On May 28, 2016 at the Cincinnati Zoo, a young boy fell into a gorilla’s cage. The gorilla, Harambe, dragged the boy through the river in his pen. In attempt to help the child, the zoo considered tranquilizing Harambe, but it was not a realistic option. The drug would take a significant amount of time to affect the gorilla, and no one would be able to anticipate how Harambe would act. It could have caused the child to be in even greater danger. Therefore, Harambe was killed.
Zoos are popular all around the world because they present fascinating animals to the general public. Visitors enjoy watching the animals and children have opportunities to learn about the different species. Zoos can provide inspiring experiences that can drastically influence …show more content…
While there are many programs that try to rehabilitate species, countless zoos breed animals and run out of space for them. The zoo is forced to kill them; they are sometimes used as food for other animals. David Williams-Mitchell, a manager of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, states, “...[W]e have limited space within EAZA to carry out [the breeding programs], and we need to prioritize animals that can contribute to the future of the species.” In other words, Williams-Mitchell believes that it is acceptable and necessary to breed certain animals even if it will cause others to be killed. Though I concede that the zoo is helping the overall species development, I still insist that the sacrifice of the animals is horrible. Bengt Holst, the Copenhagen Zoo’s scientific director admits to doing the same process of slaughtering animals to make room for others that contribute more to the overall growth of the species (Abend, “Marius The Giraffe…”). The idea of culling is appalling to the general public, even though it is often performed at zoos around the
Zoos are popular all around the world because they present fascinating animals to the general public. Visitors enjoy watching the animals and children have opportunities to learn about the different species. Zoos can provide inspiring experiences that can drastically influence …show more content…
While there are many programs that try to rehabilitate species, countless zoos breed animals and run out of space for them. The zoo is forced to kill them; they are sometimes used as food for other animals. David Williams-Mitchell, a manager of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, states, “...[W]e have limited space within EAZA to carry out [the breeding programs], and we need to prioritize animals that can contribute to the future of the species.” In other words, Williams-Mitchell believes that it is acceptable and necessary to breed certain animals even if it will cause others to be killed. Though I concede that the zoo is helping the overall species development, I still insist that the sacrifice of the animals is horrible. Bengt Holst, the Copenhagen Zoo’s scientific director admits to doing the same process of slaughtering animals to make room for others that contribute more to the overall growth of the species (Abend, “Marius The Giraffe…”). The idea of culling is appalling to the general public, even though it is often performed at zoos around the