“The assumption that animals are without rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is a positively outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality.” (Arthur Schopenhauer, The Basis of Morality) Based on the quote, we can see for ourselves how crucial it is to respect animals and their habitat. Animals as depicted from Google means ‘A living organism which feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli’. They are breathing living creatures just like humans and if humans’ nature is to be free, then why should we confine the ‘lesser beings’? A good friend once said that her
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(Moosa, 2013) Thus, zoos cannot give the same amount of space animals have in the wild. This applies specifically on the case for the species that roam large distances in their natural habitat such as tigers and lions, which have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild and polar bears have 1,000,000 times less space in zoos. According to an Oxford University study based on 4 decades of observing animals in captivity and in the wild discovered that animals such as polar bears, lions, tigers and cheetahs ‘show the most evidence of stress and/or psychological dysfunction in captivity.’ In brief, it was concluded that ‘the keeping of naturally wide-ranging carnivores should be either fundamentally improved or phased out.’ In addition, the cage is a fundamentally flawed contraption. Placing an animal in a closure is a violation of the creature’s inborn right to live naturally, without being in pain. Animals in captivity are closely confined, deprived of privacy and have small opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise. These factors often result in unusual and self-destructive behavior, known as ‘Zoochosis.’ that contributes to rapid emotional, social and physical decline of its inhabitants. Animals confined to a cage goes through three phases of decline; usually beginning …show more content…
(Smith, 2014) Humans have used closures to confine and remove them from their natural habitat in order to gain financially or enjoyment. In Animals and Society, author Margo Demello explains that zoos often disappoint visitors: ‘People do not just want to see animals; they also want to connect with them, a condition impossible given the structural limitations of the zoo.’ The central problem of the zoo is that people love animals, and remain curious about them; however, the very animals that attract us pay dearly for the affection. This proves that zoos exist to serve the human gaze and most animals find being stared at, stressful. Another point is that zoos claim to provide educational opportunities but most visitors spend only a few minutes at each display, seeking entertainment, rather than enlightenment. (PETA) Over 5 summers has passed and a curator at the National Zoo followed around more than 700 visitors and found that ‘it didn’t matter what was on display…people (were) treating the exhibits like wallpaper.’ He also added that ‘officials should stop kidding themselves about the tremendous educational value of showing animals behind a glass
(Moosa, 2013) Thus, zoos cannot give the same amount of space animals have in the wild. This applies specifically on the case for the species that roam large distances in their natural habitat such as tigers and lions, which have around 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild and polar bears have 1,000,000 times less space in zoos. According to an Oxford University study based on 4 decades of observing animals in captivity and in the wild discovered that animals such as polar bears, lions, tigers and cheetahs ‘show the most evidence of stress and/or psychological dysfunction in captivity.’ In brief, it was concluded that ‘the keeping of naturally wide-ranging carnivores should be either fundamentally improved or phased out.’ In addition, the cage is a fundamentally flawed contraption. Placing an animal in a closure is a violation of the creature’s inborn right to live naturally, without being in pain. Animals in captivity are closely confined, deprived of privacy and have small opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise. These factors often result in unusual and self-destructive behavior, known as ‘Zoochosis.’ that contributes to rapid emotional, social and physical decline of its inhabitants. Animals confined to a cage goes through three phases of decline; usually beginning …show more content…
(Smith, 2014) Humans have used closures to confine and remove them from their natural habitat in order to gain financially or enjoyment. In Animals and Society, author Margo Demello explains that zoos often disappoint visitors: ‘People do not just want to see animals; they also want to connect with them, a condition impossible given the structural limitations of the zoo.’ The central problem of the zoo is that people love animals, and remain curious about them; however, the very animals that attract us pay dearly for the affection. This proves that zoos exist to serve the human gaze and most animals find being stared at, stressful. Another point is that zoos claim to provide educational opportunities but most visitors spend only a few minutes at each display, seeking entertainment, rather than enlightenment. (PETA) Over 5 summers has passed and a curator at the National Zoo followed around more than 700 visitors and found that ‘it didn’t matter what was on display…people (were) treating the exhibits like wallpaper.’ He also added that ‘officials should stop kidding themselves about the tremendous educational value of showing animals behind a glass