Animal Captivity Research Paper

Captivity is the condition of being imprisoned or confined. Is captivity good or is it bad? If humans were put into cages and given only enough food to keep them alive we would call it inhumane. What is the difference from doing the same with animals? The topic concerning captivity has been controversial for years. On one side it is educational and conservational, but on the other it is unfair and sickening. Wild animals are captured and brought halfway across the world to a place that in no way resembles what once was theirs. In captivity animals face challenges which life has not prepared them for. Confined behind cage bars they are trapped. Four walls separate them from doing all things natural including hunting, roaming, and breeding.

Zoos educate the public about animals and the problems they face in the wild. "The fastest and most direct way for people to save and care about an endangered species is to connect with them," says Rob Vernon, the AZA's communications coordinator (Mendoza). Zoos are also convenient for people to see wild animals as not everyone has the opportunity to go to Africa and see them in person (Mendoza). Many believe that engaging with animals in person can be more inspiring and educational than a picture on a television screen. Only the smallest impact can make a huge impression. Although zoos seem to portray an educational factor they fail to teach people about the natural world. Over 2,800 children were surveyed from the London zoo and demonstrated a lack of learning outcome (Zoos Neither Educate nor Empower Children). Zoos claim they teach children about how to become conservationists, but children fail to believe they can actually make a difference. “It is hardly surprising to learn that most children visiting zoos are neither empowered nor educated by the experience of seeing captive wild animals so far removed from their natural habitat. Zoos present an entirely false view of both the animals themselves and of the real and very urgent issues facing many species in their natural homes,” says Liz Tyson director from Captive Animal’s Protection Society (Zoos Neither Educate nor Empower Children). Wild animals are called “wild” for a reason. How can we be educated about wild animals when we are not seeing them in their natural environment? Captivity lacks the ability to show animals true behaviors. A polar bear’s enclosure is one-millionth the size compared to its home in the wild (Derr). With nowhere to go the polar bear ends up spending 25% of its day pacing and walking around in tight circles (Derr). Whereas in the wild the polar bear can wander endlessly without walking into a glass wall. Dolphins naturally travel up to 100