http://www.care2.com/greenliving/unnatural-states-the-ethics-of-zoo-going.html
Unnatural States: The Ethics of Zoo Going
The Los Angeles Zoo, while well regarded and an exemplary urban zoo at that, has a dark history (as most long-standing zoos do) that lurks barely under the surface. A mile or so down the road from the existing Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park, are the remnants of the first Los Angeles Zoo built in 1913. Without much effort, you could visit these archeological ruins (as that is what they resemble) and gather an idea of how cramped, unnatural, and inhumane the captivity was for these animals. These were not enclosures, or pseudo-natural environments, but cages carved into the rock, and no larger than a small trailer. These were the places where captive lions, gorillas, and bears were relegated to live out their strange existence under the watchful eye of the throngs of zoo goers that flooded the zoo each day.
As I said, The Los Angeles Zoo of today is a much different, more enlightened animal (forgive the pun) than its old shadow self, but still the issues around keeping captive populations of animals in non-native, unnatural environments remain. Many argue that the act of maintaining a responsible zoo is helping to preserve diversity as well as protect endangered animal populations that would otherwise dwindle or perish in the wild. Still, as any parent knows, bringing a child to the zoo is both a thrilling experience, as well as an experience that is fraught with many thorny ethical issues concerning the very existence of zoos.
Basically, zoos are more or less fantastic entertainment for visitors with an underlying educational component for those willing to do the work. The more reputable zoos out there provide rigorous programming to enlighten visitors (young and old) about the nature and existence of the animals on display, as well as teach about conservation. And without a doubt, children love, love, love zoos. But still, as I have always regarded them, they are seemingly necessary evils of human civilization.
To witness the marvel of the animal kingdom (in the comfort of our own cities and towns) we are required to remove these animals from their natural environment, remove them from the vitality and volatility of the wild, and place them in controlled manmade environments to live out the remainder of their existence as living gene bags. OK, this is a little harsh, but anyone who has really observed a wild animal in captivity could plainly see they are lacking that joie de vivre that has been unwittingly traded for safety from predators, free medical care, and a steady diet of grub.
That said, the very best zoos out there are true civic resources as well as exceedingly valuable public spaces. Zoo directors have been credited with creating more naturalistic enclosures and designs to keep animals active, as well as more comfortable. However, I know I am not alone in feeling that ethical conflict, when trotting my toddler from one artificial savannah to a simulated rain forest, that we, as patrons, are both entertained as well as implicated.
How do we present this thorny issue to our children without ruining the fun? Does the mere act of having a sort of cursory contact with these animals bolster our humanity and make us more aware and sympathetic to there cause? Can zoos, no matter how enlightened and progressive, ever escape the limitations of their construct?
Eric Steinman is a freelance writer based in Rhinebeck, N.Y. He regularly writes about food, music, art, architecture and culture and is a regular contributor to Bon Appétit among other publications.
related stories
-
erics
(1 comment)
-
(4 comments)
-
(19 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
44 comments
add your comment »The Ringling Bros. circus abuses the elephants, I saw the video on the Huffington Post..It may also be on PETA. Do not support the circus ...Wild animals do not belong there!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I used to work in zoo education but had to leave because I was just too ambivalent about the ethics of it all. Plus, people who work at zoos are often very difficult to get along with. Everyone there cares fervently for the animals but I think that they know on some level that the zoo is not an ideal place for the animals and this inner conflict leads to unhappy people.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
No matter how "realistic" zoos try to be, the truth is that they are essentially prisons. Combining indoor confinement when temperatures are unlike their natural habitats, the lack of family, lack of range, lack of privacy, lack of choice, lack of companionship and too often lack of medical care and physical abuse (in addition to psychological abuse), I would rather die than live in a zoo. The trade off isn't worth it. If it were, why don't humans commit crimes to go to prison? For the same reasons that prisons are disagreeable to humans, zoos are disagreeable to animals. If humans honestly cared about the animals well being and best interests, then their environments would be preserved or "made" in another country if natural environment were threatened. In truth, zoos are not concerned about the animals best interest. They were designed for entertainment for humans and being lucrative, remain so to the present day.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I too have ambivalent feelings about zoos...
(Not about circuses tho'
No animals, end of! That's why I like Cirque du Soleil)
I think the problem I have with the Born Free lobby is that most of them are rather rich and can just jet off to Tanzania or Brazil, thus meaning that only the wealthy are OK to see the real thing.
(I live in the UK, so maybe things are different in America...
xx
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Animal rights is a challenging issue. I have boycotted zoos, rodeos, most movies with animals as the main characters, animals shows and so forth for most of my adult life. Using animals like this is exploitation and they suffer no matter how guilded the cage. Crated dogs suffer too even though everyone says how much they love it. How could they love being prisoners? It would be a miracle if the abusers, killers, poachers in the world could ever be stopped. That would be the solution.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Finally! someone has said it--there is no substitute for the real thing. Thank you Teresa. And it is true for the average person to take a journey to these native habitats is slim to none.
And I further agree with your 'disagreement' about the poster's remark relating to extinction. If that poster--or any human were subjected to the kind of entrapment and mistreatment that the many animals suffer in the wild do, I bet there would be a fast change of opinion regarding extinction. But then some people can't see beyond their nose as they look down on the rest of the world from their high perches.
Regardless of what side of the coin we each want to shine one thing is evident here--we all do have concerns for the survival of the animals, of which without the food chain (natural order of survival) would collapse totally.
Yes, it would be an ideal world if all animals could live freely in the wilds but given mans greed and ignorance that is not a reality in this day and time. A zoo is the best hope for all the animals--and for those who would otherwise never have a chance to see them in the 'real.'
As for the zoo systems in this country and worldwide I don't recall ever seeing or hearing of PETA protesting them. So someone must be doing something right.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I agree witht the author in being ambivalent about zoos. Kid DO LOVE THEM, as do adults. I took my kids to the zoo when they were young, and to this day I remember my own childhood trips to the zoo while in elementary school. Yes, zoos have a horrible past, although not nearly as bad as circuses, which to this day I find abhorent. We have however come a long way in the building and managing of zoos, and the care of the animals. And although we watch many shows on the Animal Planet channel, the Discovery channel etc; sometimes the real life, in your face contact is the only way to bring it all home. Kids need to realize that those animals aren't just on television, that they truly exist ans most of us will never be able to take a trip to the African or Asian continents to see animals in their native habitats. And as has been repeated, many of the animals in zoos no longer even exist in the wild, and would possibly be extinct if not for being in zoos. I disagree with the poster who said "If a species cannot be keep from extinction in its natural environment then sadly perhaps extinction is the natural order". I believe our job is to save whatever animal and plant species we can from the destruction we as humans have caused.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I agree with the anti-zoo comments and those that refer to by watching TV shows and videos that were filmed in the wild and narrated by people who are qualified in the subject, such as those on PBS' Nature programs. I do favor non-zoo facilities for studying, breeding, and salvaging species from extinction.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
The program to breed Vancouver Island Marmots is done in zoos. I'm not sure why you refer to them as "dedicated facilities" to hide that fact.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I am uncomfortable with keeping animals in capitivity because the message that overrides everything else is that humans are dominant over all other species and we can exploit them at will. While zoos and aquariums have made efforts over the years to improve the living quarters & ameliorate the lack of stimulation that many animals experience, the animals are in no way experiencing life as it is in the wild, and adults who take their children to see these animals are showing them animals who are not living in a natural state, which limits the educational aspect. Zoos and aquariums jumped on the conservation bandwagon when it became apparent that the general public was increasingly getting on board on the need to keep earth's ecological systems from deteriorating to disastrous levels. The most successful conservation programs aren't in zoos or aquariums - they are dedicated facilities such as the program to breed Vancouver Island marmots in captivity for eventual release into the wild, which I support. I have learned far more about animals in far-off places such as Africa, India, and our oceans by watching TV shows and videos that were filmed in the wild and narrated by people who are qualified in the subject.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: