For the most part, it is a common family outing to go to the zoo. I remember going when I was younger, and was always fascinated with the polar bear exhibit. But it never added up. There they were, the duo of big, white bears that contrasted the common grizzly. They were both sprawled out on the hot concrete in Wisconsin's humid, 80-degree-something summer heat. Even when I was younger, I knew something about zoos didn't seem right; this article will explore why the zoo industry is truly unfair to the animals kept inside them.
It is a business, an industry, always searching for more money.
Like any other business, making a steady profit can be hard. If money gets tight, zoos are encouraged to tighten their budgets and save. This could include making enclosures smaller, or neglecting animals of proper habitat accommodations.
Children, humans, people, etc. don't always know how to refrain from taunting the animals.
We all know the Harambe story, and there have been other countless incidents of human fault that results in the death of an animal. Children throwing rocks into enclosures, taunting animals, or other actions are issues that wild animals should not be in.
If zoos want to protect endangered species, why are they dragging them away from their natural habitats into unjust enclosures?
Zoos favor the exotic animals, and customers love to see them. Most animals that are put into zoos are born in captivity or have to adapt, and this results in the wildlife losing their traits to survive in the wild. Therefore, many of the animals in zoos lose the ability to survive if they were to be released.
Cute doesn't last.
Many zoos invest in animals that draw crowds, which is commonly young wildlife. These animals, like a young giraffe, for example, grow to be very large. Zoos usually don't have room for the young animals they buy once grown, which results in trading, selling, etc. As you could imagine, this is a large stressor on the animals.
Invest in endangered animal preservation organizations, and stop visiting the zoo.
The AFA (Animal Welfare Act) holds zoos to standards, though are very minimal. This includes maintenance and housing, which is merely adequate.
If you want to see a wild tiger, turn on Animal Planet, or visit Central Asia. I think you'd find it more satisfying than seeing one in the United States, enclosed and neglected.
