Humans have chosen to deny and exploit their right to freedom, which is unethical by keeping a wild animal in captivity. Zoos can't even come close to giving animals the space they enjoy in the wild. In comparison to their natural habitat, tigers and lions in zoos have almost 18,000 times less room. There is a million times less space for polar bears.
They frequently use the argument that the necessity to safeguard animals in captivity is due to their plight as threatened species in the wild. So we decided to investigate these claims further.
Only 9% of animals confined in zoos on different continents are endangered, according to research, although 17% of wild species are. Compared to 84% of mammals, 95% of birds, 93% of reptiles, and 79% of amphibians, just 9% of endangered or threatened species are kept in zoos. As a logical result, the vast majority of zoo animals are not at risk of extinction. So why are they kept as captives?
Wild animal enclosures frequently have jungles, deserts, or icebergs painted on their walls. The animals are not conned; they are aware that they are not in the wild, therefore these efforts to make the enclosures appear natural are only for the advantage of the public. Behavioural enrichment aims to soothe boredom and increases brain activity in confined animals.
This enrichment, though, may fall well short of offering the kind of excitement an animal might find in the wild. In their tanks, dolphins are given items like hula hoops. Dolphins in the wild can travel hundreds of kilometres every day. This enrichment is most likely grossly insufficient for animals whose brains are bigger and more complex than humans. Even with behavioural enrichment, dolphins and other animals might start to display stereotypical behaviours, such as unceasingly gnawing bars or enclosure grates. Boredom and ongoing stress are linked to stereotypical actions.
What should be done?
In order to increase awareness with the public by exposing animal cruelty and exploitation in zoos, we educate the public about zoos by speaking up for animals in the media, online, and in person. Zoos are increasingly looking for more ways to make money. Many now host festivals and "after-hours" gatherings that frequently include live music, booze, and even fireworks, while the loud noise from the event they were holding stressed out animals.
Even though many animals kept in zoos are listed as Least Concern in the wild such as barn owls, veiled chameleons, tawny eagles, and two-toed sloths all face a career in captivity. All of these animals are denied the freedom to live the full lives they deserve and of their natural habitats in the wild.
These animals are kept at zoos as entertainment for the visitors who come for a day excursion. Opportunities to feed animals and "meet and greet" times with animals are only beneficial to the zoo's human guests and, of course, the zoo itself, which can gain money. The creatures are just exploited and kept in captivity forever.
Both humans and animals experience pain. While we stand up for any injustices that are pointed out to us. True humanity does not let us impose such sufferings on them, thus let's return them to the wild and let them explore it at their own pace. Making the entire world aware of it is our responsibility to fight for their welfare.