Zoos: a life without freedom

Zoos are prisons which hundreds of animals are trapped for life for the sole purpose of entertaining visitors. In these prisons all sorts of animals with the desire to be free are “exhibited” like the works of art in a museum. One visit to the zoo is enough for us to realise that, for the animals inside, what’s really missing is freedom. The cages, cells and other enclosed spaces are the 'homes' where many animals are forced to live far from their natural habitats and equally far from a satisfactory life.
Animals such as lions, tigers, deer, elephants, etc. which normally travel great distances over a short period of time in search of food and which need contact with other creatures of their species, spend their days bored and alone or with no more than a handful of others of their species. Their normal behaviours are regulated and eliminated with regimes of food and artificial paring.

The daily routine in zoos is repetitive and monotonous. In most cases there is no type of privacy or stimulation and, as such, just as we would, animals suffer emotionally. This suffering due to the lack of freedom is something so evident that in many zoos you don’t need to look very hard to find animals with physiological disorders caused by the stress and anxiety of living in confinement. Many of the animals develop stereotypical symptoms such as such as pacing back and forth and rocking.

Born free or born slaves

It’s often considered less acceptable to abduct a wild animal from its natural habitat and imprison them in a zoo that to enclose an animal born in captivity for life. The truth is that the suffering they go through because of their lack of freedom can’t be justified based on where they were born. Those who are born free will have to suffer the loss of their family, the anguish of transport, the confusion of not understanding what is happing, etc. those born in captivity, just like as those born in freedom, will suffer their hole lives from not being able to live according to their interests, needs and as they choose to.

Educative aims?

Although those who defend zoos assure us that they are places with clear educational objectives, that’s to say, they teach their visitors about different animals’ behaviours and habits, encourage respect for them and the environment, the truth is that what people really learn from visiting a zoo is that its acceptable to deprive animals of their freedom for our own benefit. Regardless of whether zoos are places where people can learn more or less about animal behaviour, their existence is unacceptable. To deprive somebody of freedom and cause them suffering is wrong no matter what we could learn from doing so.
Many of us are probable interested in how people from different societies and cultures live and relate to each other, but we would never think it was ok to deprive somebody of their freedom to help us in our learning. Animals, as creatures with their own interests, deserve the same kind of respect.

Preserve species, condemn individuals

Another argument put forward by those who defend the existence of zoos is that they perform aid conservation, in other words, in these places they breed, raise and enclose endangered species so that we can enjoy them. Like this, some defend zoos as places for the preservation of certain species, to continue the existence of creatures due to the interest that we humans have in enjoying their existence. But what’s really important isn’t the disappearance of a certain species, but the death and suffering of those creatures within in. A species doesn’t suffer from its disappearance. Those who suffer are each individual that forms part of it and, as such, the existence of a certain group never justifies the slavery of individuals.

Other non-human victims

The animals “on exhibition” are not the only ones who suffer due to the existente of zoos… rabbits, mice, chicks and other animals are born and murdered to be fed to the animals on show. Furthermore, some of the animals in the zoo fail to attract enough visitors and, as such, many are murdered or sold. Deer, lions, tigers and other animals who get old (no longer being as attractive as they were when they were younger or smaller) or get ill are often sold to hunters who pay for the privilege of killing them in their private hunting enclosures. Other animals which are in “surplus” are also sold to circuses or less reputable zoos.

Beyond the zoos

If you are interested in learning about other animals (lets not forget that we are also animals) there is a lot that you can do to find out about them or even help them. Firstly, don’t visit zoos or other enclosures where they are put on show and deprived on liberty. Circuses, aquariums etc. are all different sides of the same coin: animal exploitation.

You can learn a lot about animals visiting websites, watching documentaries, reading books and encyclopaedias, etc. But perhaps the best thing for them is for us to learn to respect them and recognise that even though we are different in some ways, in whats important (the ability to suffer and enjoy our lives) we are equal.

You can also help animals by encouraging others not to visit these places, talking with your friends and family about why they shouldn’t go to zoos, handing out leaflets or other information about speciesism, helping us to carry out our work etc. There are many ways to help animals and ensure that none end their lives in a zoo-prison!