the very humans who presumably caged it.

The author agrees with that, but believes that many have used just that incidence to criticize the great good for putting animals in the zoos. However, the author categorically clarifies that modern zoos' roles are far different from what the critics' term as unethical and cruel.

According to Ben Minteer many zoos currently encourage the protection of biodiversity as a key part of their undertaking. As a conservation park for the species which are endangered and increasingly as a pioneer in the area of conservation projects.

According to Grandin, the development of species survival plans started back in the 1980s, which coordinate breeding as well as population management programs for the endangered animals among zoos across the world (13). The main goal is to breed healthy and also genetically varied animal species across the zoo community. Such efforts are geared towards aiding the conservation of the species in the wild. Therefore, the author is influenced by the above world's perspective in making conclusions that zoos improve the livelihoods of animals (p. 15).

Reintroduction is a dicey venture given that many social and biological factors that govern the viability of the animal population over some time. Besides the Bison, others like California condor and black-footed ferret has been salvaged due to the great role and efforts done by zoos. Moreover, all the above does not let the zoos off the hook when it is all about caring well for animals in their charge. It is therefore expected that they deliver on the growing conservation rhetoric, more so when their entertainment interest runs up against their increasing vision for biodiversity protection. Rather, it reminds us of the scope of the existing challenges. It is from this worldview that Dr. Ganzert, explains the so-called "roadside zoos" whose motives are far from conservation. He refers to them as exploitative enterprises for their methodical negligence and misuse of animals.

According to Dr. Hone gives a different worldview, which I feel it influenced the author's perspective on the matter zoos and animals. Dr. Hone is confident that for most species, they are perfectly well kept in a zoo or wildlife park for them to enjoy better quality of life than in the wild. Their movement may be somehow restricted, and thus they may be safe from predators or pain and irritation, which may be caused by parasites, illnesses of injuries (Hone).

Besides, such animals would not suffer from drought or starve, but rather they will enjoy a high-quality and varied diet with all the required supplements. They can also be spared from bullying or social banishment by others of their species or lack of a conducive environment for them to coexist (Minteer). Many nasty things do happen to the truly wild animals that do not always happen in those modern zoos and to project free life.

Therefore, the zoo will provide protection and great care to animals in their care. These are all good things for all the concerned persons. However, the question is, what do such zoos bring to the table for the world. With the ongoing global threats to the environment, zoos are of great essence to the long-term survival of various species. Not only on protecting, breeding, or reintroducing them, but rather to learn about them and help those animals and their world. In a bid to pique their interests so that they can help or at least accept the desire to be more environmentally conscious.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the animals living in zoos tend to live longer and in good shape compared to those in the wild. Besides, the zoo and aquariums, besides some challenges, serve the best interest of the animals. From conservation to recreation, zoos have proven to improve the lives of the animals rather than just caging them. However, it's not without some challenges whereby some crooks set up such zoos with an exploitative motive; hence, negligence and abuse of animals become inevitable.

Works cited

Ganzert, R. "Zoos are not prisons. They improve the lives of animals." (2016).

Grandin, Temple. "My Reflections on Understanding Animal Emotions for Improving the Life of Animals in Zoos." Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 21.sup1 (2018): 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2018.1513843

Hone, Dave. "Why Zoos Are Good." The Guardian, 2014, https://www.theguardian.com/science/lost-worlds