Animal Captivity Essay

Words: 1250
Pages: 5

For many people, children in particular, visiting a zoo or aquarium allows them to view domestic and exotic animals alike. Although these animals may not express discomfort or misery, the true feelings of despair and distraught are concealed quite well. Consider the daily life on an animal in captivity, for instance. A small space with little privacy, minimal to no social interaction, and the same routine of visitors constantly staring at them as they wander the all-too-familiar enclosure. Experiencing this every single day would drive anyone to the point of insanity. Unfortunately, this is the case for animals being kept in captivity. Like humans, all animals need fresh air, privacy, socialization, and ability to free-roam. This is why breeding/taking …show more content…
Some of the essential habits in a life of an animal are essentially eliminated by breeding control, and regulated feeding (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons). This is due to animals being closely confined, which in turn causes lack of privacy and little to no opportunities for mental/physical exercise. These close and unnatural barriers of captivity prevent these animals from living anything close to a natural life. Furthermore; the confines, little exercise, and constant monitoring can result from many animals suffering from a disease known as “zoochosis” (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons). This condition is created from constant boredom and loneliness, which are common with numerous animals in captivity (The Reality of Zoos). An example of an animal demonstrating zoochosis would be if the animal is slowly swaying back and forth. As well, repetitive motion or walking patterns are also symptoms of this condition. On average, an elephant walks about 30 miles a day, but, unfortunately, the close confines of the Edmonton zoo can not provide this much space or freedom for lucy; an Elephant. With already little space to move around outdoors, she is kept in a small barn during the frigid winter months. This causes her “painful arthritis” and the zoochosis condition (The reality of Zoos). One can already see that diseases and mental health conditions are some of the disturbing effects on animals suffering in captivity and that being stripped of natural practices will drive an animal to the brink of