Persuasive Essay Zoos

One of the most fun, visually amazing functions to visit are zoo's. Growing up as a kid going to the zoo was so much fun and basically guaranteed a great day out. People have been complaining and questioning the role of zoo's for a long time now. Some claim that it actually kills the animals off faster. Others claim that zoo's actually help protect and preserve the lives of these animals. Only one can make a reasonable argument by studying sources, and finding out statistics. Based off of the articles, "The Stripes Will Survive", "The Zoos Go Wild", and "Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment", we can truly get in-depth analysis about the role zoo's play.

The zoo is packed with children, running everywhere. They laugh and smile as they watch the animals at the zoo sleep. What these children do not realize is that these animals are dying on the inside. Animals that live at the zoo are extremely depressed. These animals can suffer severe psychological disorders from being out of their natural environment. But others argue that keeping these animals in captivity will help keep endangered species alive. However, the disadvantages of keeping animals in captivity are becoming more and more serious, and more people are beginning to believe that animals should not be held captive. Animals should not be kept in captivity because of the negative impact it can have

Additionally, animals in zoos are vulnerable to several dangers where they have no chance of escape. In the past, zoo animals have been poisoned, starved, deprived of veterinary care, burned alive in fires, and have died from choking on hazardous items thrown into their cages. In cases of floods, hurricanes, or wildfires, there would be no possible way to evacuate the animals and to protect them (Source D). An example of this is shown at the Alaska Zoo, where Maggie the Elephant developed a severe illness due to forced small enclosure. Her feet began to degrade and it became extremely difficult for Maggie to walk (Source E).

Did you know zoos help endangered animals repopulate? Do you know that zoos also help provide research for scientists? Can zoos eventually provide enough research to end endangerment of all animal species? As the argument about whether animals should be kept in zoos continues, I am here to give reasons on why zoos are beneficial to the environment. The facts to back me up in this argument include, zoos help prevent extinction, zoos aid scientist's research, and lastly that they can heal injured animals.

Animals being caged, hit, poked, and prodded is a normal part of circus and zoo life. Wild animals are not meant to be a form of entertainment, and should not be our captives unless necessary for their health. P.T. Barnum opened what became arguably one of the most controversial circuses in modern times in 1871, and three years later, America’s first zoo followed. In the past one hundred years, very few things have changed in the way animals in such establishments are treated and trained.

One reason why zoos are not good for animals is because they confine animals to tiny spaces. “The treatment of animals held in captivity has changed over history, as the understanding and views of their well-being has increased” (Goodman, 2016). Zoos might have been a good idea in the beginning, but they are not suitable for animals today. “118 animal deaths occurred at AZA-accredited locations, with 10 happening due to human error, including the gorilla Harambe's death at the Cincinnati Zoo” (Thoet, 2017). Zoos are seen as a fun environment, but people do not know what goes on.

Animals should be kept in the zoo's because they would have difficult chance of survival and escaping danger in the modern world. In Zoo’s animals have a better chance of longevity due to the rise of the outdoor sport named hunting. With the body of the slain animal is gutted and stuffed only to be displayed on the wall as some form of trophy. If you look on the roadside of many major highways, you will see the lifeless body of various animals that was struck by the mighty mechanical beast. Automobiles are one of the leading causes of animal deaths in the United States.

If the population of Earth was dying, would it be better for someone to help regenerate the population? If people were hunting you down for parts of your body, would you want to be protected? What about the chance to live a longer life because you were cared for? Many years ago, zoos were cruel and abusive to animals that came, but ever since then zoos have changed to become more habitable for the animals. Before we became a safe haven for animals, we were just people wanting to collect them and put them in cages. Although zoos can be bad for animals, animals should stay in zoos because they are protected from hunters and predators, decreases the population of endangered species, and the animals live longer.

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction said Rachel Carson, who was a marine biologist. Zoos are miserable places for animals. In 2010, a CAPS(Captive Animals Protection Society). undercover investigator filmed sick animals being left untreated and dead animals to rot on the floors at Tweddle Farm Zoo. The animals tend to get stressed out and signs of this include pacing back and forth, rocking, and head bobbing. Animals shouldn't be kept in zoos because the zoos can't provide sufficient space for animals and the animals are not meant for our entertainment.

An essential part of a community, taken away. If zoos are eliminated, it’ll have a major impact on both animals and humans. The animals will face a harsh outcome, the economy will be damaged, and kids, teens and adults will miss out on a fun learning experience. The caged animals will not be able to survive life outside of their containment.

Zoos, often described as establishments with indoor and outdoor settings where live animals are kept, play a vital role in conserving wild species. Zoo establishments serve the purpose of educating zoo visitors about animals and for providing those animals with proper care, but they are typically used for public exhibition. Most people see zoos as places to take their children to learn more about animals, and as a form of entertainment by allowing people to walk around and look at animals in cages. Others see zoos as places that confine animals from their natural habitat, and as places that interfere with the natural order of the animals. There are many factors that contribute to the negative effects of animals being in zoos, most being the zoo’s management, faculty, and the visitors.

Zoos dedicate their existence to the animals that occupy the confines of the property. More and more zoos are getting the face lift they deserve to provide a safe, healthy, and happy place for their residents. Gone are the previously used “cell blocks” to house the animals. In its place instead are giant habitats used to simulate the animals natural environments and better educate its visitors. Zoos have, perhaps, progressed and improved the most in the last 20 years than it’s predecessors. With rapid technology improving, there’s no wonder that zoos are being improved too. However, local zoos that do not have the time, space, or money to house such wildlife are causing more harm then good.

Poaching is known as, “the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals” and the pangolin has officially been named the most hunted animal in the world. (Wikipedia) According to records, between 2011 and 2013, approximately 116,990-233,980 were killed, and the source admits that that number most likely represents a wild underestimate. (WWF) Unfortunately, these are not the only animals being mistreated. For many poachers, their motive is profit, not intentional harm. There is a lot of money in selling animal parts on the black market which ultimately encourages this behavior. Meanwhile, for others, the motive for this malpractice a living dependence. In

Imagine yourself just chilling around in the wild, the only place you are familiar with, and the next thing you know, you get taken and put inside a small enclosure which becomes your home. Well, that is what animals who are taken out of the wild and mostly put inside a zoo feel like. Animals can receive serious health issues when kept in a zoo, most of the times not treated properly and used for entertainment rather than educational purposes. I believe that this is an urgent issue and I think that it is essential for wild animals to stay in the wild and not kept in enclosures.

Animals are put in captivity for animal conservation, and to educate the public about how important it is to keep these animals alive. It is often argued that zoos are a bad place to put animals, but studies have shown how endangered animals are better off in a zoo environment. Animals that go extinct in the wild around the world are shown to have a successful life in zoos. Even though some zoos have a bad reputation, they are actually really beneficial for wildlife conservation. The purpose of a zoo is to conserve animal life, but instead, zoos are being used for people’s entertainment rather than educational purposes (Keulartz 2015). Zoos protect animal species, especially endangered animals, from other harmful and poisonous species. Zoos are full of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, etc. Zoos also give people a chance to see animals they might not ever get to see out in the wild. Zookeepers have to go through a specific learning process on how to treat the animals correctly, and how to care for them.