Animals in zoos are usually kept in very cramped cages and do not behave as their wild counterparts do. Polar bears, for example, are given about 10 metres of walking space whereas in their Arctic home they roam for many hundreds of miles. Similarly other animals such as big cats and birds are often confined in cages where they lack exercise and encouragement. This lack of exercise can result in many of these animals developing unnatural habits such as pacing back and forth or swaying from side to side. We do not realise that these animals have the same desire for freedom as most human beings.
Many of these caged animals are taken out of their natural environment and surroundings. These animals are often forced to live in climates they are not adapted to or even capable of adapting to. Some animals are forced to live in a climate that is too hot for them. One good example of this is a polar bear. Polar bears are animals that are used to sub-zero temperatures and putting them in a place like Atlanta, where the temperature can reach well into the 90's is cruel and inhumane.
Zoos are unnatural environments, exposing animals to numerous dangers. Diseases often spread between species that would never live together naturally. For example, many Asian elephants have died in US zoos after catching herpes from African elephants. Furthermore, zoo animals are often exposed to chemicals, solvents and other toxic substances.
We as humans have this self-righteous belief that we have the ability to understand animals, but the shocking truth is that we can only predict their behavior. How does one determine the emotional state of a Lion whose nature is of great ferociousness? My opposition may argue that once a Lion is caged it is possible to tame but the underlying question, which begs to be answered is, who gave us the right to tame and mould this creature for our own amusement.
Animals are stuck in cages as if they are pictures for people to look at. They are treated as freaks. These animals in cages don’t even know what their natural habitat is or what it even looks like. These animals have never had a chance to hunt, play about, or mate. They have just been sitting in cages day after day watching people watching them. Do you think that it’s fair on these poor, innocent and helpless animals ?
I understand when the opposition may argue that they help to conserve endangered species, but in fact they are not very good at this either. Even the world famous panda-breeding programme has taken considerable resources and funds yet not achieved acceptable targets. Zoo life does not prepare animals for the challenges of life in the wild. For example, two rare lynxes released into the wild in Colorado died from starvation even though the area was full of hares, which are a lynx’s natural prey.
In conclusion, it is not true to say that zoos are educational or that they help to protect endangered species. In reality, they only teach us how wild animals behave when they are confined in small spaces. Zoo animals are probably more at risk of dying from disease or poisoning than their wild counterparts. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you as friends and fellow human beings, stop this madness before its too late. Animals haven’t done anything wrong to anyone and if they have it’s because of the way we humans violate their natural habitats. I leave the final decision up to you. I trust you will make the right decision for these poor and helpless animals. The time has come for us to abolish these cruel and inhumane institutions!