The Role Of Animals In Captivity

For decades, zoos and circuses have been open to the public for entertainment and education about animals. Throughout the years, many have began to question the truth behind the enclosures. And now the answers have been revealed through documentaries such as Blackfish and The Elephant in the Living Room, and sides on this issue have been taken. Whether we support or deny the captivation of animals, we cannot defy the truth. Currently, circuses and zoos hold animals in captivity that affect them negatively throughout the world both physically and psychologically. The life expectancy of these animals held in captivity declines drastically in comparison to wild animals. Elephants in the wild are assumed to live between sixty to seventy years, however while in captivity, this number is cut slightly less than half. In Last Chance for Animals’ article, “What Elephants Need”, the unknown author states that, “ captive elephants suffer from chronic health problems such as tuberculosis, arthritis, and foot abscesses, which nearly always leads to premature death”. Along with many psychological aspects of captivations, physical diseases occur as well that impact the lifespan of the animals. Orca whales have been put in captivity since 1961 in the United States, SeaWorld currently obtaining majority of the wales. As stated in Melissa Cronin’s article, SeaWorld’s statements about the life expectancy of orcas, “do not match with government estimates for the same population of whales ”. An average male orca …show more content…
It is stated that in order for circuses to showcase their animals’ performances, the trainers have to trains intensely with bullhooks, metal rods, whips, and even electric rods. Last Chance for Animals states in their article that, “A number of animals are even drugged to make them more manageable. Others have their teeth