Devin Johnson

Mrs. Debock
English 4
12 April 2016
Animal sanctuaries have a psychological affect on animals.
Animals that are put in captivity are known to have shown different patterns of
behavior than that of their species in the wild. The reasons for this are apparent that
it has to do with the methods, and environments that are used and provided in
captivity. An example is, in captivity different species are kept together so they
become more tolerable to other animals. But animals in captivity also face stress,
and depression. And lastly, Animals kept in captivity can experience exponential
weight gain or loss.
Animals are put into a social environment with other species that they might
not come in contact with in the wild. The effect that this social environment has on
the animals is positive in the way that they become more tolerable to other species.
Through diverse facilities call they have varying conditions, care programs, and
restrictions.(Brent) An example of this is Tigers in captivity can be hand fed, and
bathed by trainers although it is cautiously they can still be handled nonetheless
unlike tigers in the wild that would surely attack people on sight. Sanctuaries can
improve the wellbeing of many unwanted primates, especially in terms of housing
and socialization.(Brent) Another effect that sanctuaries have on animals is
displayed in the behavior of the animals, animals in captivity are far more
lackadaisical than those in the wild. This is due to abundance of food, water, and
lack of rivals/predators.

Supporting evidence for the thesis that Sanctuaries pose psychological affects to
the animals that inhabit them, is that a group of scientists conducted a series of
tests measuring the weight of animals in captivity and the same type of animals in
the wild .The difference between animals kept in indoor captivity vs. animals kept
outside in the wild is highly significant due to environment, predators, and
resources.(schumann) The animals they used as a test subject was a group of
rodents, they kept a group outside and a group inside. The rats they kept outside
were lost an average of 8% of their weight , but the rodents kept inside gained 12%
of their weight.(Schumann) It was also shown that animals in captivity show signs of
stress unlike those kept in the wild, which infers that although it benefits them to be
in captivity it also has its cons.
At an animal shelter for felines researchers studied the psychological affect of
animals kept in cages, and being separated from other animals or being put in
seclusion. The animals that were tested to show signs of stress were neutered cats
from ages 2-15 years old.( Uetake)The way they performed this test was by putting

a cat in a cage for a period of 3-6 days by itself. After a certain period of time they
would test the stress levels of the cats compared to others that had not been in
cages or separated. They measured the stress levels by gathering urine samples
from the cats and testing the cortisol-to-creatinine ratios.(Uetake)
In conclusion, Sanctuaries have psychological affects on animals. Whether it be
good or bad, keeping an animal out of the wild changes multiple things it could be
the animal's attitude, diet, and habits. The change in the animal's behavior is
always significant, and easily distinguished.