Zoos and wildlife recreation parks are one of those things that have, through the years, continuously raised eyebrows regarding how unethical they seem, how they're more like a disruption of nature's natural order, and the like. Making many calls for the closure of such facilities so that animals kept in captivity can go back to their natural habitats and thrive the way they ought to. But on a critical note, are zoos and wildlife recreation parks entirely bad? I for one doubt it, although it doesn't mean I totally support it, and that's why in this article I'd be talking extensively on the nitty-gritty of everything that surrounds this subject matter based on my understanding.
To start with, on a first observation, we all can agree that humans are just interfering with nature because they're more intelligent than it, and that leads to them disrupting the flow of nature by holding these animals captive just for show, such as entertainment that brings about money to parks that display them. Most of these animals have their natural instincts and way of life that holding them in captivity can affect, leading to them forgetting and even being unable to cope again if reintroduced into the wild. Take, for instance, a lion who hunts for its food but is now used to being fed, not forgetting how the tiny rations they're fed often lead to malnutrition that makes them lose weight.
Personally for me, I think wildlife are being exploited by keeping them in captivity. They are naturally made to roam around the wild, and we humans hold them up in a spot for entertainment. Some even do far worse to them by making them participate in some crazy games that leave them with severe injuries and the like. Yes, I understand most of those animals might have died had they been by themselves in the wild, but then, that's not a big deal; that's one of the beauties of nature. The same way we're concerned lions or other dangerous wildlife might lead to some species extinction is the same way human influence also causes the same, so it's more of a lose-lose to them when we interfere.
Why it Can Be a Good Thing
Although zoos and wildlife recreation parks are mostly detrimental to the animals, that doesn't mean they don't have their good side. Understandably, most of these positives are for human benefit, but a few are also for the animals themselves, and below I briefly talk about the positives:
Conservation: This one benefits the animals, because some of these endangered wildlife species that are kept in zoos are basically presented with a safer environment that allows them to rehabilitate and also breed till they're no longer an endangered species.
Education: These benefit humans, because zoos and wildlife recreation often serve as places to show young ones animals and also create awareness about what they're capable of and our responsibility to nature as humans.
Tourism and economy: These also benefit humans, and that's the aspect whereby having a zoo in a place can serve as a means of income, whereby we charge people to see these animals. It boosts a community economy, as tourists tend to visit such places, not to forget how it creates jobs for different people such as veterinarians, zookeepers, and the like.
Why It Can be A Bad Thing
Here are some of the reasons why I felt it's not ideal and unethical to keep animals in captivity when they ought to be free, just like we humans who always crave freedom:
Animal Welfare issues: Most of the animals kept in these places aren't well fed, not to forget that where they're kept isn't natural. I remember going to the University of Ilorin zoo, and the lion there was looking slim like a hungry puppy. All this happens because some of these zoos prioritize entertainment and what they'll earn over the animals needs.
Loss of natural instinct: All animals naturally have survival instinct, but those that have been raised in such places tend to lose that skill because they're not used to being prey, so releasing such an animal into the wildlife is like a death sentence.
Moral and ethical concerns: I, for one, don't think it's moral or ethically right to keep wildlife species captive. They are both used to such a lifestyle, and neither are then made for human amusement regardless of how beautiful the enclosure we keep them in is. Let them roam through the wild freely.
I'll conclude by saying that although I've been to a zoo and saw animals I wouldn't have seen had such a place not been put in place, so it's a good thing, what we should be concerned about, though, for the good of the animals, is how it's managed. TheWildl first zoo I visited was poorly managed, which often caused more harm than good to the animals. If there'll be assurance that a wildlife park or zoo would follow ethical guidelines and be well regulated, then it'll be acceptable and even become an asset to the society.
All photos are mine.