Why Animals Should not Be Confined in Zoos

Although proponents of zoos may be having good intentions in terms of managing the animals, it is important to realize that they cannot have their natural environment. For example, the wilder beast animals do live in groups where they migrate over a long distance while elephants too averagely walk for over 50km a day in packs. This cannot happen in zoos due to the minimal acres of land for the animals to walk hence making the environment unnatural and uncomfortable for the animals. Additionally, there is the idea that zoos are meant for educational purposes to the public, but this is untrue. This is because confining the animals in unnatural conditions do alter their behavior, response, and character (Pierce and Bekoff, 2018).

Removing animals from the wild can further endanger the wild population in that the remaining individuals are always less in terms of genetic diversity and this is likely to make them lack mates. Those who are interested in seeing wild animals can as well see them in the wild or visit the sanctuary. Further, for the sake of their health and that of their owners, it is not right to have animals in the zoo. Research shows that then cages that they are kept in always become dirty and high growth of bacteria has also been reported which is likely to make them fall sick. For instance, Melody who is a vet from animals in Australia asserts that about 80% of birds do have their wings damaged mostly when they are kept in cages (Streiffer and Killoren, 2018).

On a positive note, although they are likely to fall sick hence making curing them easily that may make them live longer, it is important to remember that zoo animals are always put in situations where they have to be put into situations of having assisted mating (Cross, 2018). For instance, at Smithsonian National Zoo within Washington State, cheetahs must undergo an extensive program of breeding as they are not easy to mate under captivity. The program is estimated to cost around $350,000 every year even though in some instance it is always not successful. The loss of over 500 animals in South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria was a proof that all the zoos should be shut down as it was a tragedy that was quite emotional and a disconnection from what the natural world plays.

Removing animals away from their natural habitats do drive away their natural instincts. The laws should also ensure that animals are given proper environment so as to dwell in such mimicking manner with the real bushes and rocks as well as sunlight. This will provide the animals with the conditions under which they would actually survive on in a natural environment. The laws should also hold more people responsible for taking animals out of the wild for their profit gains or for no significant reason. If this does not happen, then thousands of animals are lily to find themselves away from home. Humans have the power to change the conditions under which animals are subjected to.  Biosemiotics, pp. Pierce, J. and Bekoff, M.