Pros and Cons - Debbie Newman, Ben Woolgar 2014

Zoos, abolition of
Section F. Culture, education and sport

See the introduction to the debate on ’animal experimentation and vivisection, banning of’ (Section E) and the entry on ’animal rights’ (Section A). The conditions of animals in captivity vary hugely around the world. If the debate is set in your own country, you will need to consider the specific treatment of the animals. The definition could also include or exclude safari parks, where the animals roam around an open area that visitors drive through, rather than living in cages.

Pros

[1] Animals have rights just as humans do. They have evolved from nature and each belongs undisturbed in its own natural habitat, left alone to live, breed and seek food. To remove them against their will from this habitat is immoral.

[2] Even if animals do not have rights, we as humans still have a duty to treat them humanely in our role as ’stewards of the Earth’. Although we may breed them for our purposes, to use for entertainment, for company, or to wear or eat, we must still avoid causing them to suffer. Zoos do this in two ways. First, the animals frequently suffer abuse, neglect and even death, through boredom, unfamiliarity with their new habitats and cruel treatment by zookeepers. A San Francisco zookeeper, explaining an incident in which an African elephant was beaten with axe handles for two days, described the treatment as ’the only way to motivate them’. Birds’ wings may be clipped, aquatic animals may have too little water, herd animals are kept alone or in pairs, and many animals contract ’zoochosis’ — abnormal and self-destructive behaviour caused by their confinement. Second, the exhibition of animals in captivity tells an impressionable public that cruelty to animals can be condoned.

[3] Few zoos approach satisfactory standards of care for their animals. Many make no attempt to do so, such as ’roadside’ zoos or menageries, where the primary purpose of the animals is to attract customers to another facility such as a restaurant, store or hotel. There is no educational benefit to these zoos.

[4] Larger zoos that claim to be for educational benefit are kidding themselves; visitors usually spend no more than a few minutes at each exhibit, using the animals rather for entertainment. The public can watch nature documentaries and find out about how animals act in their own habitat, which is more educational than seeing them in cages. Their primary use for research is to devise ways to breed and maintain more animals in captivity. If zoos ceased to exist, so would the need for their research.

[5] Animals chosen for zoos are usually the popular breeds, which will attract crowds. Endangered species in need of protection may not necessarily attract audiences.

Cons

[1] Animals do not have rights. It is entirely at our discretion how we treat them, since we are a stronger predatory species. The use of a weaker species for the needs of a stronger one is entirely natural.

[2] It is easy to pick shocking, isolated examples of animal cruelty. In fact, the general treatment afforded to most animals in zoos is very good. They are given regular food and water, comfortable environments suited to their particular needs, and most importantly, medical treatment — something they would not benefit from in the wild. In many cases, their chance of survival is better than in their ’natural’ habitat. It is certainly not worse than a life as a pet or on a farm. Zoos do not condone cruelty to animals; the public is taught that all animals are interesting and precious.

[3] By all means close down roadside zoos, or at least subject them to the same stringent safeguards as municipal zoos.

[4] Zoos are useful for educational purposes. In particular, they allow children an opportunity to observe closely animals from other countries that they might never have a chance to see, as well as learn about all the species of the animal kingdom and how they are related.

[5] Endangered species may be protected from extinction in zoos, or in wildlife sanctuaries. Scientists are also afforded valuable opportunities to study animals in strange environments, and draw conclusions about how we can affect their natural habitats.

Possible motions

This House would free the animals.

This House would shut down zoos.

Related topics

Animal experimentation and vivisection, banning of

Blood sports, abolition of

Animal rights

Vegetarianism