Animal Rights/cruelty in zoos
Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert Sazzle
Black Rose wrote at 2007-07-04 22:36:48
I would point out that any animal captured in the wild and then put into captivity has been done a disservice. Then there are some kinds of animals that are rarely EVER kept properly in zoos, like elephants. Elephants wander for miles each day in the wild, and the reality is that most zoos simply do not have the space for this. Most elephants in captivity usually suffer also from foot infections which often lead to their deaths.
Contrary to what this "expert" is saying, the philosophy of many AR organizations is that if there is less animal/human interaction, there will be less abuse. Sadly, they do not usually need to misrepresent anything. Our society has been conditioned to believe that keeping wild animals in cages is acceptable, but it rarely is. Healthy animals should be living on sanctuaries, or at least in zoos that have done away with too-small cages.
1) freedom from hunger and thirst
2) freedom from pain and disease
3) freedom from thermal or physical stress
4) freedom from fear or distress
5) freedom to express normal behaviour.
These are only the bare minimums, and are often inadequate. How, I wonder, would humans fare if these were the only things we were guaranteed? I doubt it would go well. We should, therefore, empathize with non-human animals, and seek to understand their plight,.