Persuasive Essay: Zoos Should Not Exist

Nadine Gordimer said, ‘’The caged eagle becomes a metaphor for all forms of isolation, the ultimate in imprisonment. A zoos is prison.’’ I believe that zoos are not doing the right thing by taking  animals from the wild and putting them in the zoo. I believe  this because a zoo is basically a cage for animals. Animals should be out in the wild learning how to survive on their own like animals do.  Animals should not be kept in zoos. It is taking away their opportunity to be a normal animal. Zoos must not take animals from the wild because it traps them in a cage, Prevents them from fulfilling their needs as an animal , and animals are not in the right habitat they need.

Zoos are like a cage for animals. First, Animals can not be in the wild. For example,  ‘’ Some studies have shown that reintroduced animals have high mortality rates because they are poorly adapted  and lack the skills needed to survive in the wild’’(KQED Education,3). It is my belief that   it is extremely important for animals to be in the wild. In the wild everything   the animal needs is available to them. In the wild, there are predators so it is important that animals learn these skills to be able to survive. In order for animals to learn these skills don’t they need to actually be in the wild?. Secondly, Zoos limit how many ’friends’’ they can have in their pack. For example,’’Other Scientists note that it is more common for animals to help other members of their same species, especially if they are closely related, live together or are part of  a group’’ (do animals protect other animals?,11). I think that this shows how important it is for animals to be together in packs. The way I see it is  since they protect each other they should be together. If an animal does not have the skills to survive in the wild they could really be in trouble. Zoos ultimately are like a cage for animals.

Zoos prevent animals from fulfilling their needs as  an animal. Firstly,zoos are suppressing the natural instincts of the animals.For example,’’Animals in zoos often lose their natural instincts because their habitat is not natural. Being kept in captivity does not allow animals to fully utilize their instincts, so many animals lose their natural behavior’’(Zoos are like prisons,1). I personally get heartbroken  when I realize that animals lose their instincts.  Instincts are something the animal needs and taking that away will deprive the animal of the opportunity to be an animal. If  instincts are something that animals need to survive but do not have them, how are they going to survive out in the wild?. Secondly, Animals could have negative consequences brought onto them. For example,’’Scientists at the University of Bristol in England found that elephants kept in captivity were less healthy and died younger than their wild counterparts’’(Zoos,Aquariums,Gale,8). I know no one with a pet would want anything bad to happen to that pet. I happen to have 4 parakeets who I love so much and I would never want anything to happen to them. So why should animals in zoos suffer those consequences?. Zoos prevent animals from fulfilling their needs as  an animal.

Animals are not in the right habitat they need in zoos. First, Animals are in space restrictive environments in zoos.  For example, ‘’Zoos do not provide the amount of space animals have in the wild. This is particularly the case for those species who roam larger distances in their natural habitat. Tigers and lions have about 18,000 times less space in zoos than they would in the wild’’( Freedom or animals,5). It is really fascinating how little space animals have. Imagine if you were locked in a room that is how animals feel. Animals have no space to roam and be free.  They are confined  and do not have the space to be able to be a normal animal. Would you want to never be able to live normally again?. Some people might think that the cages in zoos are the right size for the animal. While it is true that the cages are big I think people forget that these animals came from the wild where they had tons and tons of space so a cage is not nearly big enough.  Furthermore, Animals are in unnatural environments. For example, ‘’Due in part to unnatural enclosures, animals in zoos are under stress. Animals are often bored and as a result, some become aggressive and can lash out at other animals or zookeepers'’(KQED Education,4). This shows how much animals need to be in their natural habitat. If animals are not in their  habitat  it can really affect them negatively. Animals could get hurt and zoo keepers could get hurt.  We should do everything we can to prevent this. Animals are not in the right habitat they need in zoos.

Zoos must not take animals from the wild because it traps them in a cage, Prevents them from fulfilling their needs as an animal , and animals are not in the right habitat they need. It really makes me sad how many things are taken away from animals when they are taken into zoos. Animals are meant to be free not be in a cage where they can not be a normal animal, Zoos should not take animals in because it harms them in so many ways. I am asking all zoos to not take animals and put them in cages so they can be free and happy.