Michaela Earnhart Mrs. Tieman English 12 C.

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The caged eagle became a metaphor for all forms of isolation, the ultimate in imprisonment. A zoo is prison (Gordimer, Nadine). Zoos have been a form of entertainment for a long time. People gaze in wonder at the mystical beings within the enclosure. Lions and tigers and bears. Children eyes sparkle as their imagination runs wild. Some, though, wonder; what are zoos, really? As a young child we commonly found ourselves wondering whether they were being treated correctly. Zoos are in the wrong with keeping wild animals in cages for peoples own entertainment; these animals were created to be free, they need to be let free! Suddenly, you're taken from your home and shipped to a place where people come from far and wide to ogle at you, thinking they are learning about your lifestyle. Sometimes, your captors force you to perform for thousands of people. Your life has changed drastically. Welcome to the zoo! (teenink.com) All zoos have common pros and cons. Zoo owners and activists tell us that zoos are needed; they say that zoos help save endangered species, and that zoos provide protection to animals. Now, let us think, if these zoos are so great then why are the animals contracting zoochosis? According to the well known PETA organization, to make the public happy, Zoos are giving antidepressants, like Prozac, to the suffering creatures. There have been cases of animal actually risking their lives in order to escape the humans mindless imprisonment. One example is Jabari, a gorilla from Dallas Zoo. In order to flee from ruthless teens that were casting a shower of rocks at the poor thing, he tried to escape from his enclosure by jumping over the walls and moats. The result, Jabari was killed by a local policeman.

Earnhart 2 We, as humans, see what we want to see. We dont want to see all the negativity in the world. We want to believe that the world is perfect, that nothing is wrong. We are delusional. Zoos only provide a fraction of what the natural environment for each animal; these captive creatures are deprived of what is natural to them and what they really need. While some zoos provide educational programs, are involved in wildlife conservation, and attempt to preserve endangered species, most zoos are no more than prisons. An interviewed zookeeper says, I believe the biggest benefits of zoos are educating the public on not only the animals,
but how we can all contribute to conservation measures in our everyday lives. Also, people are able to see animals they might never be able to otherwise, and that brings a passion for animals to a personal level especially if they have an experience with an animal. You can see it in a childs eyes when they light up at a roaring lion or a hooting siamang.("Are Zoos Cruel? The Pros and Cons of Zoos and Wildlife

Parks") Although, to be considered an educational experience, zoos must provide humane standards of care that require creation of natural habitats with ample areas for exercise and socialization, appropriate diets, and suitable climate controls. Few zoos are actually able to meet these humane standards. The only educational message the majority of zoos offers is that it is okay to confine living, breathing, sentient beings for our entertainment. Even at state-of-the-art zoos, there is no way to adequately replicate the natural existence of a lion or tiger, or any other animal held captive. The animals habitats can never be as large and diverse in a zoo as they are in the wild. The animals cannot run, roam, climb, hunt, forage, choose a partner, or be with others of their species. For birds, life in a zoo is especially traumatic because they cannot fly. For nocturnal animals, the stress is significant as they are forced to be on display during the day for Earnhart 3

zoo-goers to see. Their lives are turned totally upside down. Polar bears in Arkansas, tropical birds in Minnesota, elephants in Maineanimals are being made to adjust to our desires. What happens to these wild animals when kept in unnatural settings? They develop neurotic behaviors known as stereotypies. A stereotypy is a repetitive movement often found in humans with autism and mental handicaps. In nonhuman animals, behaviors, such as constant pacing, swaying back and forth, and self-mutilation, are considered stereotypies(."Stereotypic Movements) These stereotypies often develop when the animal is in an abnormal environment. How more abnormal an environment can a zoo be to an animal whose home is in the wild? While the quality of life for zoo animals is inadequate, life after retirement is often worse. If the animals are costing more to care for than the zoo is reaping in entertainment dollars or if the animals are getting too old to lure in paying customers, the animals are discarded. After what may have been years of service, these once considered members of the zoo family are sold to roadside zoos, canned hunts, or research laboratories. They are often sold at auction to the highest bidders regardless of what those bidders intend to do with them. So whats the solution? If we shouldn't visit zoos, how else can we learn about these amazing animals? Animals should be observed in their natural habitat, where they are living the life that they were meant to live. If we can't afford to visit them, we can learn about these amazing wild animals by watching wildlife videos, television programs or by reading about them on the internet or in books and magazines. It is simply not right to enjoy seeing these animals while they are living a horribly sad life. Animals need to be let out of zoos, and back to their homes. They keep these animals in enclosures only a small fraction of what is natural to them. These animals are in climates that are

not natural to them. Whenever I go to the zoo the animals always look so sad. Wouldnt you be? These creatures can only dream of what the wild is really like, instead of the life in a cage. A prison. For me seeing is believing, so how about next time you go to the zoo really look at the animals, look in the eyes and behind the curtain . The vail of awe and imagination. Tell me, what do you see?

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Word Cited "Are Zoos Cruel? The Pros and Cons of Zoos and Wildlife Parks." Cereplast RSS.N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.

Carr, Michelle. "The Reality of Zoos." Peta.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. "Stereotypic Movements - Zoo Animals." Stereotypic Movements - Zoo Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013 Quotes About Captivity." (11 Quotes). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. "Zoos: Pros and Cons." [English] . N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. "Zoos." Teen Ink. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.