An Ethical Groundwork For Zoos
In this article, I’m going to lay out an ethical guideline and groundwork for why zoos are essential for animal preservation and education.
When I was a kid, the only major attraction in my small, rural town was the zoo. I would visit at least once a month, each time mesmerized by a new animal. Today, my love for animals and environmental preservation has only grown stronger. The impact that the zoo and zoo camp had on me was life-changing. Handling and observing unique, non-native species like toucans, hedgehogs, and echidnas sparked a strong sense of interest and empathy in animal wellbeing.
However, zoos have received criticisms from numerous animal rights organizations such as PETA and the Born Free Foundation, which argue that wild animals deserve to be in the wild. While zoos have valid criticisms, when managed ethically, their positives outweigh the negatives.
The Positives and Importance of Zoos
Zoos are almost as old as human civilization. Some of the first zoos appeared around 2500 BCE in ancient Egypt, where they housed animals like monkeys and giraffes. Most zoos around this time were privately owned, with the first public zoo forming in the late 18th century in France. This marked a significant shift in the role of zoos, moving from privately owned collections to public education and research.
Today there are an estimated 10,000 zoos worldwide, with 2,800 meeting ethical criteria set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Ethical zoos provide invaluable contributions to the welfare of animals, the education of the public, and the conservation of endangered species. For example, the California condor and Arabian oryx are just a few endangered species that have been saved from extinction.
In addition to species conservation and protection, zoos provide educational benefits and public awareness. People can observe animals they may never see in the wild, fostering empathy, appreciation, and awareness. Exhibits like butterfly gardens showcase the beautiful aspects of nature, while also educating people on the vital importance of pollination. Zoos also impact communities by giving them venues for events, increasing tourism, and creating jobs.
Moreover, zoos also provide facilities and capital for animal research and conservation plans. Research gives experts more information on how to preserve certain species, while also giving more opportunities for medical advancements.
Shortcomings of Zoos
While ethical zoos provide immense benefits, not all of them operate with the same standards. While some zoos provide essential services and benefits to animal wellness, others that are more profit-driven can be cruel and exploitative. Larger animals like bears, lions, and wolves require a large amount of space to roam in to avoid mental stress. Certain zoos subject their animals to crammed or confined enclosures, which results in unhealthy habits like pacing, aggression, and self-harm.
Highly intelligent animals like elephants and dolphins need constant mental stimulation and companionship or they’ll suffer psychological stress resulting in depression, stress, and even early death. These conditions contradict the ethical purpose of zoos, which should be focused on animal welfare.
Profit-driven zoos often result in the neglect and exploitation of animals. These types of institutions can reduce the animal rights impact by commodifying animals for entertainment purposes.
The Ethical Framework of Zoos
The key to ensuring animal welfare and education is by prioritizing ethics and empathy. Ethical zoos prioritize animals’ needs, giving them ample space to roam, community and companionship, stimulating activities, and clean and secure enclosures. Zoos are at their best when they contain weaker animals that wouldn’t survive in the wild, or endangered species to foster education and appreciation.
It’s essential that zoos focus on educational initiatives that promote awareness and conservation issues to the public. By showing the public how important animals are to the ecosystem, zoos inspire a greater understanding of the importance of maintaining stable natural habitats.
Zoos are not a one-size-fits-all institution. While some zoos are profit-driven and exploitative, many prioritize animal wellbeing and education. When focusing on animal welfare and preservation, zoos can provide essential services to endangered or disabled animals.
As visitors, it is our responsibility to support zoos that prioritize animal wellbeing and conservation, while pushing for change in institutions that fall short. Ethical zoos are essential for the future of animal species. Zoos are an essential institution that continues to foster a place of interest, curiosity, and empathy for children and adults.