write up draft

EPQ

Introduction:

In recent years, there has been huge controversy as to whether keeping animal’s captive is acceptable, but very little has been done in changing the situation. I often see news articles about how poorly animals are treated in zoos, aquariums and in labs, it appals me that no action is taken and some of the most powerful people in the world look over this issue that I and so many others strongly disagree with.

Zoo:

 • An establishment which maintains a collection of wild animals, typically in a park or gardens, for study, conservation, or display to the public.

 • A park like area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.

Captivity:

 • The state or period of being held, imprisoned, enslaved, or confined.

 • The situation in which a person or animal is kept somewhere and not allowed to leave.

Zoochosis:

 • Stereotypical behaviour often shown by animals in captivity. Stereotypical behaviour is defined as a repetitive, invariant behaviour pattern with no obvious goal or function.

Zoonosis:

 • A disease which is transferred from an animal in captivity to a human.

Aquariums:

The documentary ‘Blackfish’ inspired me to base my essay on this topic, as the main bulk of the programme is based on Tilikum and the truth behind how he is 'cared' for by Sea World.

In the wild, male Orcas can live for up to 80 years, and females can live for over 100. The average age of death for an orca at Sea World is a mere 7 years old. Early death for all animals is not the case for all animals in captivity -in many zoos animals can live for much longer than they would in the wild, but if the animal is unhappy surely this cannot be a good thing? If an animal is showing signs of zoochosis, the animal is being kept alive purely for the entertainment of humans and as a source of income for the captivity centre

In captivity, Orcas grind their teeth down on the bars and sides of the enclosures in the hope of escape – and this often requires painful dental procedures. Orcas are very friendly, social, family-orientated animals who stay with their mother for a large proportion of their life. Captivity centres often snatch baby Orcas from their mothers in the ocean and throw them into chlorinated pools with other whales. Orca fighting rarely happens in the ocean as the different groups can swim away from one another, but it is a different story when it comes to whales in tanks. It is a common occurrence for older whales to attack younger whales in captivity, especially when they are being crammed into enclosures in close proximity to each other. The whales are left in small tanks overnight for 14 hours whilst waiting for the parks to open the next day so that they can perform their demeaning tricks for deluded onlookers.

Tilikum has now died from a chronic lung infection. In the last 10 years 59 animals have died at SeaWorld. Globally, people are fighting against Sea World and their ability to hold animals captive, with the petition #DontBuyATicket taking place. Sea World claim to care for their Orcas but can captivity even begin to measure up to freedom?

Even under the best conditions in the world, captivity cannot begin to compare to animals living in their natural habitat. Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to interfere with an animal’s natural lifestyle and instincts, and keep them locked up behind bars, where they are bored, cramped, lonely, and deprived of all control of their life.

Zoos:

One of the main arguments that zoos use for keeping animals held in captivity is the claim that they are ‘needed for education’. Although this may seem like a legitimate argument, this reason alone is not enough to deprive animals of their normal lives.

Observing an animal behind glass or behind bars in zoo conditions will not show you an animal’s true behaviour. The majority of people who go to zoos are not going for educational purposes anyway; they are going simply for entertainment. A large proportion of those who visit zoos are families, and this teaches future generations that zoos are acceptable.

Another common argument that zoos often use to justify keeping wild animals in captivity is the claim that they are trying to protect species from extinction. This may sound like a valid point, but many zoos do not care for near extinct animals, they care for exotic animals that are plentiful as they attract crowds and publicity. Most animals housed in zoos are not near extinction – so they would thrive in the wild, however they will probably never be released back into their own habitats.

As zoo animals grow older and become less "cute" in the eyes of the visitors, the elderly animals are sometimes carelessly discarded by zoo officials and often handed over to the wrong people. In some cases, unwanted animals are found neglected and abandoned.

Captive animal facilities such as zoos can play a major role in the spread of zoonotic diseases. Capture from the wild, handling, transportation and feeding all cause increased stress in animals, which can damage their immune system and make them more susceptible to disease and illness.

Labs: