The Case Against Zoos
I remember visiting zoos as a child and being mesmerized by the wild animals there.
However, last night, I was shocked that in 2014, Copenhagen Zoo killed a healthy giraffe in front
of visitors. It shows the cruelty of zoos. Zoos have had to close due to their limitations in
providing natural environments, proper social interaction, and genuine care that can harm the
animals they house.
First, zoos are unable to provide natural environments for animals. Many enclosures are
too small and unable to accommodate species that naturally roam long distances, resulting in
behavioral problems such as zoochosis due to lack of stimulation and space. Research shows that
enclosure design significantly impacts animal welfare and behavior. With zoos prioritizing the
visitor experience over the welfare of their animals, zoos often force incompatible species to
coexist and restrict natural behaviors. Despite claims of conservation efforts, many zoos focus
more on entertainment than actual wildlife protection, raising concerns about their existence.
Second, zoos cannot provide good social interaction for their animals. They often group
animal species geographically, which is not representative of their natural habitats. This concept
forces animals to live near other animals that would likely be their enemies, competitors, or
meals in the wild. Research indicates that zoos’ assumptions about predators and prey getting
accustomed to each other over time are unfounded. Prey animals remain vigilant even when
predators are around, resulting in increased stress levels due to the constant surveillance of
potential threats. It can hurt the animal as some animals are aloof and do not want to be around
other animals, which ultimately causes the animal to be stressed and aggressive.
Finally, zoos often provide inadequate care for the animals they keep. Zoos must have
comprehensive professional labor, and essential health facilities, including animal quarantine
areas, clinics, laboratories, and medicine supplies. Zoos that do not meet these requirements may
be considered as not providing adequate care. There have been reports of poor animal care at
Medan Zoo, with inadequate facilities and numerous animal deaths due to lengthy autopsy, and
feeding delays. The zoo’s veterinarian is not consistently available to address the animals’ health
needs, and the physical well-being of the animals is consistently rated negatively.
Some believe zoos have educational value and are essential for research and conservation
efforts. However, I still maintain that their limitations in providing adequate care can harm the
animals and raise ethical concerns about animal welfare. Due to confinement and the stress of
being in an unnatural environment, animals can suffer from psychological problems. Animals
deserve their freedom and should not be caged or restricted.
In essence, zoos often fail to provide the appropriate environment and genuine care for
animal welfare. Animals suffer physically and psychologically from confinement, stress, and
unnatural social interactions. Zoos should be closed to address animal welfare concerns.
