Are zoos bad, like cruel?

Question

i am a vegetarian son to be veegan , and i hate animal cruelty, i want to go to the zoo to take photography pics with my friends, and i might want a carreer in zoology, would it be bad to work at a zoo, because isnt cruel to trap animals in cages?

Answer 1

It depends on the zoo.  Many zoos have large areas that allow animals to roam around.

People need to be careful about projecting human qualities on animals.  It may be cruel to keep a large animal in a small cage but animals don't have the same thought process as humans.  Most animals only move around to find food.  If there is sufficient food sources and room enough for exercise, the animals will be content.  It is people that can not stand the thought of being confined.

Answer 2

well if i was an antelope living in a zoo i would be pretty excited about the giant fence between me and the lion. -so no i don't think zoo's are cruel. but congratulations on becoming a veg and then soon to be vegan. its really good for the environment.  

Answer 3

I am kind of in between because I know the animals can't like being locked up in a small cage by themselves but then they are well taking care of and don't have to worry about being eatin!

Answer 4

I am a meat eater. I think zoo's suck.

Answer 5

well they arnt really in cages.

and its not like a concrete cell,

they decorate it to look like there habitat

andd they rehibilitate animals

and get endagered species growing agiann

and they feed them alott

so no, i would not say it is cruelty

Answer 6

Some are and some aren't. The problem is and always be be money/funds: the more money a zoo has, the better equipped it will be therefore the animals will be treated better. Many zoos are also halfway houses for injured wild animals before they are released back into the wild. They also provide information and education that helps people become more aware of animals and their plight.

Think about it, it is a very rare zoologist who wakes up in the morning ans says to him/herself: "hmmm... I think I will be cruel today..." Many of the well known animal experts are associated with zoos  

Answer 7

i say its both!

its bad because wild animals should not be caged up

but its good that get get fed everyday and have shelter when weater is bad

overall they do have a good life in the zoo

Answer 8

That depends.

The animals in most zoos are treated much better than they would be in the wild.  They get regular food and water, and they get good medical care.  Animals in zoos often live much longer than their counterparts in the wild.  And if they are an endangered species, they probably get a whole lot more care than usual.  

Answer 9

the way you think you´d be a great thing to a zoo

some of them are cruel, and some treat animals really good, obviously is bad to have animals in captivity, but what other way could we have to know them and care for them?  

Answer 10

I don't think so.  I think they have trained, compassionate caretakers.  Zoos no longer go out in the wild to trap the animals.  Most of them have been born in captivity and would not survive in the wild.  Some animals have been injured in the wild and when brought back to health could not be returned into their old habitat for their own safety.  I think zoos do a lot raise public awareness about endangered spiecies and wild animal in general.  You can't get that kind of education and experience from reading a book or watching a movie.

Answer 11

i like the open zoos where you must stay in the car and they get to roam free i don't like the zoos with caged  animals  they don't ever look happy  

Answer 12

well that really depends on you persepctive on things

like how they feed animals and things like that

and their enviorments

like i would say if i looked at animals cages and just how thier main living situations are situated

Answer 13

I think it would be hard for you to reconcile that career choice with your dietary choice.  

While I don't considers zoos bad, and they have to meet certain standards to keep their permits and licenses to operate, I would think anyone who had a problem with eating meat or using animal products would have a hard time dealing with both the fact that they are confined to cages/habitats in captivity, and being around all the meat that the zookeepers have to prepare for the carnivorous animals to eat.  Did you know that they breed some animals, such as insects and rodents, specifically to be food for some of the other animals?  

It is easy for me to put it in perspective and see the benefit of zoos--they help with breeding programs and protection for endangered species that would have already become extinct if not for the specimens in captivity.  They do important research that helps these animals and build awareness through education with school groups, individuals, etc.  If it weren't for zoos, most people would never get to see some of these animals live or take photographs of them as you would like to do.

If it were me, it would be easier to just accept the "circle of life" and go back to eating meat and enjoying the zoo, than to rationalize veganism!

But that's just me.

Answer 14

Which would you rather have them, wondering around the zoo, or in a cage?  I know I would rather have them in a cage.  As far as the zoo keeper, they are for the most part very aware of their surroundings and take care of the animals with great care.  Some are even born in a zoo.  If they were out in the wild, another animal would take them out.  They are safe there and safe from you.  I wish you all the luck with your career path and I hope you don't see it.  Zoos are important to have because some can not travel around the world to see and enjoy them elsewhere.  I am happy there are zoos all over and learn more about them there than in the wild.  I have seen what animals do in the wild to people and it is never a pretty sight.

Answer 15

The bronx zoo? there are many zoos in ny.

the bronx zoo works with the world wildlife fund so those animals are kept very well. most zoos should treat the animals good.

some view the concept of zoos to be harmful b/c they are taken from their natural environment and kept in enclosures.

as for the bronx zoo it is very large and has lots of acres for the animals.



i am vegan and i am a biology major so that i can be a zookeeper/zoovet when I graduate.

Answer 16

I am against zoos, I am against the using, abusing, and mistreating animals for any purpose which includes entertainment and enslavement that zoos and circuses possess. The animals are not rescued they are captured or breed. They are holding captive and abusing animals. If they weren't I would not have a problem with them.

Some links:

http://www.mercyforanimals.org/zoos.asp

http://youtube.com/user/ivorynightfall

Answer 17

No, there are laws that prevent that kind of thing. Zoo animals nowadays have nice, roomy pens, get fed multiple times a day, and a helpful staff. The animals are spoiled and happy, and usually have been born and raised in captivity anyway, so they don't really "miss" outside life.

