Life Sentence…
No Parole

While many zoos claim to be concerned for the general well-being of the animals who live within their confines, zoos remain little more than prisons for those who have committed no crime except that of being of the wrong species. Zoos teach us and our children that it is acceptable to keep animals in captivity, leading lives of boredom in settings that bear almost no resemblance to their natural homes.

Zoos, like any other businesses, are designed to make a profit. With money as their first priority, it is not uncommon for zoos to sacrifice the welfare of individual animals to save financial resources. A former director of the Atlanta Zoo once stated that he was "too far removed from the animals; they're the last thing I worry about with all the other problems."¹ Animals who "misbehave" at the zoo are often "encouraged" to behave through the use of violence. San Francisco zookeeper Paul Hunter says, "You have to motivate them, and the way you do that is by beating the hell out of them."²

The life of boredom and purposeless existence which goes along with captivity often causes the animals to engage in abnormal and self-destructive behavior known as "zoochosis." The animals are closely confined, lack privacy, and have little opportunity for mental or physical exercise. Symptoms of zoochosis include nervous pacing, head rocking, and self-mutilation.

In captivity, it is almost impossible to meet the animals' natural needs. For example, birds' wings may be clipped to prevent flying and animals who would naturally live in large herds or family groups (such as elephants and bison) are kept either in pairs or alone.

A problem most zoos encounter is the existence of "surplus" animals. To free up space for "cuter"—and therefore more profitable—animals, many zoos sell surplus animals to dealers who ultimately sell the animals to laboratories for experiments or to "canned hunts," fenced-in facilities where hunters pay to kill animals.

While most zoos claim to educate the public about endangered species, the vast majority of animals in zoos are not endangered, nor are they being rehabilitated for release into the wild. If we truly want to help animals in the wild, we must preserve their habitats and combat the reasons humans kill them. Keeping animals behind bars for the sake of our entertainment is not the solution.

What You Can Do

Don't patronize zoos. Once the public stops giving animal zoos money, they will be forced to shut down. Instead, support organizations such as the International Primate Protection League (803-871-7988) and other groups that work to preserve habitats.

References

1. Satchell, Michael, "Can Zoos be Humane?" Parade, February 19, 1984, p. 12.
2. Fritsch, Jane, "Elephants in Captivity: A Dark Side," LA Times, October 15, 1988.