preview

Exotic Animals In Captivity Analysis

Decent Essays

The importance of analyzing animal behavior inside, and outside, of confinement is necessary to arrive at any conclusion regarding keeping exotic animals in captivity to improve population conservation. In order to determine which natural behaviors improve, or are indicators of good welfare, and which natural behaviors are not, it must be determined if the health of the animal is improved from allowing it to behave naturally, and under its own desire (Dawkins, 2006). In order to consider captive breeding for conservation a necessary practice, part of the process must be determining if the animals are able to perform normal behaviors, similar to behaviors displayed in the wild population. For example, social behaviors of orangutans were shown …show more content…

Several animal rights oriented critics of captive breeding insist that breeding in captivity involves only the breeding of “cute” animals that merit value from the public, rather than breeding for conservation purposes, and in the process of such breeding, animals reproduced in excess are allocated to subpar establishments for means of exploitation (Minteer and Collins, 2013). Simultaneously, there is a large number of the public that believes zoos are a place where animals are treated optimally, and a place where populations can be conserved (Davey, 2007). The public desires to be reassured by scientific data, in order to constitute the operation of captive breeding programs to improve conservation of the wildlife population (Davey, …show more content…

Scientists have a moral, and practical obligation to keep these animals in good health while they are under captive conditions (Gewin, 2008). Most animal conservation scientists are attentive to the growing concerns for animal well-being, and continue to learn that threats to species, populations, and ecosystems, impact animal welfare directly, or indirectly (Patton et al., 2000). Typically, however, they advocate focusing moral concern and societal action on such ends as the protection of endangered species and the preservation of wilderness, rather than reducing pain and suffering (or promoting the rights or dignity) of animals (Meffe, 2008). Research done by these scientists would seem to produce a positive value that deserves to be weighed against any disvalue produced by hurting or stressing an animal during the research process. All aspects considered, this research is still met with questions of moral credibility, even if the animals show signs of improved health, because it eliminates the animal’s freedom or treats them as a “mere means” to some anthropocentric end (Jones and McGreevy,

Get Access