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Arguments For and Against Zoos

By Natalia Ilika, Lindsey Pfirrman, Storm Rund, & Paul Kole

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Background

The abbreviation 'zoo' was first used of the London Zoological Gardens, which was opened for scientific study in 1828 and to the public in 1857.
The number of major animal collections open to the public around the world now exceeds to 1,000, around 80 percent of them are in cities.
In the United States of America alone, zoos are visited by over 180 million people annually.

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Relatively new terms for zoos coined in the late 20th century are "conservation park" or 'biopark'. Adopting a new name is a strategy used by some zoo professionals to distance their institutions from the stereotypical and nowadays criticized zoo concept of the 19th century.
The term 'biopark' was first coined and developed by the National Zoo in Washington D.C. in the late 1980s.
In 1993, the New York Zoological Society changed its name to the Wildlife Conservation Society and rebranded the zoos under its jurisdiction as "wildlife conservation parks.

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Where did we visit?

The Dallas Zoo (oldest and largest Zoo in Texas)
Founded in 1888
Owned by the city of Dallas and and managed by the nonprofit Dallas Zoological Society
Approximately 430 species (more than 2,000 animals altogether), not including fish
Approximately 66 of these species are managed through the AZA’s (The Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Species Survival Plans
Key Exhibits: The Wilds of Africa, Giants of the Savanna, and the Gorilla Trail
The Giants of Savanna Exhibit- only multi-species zoo exhibit in U.S to mix elephants with other species in their habitat

NATASHA

The Dallas Zoo began in 1888 with just two deer and two mountain lions in City Park. It later moved to Fair Park in 1909 and quickly outgrew its second home, moving to Marsalis Park in 1912, where it stands today. Throughout the past 128 years, numerous upgrades have been made and collections expanded. In 1955, the Dallas Zoological Society was established as a non-profit to support the Zoo. In 2009, a public-private partnership transitioned the Zoo to private management. Today, the Dallas Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, and is thriving with new exhibits such as the Giants of the Savanna, and the Koala Walkabout and Wonders of the Wild, both presented by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. In 2017, the Simmons Hippo Outpost will open, returning these remarkable “river horses” to the Zoo for the first time in 15 years.

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Governing Zoos

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

Very controversial
Designed to create higher standards of zoos
Started in 1924 has picked up steam since
Now ensures that facilities meet higher standards than the law requires
Institutions are evaluated every 5 years
Of 2300 animal exhibitors licensed by APHIS fewer than 10% are qualified to be AZA members

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Governing Zoos

Species Survival Plan (SSP)

Helps ensure the survival of selected species in zoos
Most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild
Implement a breeding and transfer plans
These plans try to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse, population for long-term future

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Breeding in Zoos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiW96Uci624

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Endangered Species Recovery

Conservation tools to "recover" endangered and threatened species
Includes the restoring and acquiring of habitat, removing introduced animal predators or invasive plant species, conducting surveys, monitoring individual populations, and breeding species in captivity and releasing them into their historic range.
The U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973

Captive Mexican wolf at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

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Zoo Animal Environments

Lions in the Dallas Zoo live in one acre territory
Tigers also have one acre of space to live in at the Dallas Zoo
“Giants of the Savanna” exhibit- separated by specific animals of elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, impala, and warthogs
Dallas Zoo does not disclose how much land each animal lives in at the “Giants of the Savanna” exhibit

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Scientific Research

One of the core activities of zoos.
An enormous amount of our knowledge of the behavior, physiology, reproduction, and growth of animals has come from animals in captivity.
Zoos invest $50 million annually in research to improve the habitats and well being of animals in captivity.
Ethics and practices can come under intense scrutiny.

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Reintroduction

The species usually comes from an environment where it is endangered or threatened
The species is taken into the zoo where it can survive in a safe environment for the time being
Then the species is released back into the wild
About 130 zoos around the world have reintroduction programs

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Michael Hutchins’ Case in Favor of Zoos

Strong commitment to conservation and animal welfare provide powerful ethical justification for zoos.
Four central goals of Zoos: Education, Research, Conservation, and Recreation
Main argument: The benefits of exhibiting animals in zoos, all things considered are greater than the costs in individual animal welfare.

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Dale Jamieson’s Case Against Zoos

Moral presumption against keeping animals in captivity
Animals’ liberty is restricted
Providing amusement to people does not justify keeping animals in zoos
No reason for scientific research
Very few zoos do any research at all
Breeding programmes create unwanted animals

NATALIA
From an animal rights standpoint, we do not have a right to breed, capture and confine other animals, even if they are endangered. Being a member of an endangered species doesn't mean the individual animals have fewer rights.
The vast majority of captive breeding programs do not release animals back into the wild. The offspring are forever part of the chain of zoos, circuses, petting zoos, and exotic pet trade that buy, sell and barter animals among themselves and exploit animals.
If zoos are teaching children anything, it's that imprisoning animals for our own entertainment is acceptable.
Animals do not have nearly as much space in zoos as they normally would in the wild- not sufficient to live in.
Removing individuals from the wild will further endanger the wild population because the remaining individuals will be less genetically diverse and will have more difficulty finding mates.
Scientific research is unnecessary. Scientists study animals health problems to apply it to humans. But it is absurd because humans and animals are so different.

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Debate Structure

3 minutes for opening (each team).

2 minutes per response.

Team against zoos: Lindsey and Natalia

Team for zoos: Storm and Paul

Against: Animal cannot get food by itself, can’t do things they can do in wild

Physically mentally frustrated causes animals illness

Zoos aren’t good for education and entertainment

Protection of species, zoos care about large and attractive animals that attract people, but they neglect smaller species, there are more animals that aren’t endangered than other

It is almost impossible to successfully return animals back to wildlife

There are organizations other than zoos to protect animals

Going to argue in favor of accredited, accomplished Zoos:

Protection from extinction (Paul)
Transfer plans and reintroduction (Paul)
Zoos provide proper nourishment and basic needs for animals are met (Paul)
Captivity provides up close research & development of relevant technologies that would be otherwise impossible (Storm)
The financial benefits that Zoos create for conservation efforts would not be possible without ambassador species (Storm)
From a sheer ethical standpoint, it seems as if on a utilitarian basis, if we are to put the welfare of entire species ahead of concerns centered around individual cases, then we ought to support accredited Zoos (Storm)

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Bibliography

https://www.captiveanimals.org/news/2010/03/10-facts-about-zoos (article with points against zoos)
https://www.aza.org/species-survival-plan-programs (AZA,SSP)
Jamieson, Dale. "Against Zoos." The Animal Ethics Reader. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. 576-81. Print.
Hutchins, Michael. "In Defense of Zoos and Aquariums." The Animal Ethics Reader. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. 582-90. Print.
http://www.dw.com/en/zoos-species-protection-or-animal-abuse/a-16213950 (130 reintro)
http://focaweb.com/what.htm (appropriate environment-L)