When we think about keeping animals in captivity, the thought usually refers to zoos, aquariums, and research facilities.
Then we visit institutions that keep these animals in cages or houses as a form of entertainment. What we rarely consider in the discussion about the pros and cons of keeping animals in captivity are the pets we have at home.
If there are cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, and other animals in our care, calling them “fur babies” does not change the fact that the animals are not free to roam as they please.
We put restrictions on their movement, sometimes we don’t even allow them to be outside, because there is fear for their safety. You may have the most beautiful home ever built in the history of mankind, but keeping an animal inside means that all they have is a beautiful prison. Should we keep animals for companionship?
Is it ethical to train animals to be useful to us instead of allowing them to pursue their natural instincts? List of Advantages of Keeping Animals in Captivity 1.
Keeping animals in captivity can prevent their extinction.
Zoos, aquariums, water reserves, and other resources can help preserve the lives of endangered species when humanity is not doing a good enough job of protecting animals in the wild.
Since they were hunted to extinction in the wild, there were about a dozen left in one zoo in Europe.
The herds are doing so well today that the horses are now returning to Mongolia to live on their land.
If we did not keep some of them in captivity, then this species would probably become extinct. 2.
People can learn more about animals and the natural world.
Doctors and scientists have the opportunity to study animals with whom we share our planet with great success in captivity.
That doesn’t mean we have to go out into the wild to remove creatures from their natural habitat.
If there are orphaned, abandoned, or injured animals that need intervention to survive, then we can intervene to save their lives through these practices. When we visit a zoo or other institution that helps care for animals, then our monetary donations help fund research that is needed to improve quality of the life of each species.
Captivity can provide some animals with better living conditions.
There may also be unusual environmental conditions that may endanger the survival of an individual, herd, or species as a whole.
By taking animals to an enclosure, we are doing the lesser of two evils.
Although we prevent their migratory nature or hunting behavior, we also give them a chance to continue their life instead of perishing due to changing conditions. 4.
Animal companionship provides stress relief to humans.
Many animals, especially those of the domesticated variety, provide a constant source of support and comfort.
When you come home at the end of a long day, your dog’s whole body moving and excited to see you can be a welcome sight.
Even if it doesn’t seem like it, animals don’t judge your choices. Learning how to care for an animal helps people develop a deep sense of compassion.
Dogs and cats teach us how to be compassionate people.
Animals can help us stay safe.
Even if we have pets confined by definition to our homes, we create an environment where our environment becomes their environment.
Having a dog helps people feel safe because they can act as a guard against intruders.
There are many cases where dogs and cats have helped save people’s lives because of the deep bond they form with us. Sako was one of those dogs.
Keeping captive animals can provide an economic benefit to some communities.
If we look at the process of taking care of the animals in the zoo, the public gets an opportunity to promote tourism.
Large zoos, such as Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA, generate over $17 million in employee wages each year. You will have hospitality, transportation, and food services available as a result of being a popular zoo.
We can simulate environments that encourage animals to use their instincts.
Today’s zoos are fully aware of the challenges animals face in captivity, especially when they are being treated for injuries or brought there for survival purposes.
Animal breeders and trainers work with animals to keep them mentally active, engaged in life, and away from the threat of boredom.
Some critics may suggest that these efforts are not the same as the wild experience, but that option is not always available if the animal’s life is to be saved.8.
Animals in captivity receive better health care than those in the wild.
Zoos have veterinarians either on staff or readily available in private practice to help provide reasonable care for each animal.
If an injury or illness occurs, then a veterinarian can step in to provide the necessary medical assistance that will aid in the recovery process. These groups work to provide the animals with the best possible care in all situations.
Although many animals experience a reduction in their lifespan due to captivity or domestication efforts, this effect does not apply to all species.
Sea lions live an average of 10 years longer in captivity.
Giraffes and tigers can live for an average of five years when they are in protected areas. 9.
