Ghandi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” (“Can the Greatness of a Nation”) In today’s society, regulations and rules are a major part of life; that being said, the fact that many zoos and maritime parks are able to have so many violations is ridiculous. While zoos are usually intended for educational purposes, it is unethical to keep animals for the purpose of human entertainment because captivity decreases animal's health significantly, the habitats aren't even close to a substitute for their natural environment, and zoos do little to improve the quality of life of their animals.
. One of the major problems with zoo habitats is their lack of space, and confined …show more content…
Individuals have been noticing an increase in dorsal fin collapse with their orcas. Seaworld is trying to tell the press that this phenomenon “isn’t an indicator of the animal’s health or well-being,” even though it is almost never seen in the wild. according to an article from One Green Planet.org written by Asling Cronin, “It is believed that captive whales experience it because they spend much more time at the water’s surface, swimming in the same direction in a small pool. In addition, they receive less hydration from the frozen-thawed fish they are fed in marine parks, as opposed to the fresh fish they would eat if they were hunting in the wild.” (Cronin) Though there has been rumors of Seaworld increasing the tank size of their orcas in the next few years, in the wild these animals swim hundreds of miles a day. Even if they install a current to make the water move a little faster, there is no way that these majestic creatures can get anywhere close to the amount of exercise they need to stay healthy. Also, orcas usually swim deep below the surface so they are shaded from the sun's rays, but no matter how large Seaworld’s budget is, or could be, they couldn’t fulfill the needs of a proper tank for these animals. The truth is, zoos and the like spend way too much money to keep animals confined and keep people coming around.A chief consultant to the …show more content…
Peta has found evidence of some zoos giving their significantly unhappy animals drugs such as Prozac. (Carr) Prozac is a well-known antidepressant and is usually paired with other medications to combat depression or anxiety. The fact that captivity has lead to a need for such extreme measures to keep their animals from bashing their heads against their enclosure wall, which has been done before, is appalling. Obviously if these creatures are so miserable in captivity, it is time for a change. Many animals in zoos today also suffer from a condition where they exhibit repetitive, or obsessive behaviors, called “zoochosis”. The behaviors can include “pacing, to rocking and swaying, all the way to aggressive self-directed behavior like self-mutilation, over-grooming, and vomiting.” (Good) These “characteristics” sound similar to traits displayed by someone who has anxiety or depression. There are many injustices in the world, but, keeping creatures against their will to the point that they have to be given human medicine to counteract a form of depression, should not be one of
. One of the major problems with zoo habitats is their lack of space, and confined …show more content…
Individuals have been noticing an increase in dorsal fin collapse with their orcas. Seaworld is trying to tell the press that this phenomenon “isn’t an indicator of the animal’s health or well-being,” even though it is almost never seen in the wild. according to an article from One Green Planet.org written by Asling Cronin, “It is believed that captive whales experience it because they spend much more time at the water’s surface, swimming in the same direction in a small pool. In addition, they receive less hydration from the frozen-thawed fish they are fed in marine parks, as opposed to the fresh fish they would eat if they were hunting in the wild.” (Cronin) Though there has been rumors of Seaworld increasing the tank size of their orcas in the next few years, in the wild these animals swim hundreds of miles a day. Even if they install a current to make the water move a little faster, there is no way that these majestic creatures can get anywhere close to the amount of exercise they need to stay healthy. Also, orcas usually swim deep below the surface so they are shaded from the sun's rays, but no matter how large Seaworld’s budget is, or could be, they couldn’t fulfill the needs of a proper tank for these animals. The truth is, zoos and the like spend way too much money to keep animals confined and keep people coming around.A chief consultant to the …show more content…
Peta has found evidence of some zoos giving their significantly unhappy animals drugs such as Prozac. (Carr) Prozac is a well-known antidepressant and is usually paired with other medications to combat depression or anxiety. The fact that captivity has lead to a need for such extreme measures to keep their animals from bashing their heads against their enclosure wall, which has been done before, is appalling. Obviously if these creatures are so miserable in captivity, it is time for a change. Many animals in zoos today also suffer from a condition where they exhibit repetitive, or obsessive behaviors, called “zoochosis”. The behaviors can include “pacing, to rocking and swaying, all the way to aggressive self-directed behavior like self-mutilation, over-grooming, and vomiting.” (Good) These “characteristics” sound similar to traits displayed by someone who has anxiety or depression. There are many injustices in the world, but, keeping creatures against their will to the point that they have to be given human medicine to counteract a form of depression, should not be one of