preview

Americas Zoos: Entertainment To Conservation Essay

Better Essays

America's Zoos: Entertainment to Conservation

The children run ahead, squealing with delight. Their parents lag behind holding the children's brightly colored balloons and carrying the remnants of the half-eaten cotton candy. The family stops to let the children ride the minitrain and take pictures together under the tree. They walk hand- in-hand toward the exit, stopping first at the gift shop where they each splurge on a treat to remind them of the day's adventure. Although this may sound like a typical scene from the local amusement park, it's actually the city zoo. All that forgotten was walking from cage to cage watching the anxious animals pace back and forth in their closed-in prisons (Hope, 1994). …show more content…

City zoos took over that connection to nature, especially for the cityfolks. Afternoon visits to the zoo became a fun form of family entertainment (Arrandale, 1990).
Even though the bars separated the two worlds, it allowed the people to see the animals. When this interaction began to take place, people examined these institutions for their concern for the animals. The intentions were obvious, to provide the public with the ability to be around these creatures, but were their methods ethical? Animals were displayed for the general public's enjoyment
(Diamond, 1995). As one critically judges the physical environment of these animals they can personally decide whether ethics were compromised. Some argued that the zoos provided a safe home and regular meals for the animals, and for this they should be happy. On the flip side, these creatures were caged and unable to thrive in the wild (Burke, 1990). Under observation, zoos are examined for the humanity with which they treat the animals. Animal welfare has become a concern within our country. This group is not to be confused with the animal rights movement. Without the use of violence, one of the animal welfare movement's goals is to improve the way these institutions, like the city zoos, provide for these animals (Burke, 1990). Honoring the conservation efforts, they simply want to make sure the animals are cared for with the highest levels of concern, both physically and

Get Access