We get food from captive animals.
Many of the foods we take for granted every day exist because we keep animals productive.
When we do sustainable care and good behavior while managing these herds, then it is possible to increase their quality of life while doing a service that can prevent hunger in the world. Some may not agree with the idea of using animals for food and see this issue as a waste.
For those who eat animal protein, this benefit should be at the forefront of your grocery shopping. List of Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity 1.
Captivity changes animal behavior.
If you look at the behavior of a common house cat compared to those that live in the wild, their activities are very different.
Cats learn to hunt for their food while distrusting humans.
Domesticated cats have everything provided for them.
When we put any animal in captivity, we change its natural behavior in some way. Captive animals can no longer hunt for their food or follow their instinct to migrate.
Animals are designed to live in their natural environment.
Even when we make an effort to replicate a species’ habitat, it is not a true approximation of what the animal would experience in the wild.
Think of an orca that used to spend all its time in the ocean and its endless habitat, and then it is forced into a small pond. Some animals have a long life in captivity, but that effect is very different from dominance.
Some species can see their life expectancy reduced by 70 percent or more when moving from the wild to captivity.3.
Animals born in captivity must stay there.
One of the disadvantages of keeping animals in captivity is that if there are children born, they have to live in a confined area because they have no way to take care of themselves in the wild.
Many zoos today actually work with the offspring of animals that were captured in the wild, which means that we are in the second, third, or fourth generation of being bred in these places. That means animals have no say in how their living conditions unfold. you are.
If the facility is underfunded, they may not have the resources to provide proper veterinary care, food availability, or clean living conditions.
Captive animals can cause allergic reactions in humans.
When people get exposure to the same triggers day after day, it can enhance the body’s histamine response with the development of allergies.
The human system usually cycles itself every 7-10 years, so there may be new allergies that you develop later in life that suddenly appear.
Pets are a common allergen that people encounter. Proteins found in animal skin, saliva, and body fluids can all cause allergies.
That means there are real potential risks to consider when keeping animals in captivity.5.
It can be expensive to keep animals in captivity.
When you budget for food access, access to water, toys, bowls, leashes, collars, and veterinary care, it can easily reach $2,000 per year per animal.
Exceeding any of these things can prevent the animal from living well. When you look at the cost of keeping large animals confined, especially those that may be dangerous, the cost increases significantly.
According to ZooChat, the annual cost of caring for an elephant is over $130,000.6.
Many of the benefits of animal captivity focus on human outcomes.
No one really wants to live a life of fear, depression, or loneliness every day.
Having pets at home can help alleviate those problems, but it is also important to be aware that you keep animals in captivity to bring those benefits. Even if you look at the idea of learning patience, the goal of young pet owners is to focus on them instead of the animal’s needs.
It can be dangerous to keep animals in captivity.
Bites, kicks, and bites are the most common threats people face when keeping animals in captivity.
Farm animals, bees, and dogs continue to represent the most dangerous encounters we have with these creatures, even though our legal system largely classifies them as property and non-threatening.
Keeping animals in captivity can set the wrong standard of care for the next generation.
There are some animals that are successful in captivity, but there are others that are not.
We cannot base decisions on our own needs when looking at how to care for animals in need.
There must be an effort to preserve and restore in all aspects of animal care, including when we look at the pros and cons of having pets, to ensure that we build a healthy relationship with our planet. Decision on the Pros and Cons of Keeping Animals in Captivity The problem with domestication is that it can lead to the desire to capture wild, rare animals to keep as pets.
Some people are not satisfied with the idea of keeping a cat or dog at home.
This process took hundreds or thousands of years to develop certain characteristics that helped them adapt to what nature had to offer.
Keeping animals in captivity changes that trajectory. The pros and cons of keeping animals in captivity may seem harsh to some, but it is important to remember that it is up to each of us to have a proper understanding of their environment, environment, and needs. .