If you want to see animal cruelty, go to a circus.

Answer 18

this is a good question, but I all I know is that a lot of zoos take animals that cant be returned to the wild, so thats good  i guess

Answer 19

So long as we can give them the environment they need to be healthy and happy, I believe any animal is better off in human care. After all, the wild state can be a terrible life at times (starvation, death from preventable illnesses, constant fear of predation, etc.) However, so many zoos cannot give particular animals what they need to thrive. In such cases, keeping those animals in a zoo would be cruel.

On the other hand I don't think that it is cruel if the animal was taken out of the wild because it was injured, or it's territory was being torn down, and if the animals have plenty of space (not CAGES huge territories of land), and will therefore have a better life there than being exposed to predators and so forth, than I think it's okay.

But by no means do I approve sticking a healthy, safe animal in a small cage.

Answer 20

Confining any creature to an area is cruel in my books.  A prison is a prison no matter what the size of the cell is.

Answer 21

Depends in which Country...Where Im from ( Dublin ) Dublin Zoo Ireland the animals are very well cared for....

Answer 22

Actually, that would be a very good thing for you to do. Some people mistakenly think that zoos still buy animals that have been caught and trapped in the wild and forcibly removed from their habitat, but the fact is, most reputable zoos, including the one in New York, are not allowed to do this anymore. Their animals have actually either already been born into captivity, and, therefore could not survive if they were released on their own anyway, or they have actually been rescued from hazardous situations. In zoos, they are fed and cared for properly, as opposed to the situation they would be in otherwise. So, in reality, you would actually be making a positive difference for animals by taking a career in zoology, and even visiting the zoo, because your contributing money which partly goes for their care. Sorry if some animal rights activists don't agree with me on this, but some people are very misinformed with regards to the circumstances of animals in some forms of captivity. It's not done just to be cruel or exploit animals as a money maker. In reality, it's usually for their welfare as well.

]

Answer 23

No. There are a lesser evil. Of course the best thing is for all animals to be free as born, but many animals are endangered due mostly to mankinds thrist for cosmetics, hair dyes, furs, and many other things. Cover Girl makeup for example uses live animals to experiment on to test their products. They are cut up, sliced, poked, and most eventually die after torture. Clairol hair color does the same thing. Many perfumes, lotions and even soaps do the same. If it does not say NOT TESTED on animals, then it is. Zoos help animals like polar bears, rhinos, tigers, and many other animals that are on the verge of existion survive. Yes, some zoos are bettr than others. The ones that try to mimic the animals habitats and allow for large roaming areas when needed are best. It is also good to have education areas at zoos and to state which animals are becoming endangered or extint. Zoology is the study of animals, not just those found in zoos. Go to the one near you and check it out. Good luck!

Answer 24

They aren't cruel, per se. But there's a rash of animal THEFTS occuring right now that Animals rights watchdogs and Zoo authority's are looking into..   so far, I've only read about Spider Monkey's and Snakes...

If they were PROPERLY cared for.. their safety from thieves would be one aspect of that, no?

On the other hand, there are many many species of insect and animal that are EXCTINT in the wild.. and zoo's and other controlled places are the only place on the planet where they can still be studied and enjoyed.

Answer 25

I don't find them cruel.  One, they get constant care and food...If they get injured or sick, they have instant attention.  Plus its good for a community.  It brings in money for the city, and great for educational uses.  Just because they are stuck behind a cage, doesn't mean the animals aren't happy.  

Answer 26

Well if you are thinking of a specific zoo, the best way to find out is to go there personally. See for yourself, ask questions, tell them you want to be a zoologist etc etc.

You did not specify that you wanted to see a particular zoo. All you said was "are zoos bad..."

Answer 27

Zoos rock, and just as EastwoodElvis says Dublin Zoo rocks too. I liked the big polar bear when i was there.

I'm reading Life of Pi (well only a few chapters in) but Yann Martel justifies the presence of zoos in society superbly.

Zoos, certainly in western nations, look after animals well Who wouldn't want their food brought to them regulary and given good care of with a roof over your head. That's what my parents give me and that's what zoos give their animals.  

Answer 28

Most people who have animal rights in mind would agree that zoos in general are "bad." Many animals are trapped in the wild, leaving behind oraphaned animals which, sometimes, die. Often times animals are purchased from people who may not have aquired the animals legally, or humanely.

Sure there are certain animal care ethics laws and regulations for zoo accredidations but really...how happy can an animal that normally migrates, hunts, breeds...be in cage?

I'm not saying that the work zoos do it bad. Many zoos take good care of the animals they have (albeit, still small spaces, infamiliar climates for some of the animals...you can't tell me that the african lions like the snow in the Milwaukee Zoo...) and many do reasearch for endagered species and things...but I would imagine that the further you get in to it, as a Vegan, you will find that it's not something you would want to work for.

From wikipedia:

"Zoo professionals proclaim demanding aims for their institutions, from educating the public to conservation of biodiversity. Many zoos define their aims as recreation, education, research, and conservation. Animal-rights groups claim that there is a wide gap between these claimed aims and actual practice, and that zoos have commercial and entertainment purposes in mind as well as financial profit."

Perhaps animal rescue, or maybe working at one of the rescued elephant sanctuaries would be more up your alley. There's one in Tennessee that's the biggest in the western hemisphere.