Should Zoos Be Banned?

Are Zoos animal prisons or instead places where sick and injured species are looked after? Do Zoos help us learn about animals or do they instead exist as entertainment for our insatiable curiosity? Should Zoos be banned? In this video we’ll learn about the 2 sides of this argument and hopefully find the answer.

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The first question to ask is what are zoos? Zoos are confined spaces in which animals are kept for 3 main reasons, for our entertainment, to be cared for, and to be studied. These 3 main functions of zoos are how I’m going to group the arguments for and against zoos into.

Firstly, Zoos are places of entertainment where people can come and look at animals,
and because of this zoos are stationary, they don’t move around and often in built up areas where there are lots of people. Because of this the spaces afforded to animals in Zoos are often smaller than the animals actual habitat, which can cause neurotic behaviour like pacing and aggression, as well as milder forms such as boredom and lethargy. Consequently, animals in zoos can sometimes actually be dangerous to humans, which defeats the purpose of them existing for entertainment. Those in favour of zoos would argue instead that the entertainment factor of zoos is a good thing, as it brings joy to children and families. Also, they are often cheaper than safaris and offer a more intimate encounter with animals than say documentaries. This intimacy may also help foster a more empathetic relationship between humans and animals, leading to people possibly being more likely to contribute to conservation efforts to protect animals’ habitats.

This point links to the other main function of zoos, in helping to care for animals. Those in favour of zoos argue that they offer sanctuary for endangered species, as well as for sick and injured ones. Those against zoos argue that sanctuaries exist for this very purpose, where the emphasis is on the animal and not the customer, like in zoos. Also, surely it would be better for conservation, to protect the animals’ natural habitat, as opposed to moving them away from this? Opponents of zoos also argue that they are often not about conservation, because the animals in them are not endangered a lot of the time; plus many animals that are no longer needed are put down.

The third main function of zoos is as places where we can learn about animals and this actually is a reflection of the original reason why zoos were created. Zoos in their modern sense came about in the 18th century due to enlightenment values that stressed an interest in sciences such as zoology and anatomy. For example, Zoos have been used in the past to test how self conscious animals are, whether they can make choices or even if they can be trained to use sign language. However, opponents of zoos ask what we can actually learn about animals when they are not in their natural habitat, and where their reactions to stimuli may be exclusive to zoos, making the research flawed or at least not representative of how animals act in the wild.

To conclude I think that zoos should not be banned, because they offer humans an intimate relationship with animals that makes us more likely to protect them. We are very curious creatures, and I think that by allowing us to humour this curiosity, zoos by how close they let us get to animals, spark an interest in the welfare of animals. If you love a panda that you see at the zoo, you're much more likely to want to protect it from going extinct. Just think about how much we love dogs in the west because we have intimate relationships with them, yet in say south korea they do not have this culture and eat dogs. That’s my opinion on why zoos shouldn’t be banned, if you disagree feel free to tell me why in the comments section.

[sushinosaurusrex]

I think we should change the perspective of having zoos in our society.
Now zoos are considered to be an entertainment or educational facilities.
But we should think visiting zoos of a remedy or treatment for mental things.
That's the valid reason to have zoos.

[DaenerysStormbornTargaryen]

They are stealing animals and taking them from their natural habitat. Their tortured. And have very small spaces. Their where only like 1 of each animal at most of the places they put the animals they capture the animals and their was A DOG! A PET DOG in the zoo, most of the animals I saw where lonely and lonely. The poor seal I saw was lonely and had a small tank. That wasn’t ok. I also saw a lonely bird in a very small cage, it could barely fly around.They should change some of their so called “home” in zoo’s. And put more then just 2 of each animal.

[kristinakn]

Thanks a lot for such an amazing video and information ❤

[nope]

Title:should zoos be banned
Me:YES RIGHt NOW

[juanda_]

I think zoos should be banned, now I’m not talking about every single zoo but I think the ones where the animals are stuck in tiny cages and are used for sports and torture to be shut down immediately but the better ones like Australia zoo must make huge improvements to there facilities making the animals have more space to run around and have more endangerd species to spread conservation work

[Ishan_amp]

I don't think Zoos should be banned. But i say that Zoos should give proper treatment to animals and enlarge their enclosure. I hate some Zoos for treating animals worse

[biankefouche]

If people want a "intimate experience with animals" and "want to get to know animals" then they should go to the spca, and adopt a dog or cat.

