Zoos & Aquariums
A zoo or aquarium is a facility that confines animals in enclosures, to be put on display for humans. While it is often claimed this is for the animals benefit, or the survival of the species, the reality is that life in an enclosure or tank is no life at all.
“[W]e have this fundamental responsibility to not take advantage” of animals who have no control over whether or not they live with humans.
Ren Hurst
The Industry
There are thousands of these facilities around the world, holding species of all kinds captive in enclosures that are a fraction of the size of the animal’s natural environment. Each country has their own welfare laws and standards for zoo animals.
Polar bear in the wild versus the unnatural enclosure.
Australian Zoos
Australian zoos are codified as “animal display establishments” by the NSW Government, and are primarily governed by two acts at the Commonwealth level; the Quarantine Act, and the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Imports and Exports) Act 1982 [18]. Each state and territory, however, is a distinct body in terms of zoo related legislation. Further to this, there are separate pieces of state legislation governing wildlife protection and animal welfare, further problematising the regulatory enforcement of these vital issues.
Conservation Myth
While some zoos may contribute a small portion of their time and effort to conservation projects, the animals who are rehabilitated will likely never be released into their natural habitat. Additionally, the vast majority of animals trapped are not on the endangered list. Ex-zoo director, David Hancocks, estimates that less than 3% of profits go towards conservation [19].
The Issues
Breeding and trading animals
Young animals are a draw-card for crowds, and as a result, zoos conduct breeding programs. The animals who are no longer seen as profitable, or as a “surplus”, are sold or traded to other zoos. This separation of animals damages any bonds between they may have made with one another.
Captivity
Although zoos go to great lengths to mimic the natural habitats of animals, they remain artificial environments and generally provide significantly less room than the animal would have in the wild. For example, sharks and polar bears both travel thousands of kilometres every single year, and up to 80km a day - in their tanks and enclosures, they are forced to swim and walk in circles, never experiencing life as they were intended to [20, 21]. These are just two examples of species who are denied their natural behaviours.
Captivity brings with it issues of creating and maintaining the perfect temperature for the animal’s enclosure, feeding animals unnatural or inefficient diets, altering their feeding patterns, inbreeding, and removing their freedom.
Stereotypies and depression
Animals in captivity develop depression called zoochosis, as well as stereotypic behaviour - repetitive or abnormal actions. Stereotypic behaviour, as mentioned with circus animals, is an issue that is of primary concern relating to captive animal welfare [22, 23, 24]. Captive animals frequently display stereotypies due to stress, boredom, loneliness, frustration and the inability to carry out their natural behaviour (this is also seen in factory-farmed animals for the same reasons). Just as we get bored being stuck in the same environment, so do the animals. In this instance, our “fun” activity of visiting the zoo, is the reason for their suffering.
One heartbreaking example of the severe depression these animals experience is the story of Kathy, one of the dolphins who played Flipper in the film. Kathy looked her trainer in the eye, sank to the bottom of a steel tank and stopped breathing. Ex-dolphin trainer Richard O’Barry said her suicide is what changed him, transforming him from dolphin trainer into an animal-rights activist for life, and led to his role in The Cove. The Cove is an Oscar-winning documentary about the dolphin-meat business in a small town in Japan [25].
“The [animal entertainment] industry doesn’t want people to think dolphins are capable of suicide, but these are self-aware creatures with a brain larger than a human brain. If life becomes so unbearable, they just don’t take the next breath. It’s suicide.”
Proximity to humans
In near-total confinement settings such as zoos, animals are repeatedly exposed to unfamiliar people and frequently have sparse prospects for refuge. Constant exposure, and being forced into close proximity with visitors, can cause severe stress and have a negative effect on their welfare and wellbeing [26].
Credit: Unknown (left) & Eyes of the Innocent (right)
What can you do?
As consumers, we hold the power to end the suffering of these animals. Without our money, the facilities, events, and activities the subject wild animals to unnatural confinement and would simply cease to exist, breaking the cycle of breeding in captivity and freeing the animals from a lifetime of misery.
To draw a comparison of the realities of zoos to our own lives, we simply have to look at the recent Coronavirus lockdown. For our own safety, people were asked to stay home for several weeks to months. Despite having shelter, food, and some access to entertainment, lockdown and isolation made many feel trapped in their environment. Sadly, suicide and depression rates increasing dramatically. This is what the entire life of an animal in a zoo or aquarium is like. On top of this, they have little to no control of making any decisions whatsoever, or the ability to socialise via digital means. Confined to a small and artificial space, unable to leave for thousands of days; and for most, unable to leave at all.