If you want to learn about animals, like lions, watch a documentary

[sachinraghavan]

Zoos should not keep carnivores unless they're keystone species, carnivores have to hunt in the wild on their own terms. If they can sustain herbivores they should, but we can't breed animals as it would take more resources to preserve them. I also hope they're not inseminated. If they breed they do so naturally.

[AsiralcEarth]

LEARNING ABOUT ALL ANIMALS IN THE WILD.

[AsiralcEarth]

YES ZOOS SHOULD BE BANNED IF HUMANS TRULY LOVE CARE PROTECT RESPECT FOR LIFE ALL ANIMALS HUMANS SHOULD GO LEARN ALL ANIMALS HABITAT NOT IN ZOOS.

[Wildwiki]

It depends on the zoo if the animals are very healthy and happy then it’s a good zoo if the zoo is barrier and has an8maks tortured and stuck in cages it’s a bad zoo. For people that think zoos are bad jus5 to say not all zoos are terrible not all zoos are torturing an8maks and stuck 8n tiny cages and capturing them. But there are still bad zoos out there

[sasharogers]

i think zoos should't be banned.because you learn a lot from them.and also when they are endangered human can help grow their population.

[cbarnes]

I think petting zoo's with someone's farm animals is enough to imprint on a child to want to do right by animals. Plus we have endless shows that represent animals and documentaries to teach kids about every animal out there. So zoo's are prisons for someone to make make money that's it. People who get infront of these floor to ceiling windows with gorillas or lions in them and laugh, take selfies, and beat on the glass at these poor animals is cruel. Seeing a lion stalk then claw at the glass as people aggravate them or gorillas hit the glass at laughing people is wrong. There's no reason we should be doing this still. Unless a animal needs care bc of medical needs there's no reason to have them caged up and should be returned once they are able. This goes for any water creatures too. Look at what Titan did at SeaWorld. He mentally went crazy and killed. Then locked him away and he was just a sperm facilitator to breed more whales for the show. Which is so stupid bc why breed a whale who now has mental issues from captivity to just pass it to its offspring. Duh. No it all should be banned it's a fucking shame that this even needs to be said or debated. Yall better be terrified to ever have aliens actually invade or come here in numbers bc they may treat us like we do animals and that should frighten you.

[anjanigongal]

I disagree because there could die by food poisoning and any type of disease and not well treated and that is the reason that I disagree

[aselliofacchio]

No they shouldn't, next question.

[aliciapetersson]

It’s hard to answer that question. But zoos should not be banned.

I know that many people that the animals feels so sad in the zoo and feel like they are in a prison and why can’t they be in their local habit. When I was a kid I just wanted to go to the zoo to see the animals and take pictures of them. Like I knew it didn’t feel good to see a cheeta in front of celler. But I was more like I’m just going to take some pictures.

Not when the animals don’t feel good. But in zoos yeah they are . But right now why sometimes I feel bad why are they not in their habits? I mean it’s cool to see them when they are close but hurting as well. In Sweden we have a zoo and their staffs actually taking care of the animals but they are only taking care for animals that are endangered. Just right now many people just screaming “Free all the wild animals to their habits not in jails” you can think whatever you want. But I still think that they should not close the zoos.

[asjarahmanovic]

I think one of the main problems is that everyone who now thinks zoos should be banned grew up going to zoos and they developed that love and connection to animals. If zoos are banned and people stop going to not support them, they will lack even more funding and it will just get worst for the animals. I absolutely feel like zoos should not exist, but what will happen to all the animals that are there?

[jakejacob]

Depends if the animals are treated badly or goodly

[coffeebeanslife]

Omaha zoo keeps in gorillas they look depressed

[bmycluongdung]

l really like this video but l think animals should not be captured and kept in zoos because l think they belong to their family.