Christian Tuttle Tuttle 1

Dr. Angela Mitchell

UWRT-1104-040

10/25/17

Animal Mistreatment: The Decline and Progress

Animals around the world are being abused and mistreated in Zoos, along with other

wildlife attractions which argue that they are suitable for the responsibility of conserving these

rare and exotic species. Many of these facilities are abusing these animals either by

malnourishment, physical abuse, or simply not having adequate space that accommodates certain

species needs. There are also many organizations that try to help these efforts of maintaining

animal welfare through these facilities. Their goal is ultimately to just want to educated people in

becoming a more civilized individual that takes the animal's life into consideration in these

uncivilized facilities. There may be an organization that fights against conservation efforts, but

certain Zoos actually want to help this cause and show it through their dedication to the animals

lives and wellness. Also, there are different environments and outside factors that contribute to

the status of animal well-being. Through advocates and zoos that practice helpful conservation

efforts, advocators can achieve their goal of establishing civilized minds that are concerned for

animal well-being and to fight against these wildlife attractions around the world that are

uncivilized and practice uncivilized methods. These organizations are fighting these facilities

because they are trying to create an uncivilized society that will only see animals as an attraction

or things of monetary value. These values and norms that wildlife attraction corporations present

through their facilities are not normal at all. I will further explore how these corporations create

an uncivilized world for animals and people alike. I will also discuss how these organizations are

making attempts to create a more civilized community between animals and humans.

Zoos have always been a place where people go to enjoy themselves and to see exotic

animals that are from all around the world. The problem that no one takes into account is if these
 Tuttle 2

animals are being treated appropriately. Is there mistreatment being conducted and practiced on

these animals. There are numerous accounts of facilities mistreating their animals. This can be

achieved through inadequate enclosures which numerous accounts from advocates such as, Ms.

Shvets states in The New York Times as, Many of the primates and bears are held in

claustrophobic quarters because the public enclosures are run-down, they said. Construction was

begun on a primate pavilion at great cost, then abandoned last year (qtd. In Levy). Levys

example is from a zoo in Ukraine and represents just a slither of the maltreatment of animals

across the world. The effects from the zoo not taking the enclosure problem seriously identifies

that they do not value the animal's well-being enough to correct this problem. These animals are

not seen as equals and are seen as a monetary value to produce a profit. The product of these

inadequate enclosures are producing unhealthy and unhappy animals. These conditions can

ultimately result in death (Levy). Another example of animal mistreatment can be shown in a

Danish zoo that a reporter, Ian Parker claims in The New Yorker that, Every zoo director was

asked, How can this happen? The public outcry over Mariuss killing threatened the zoo

industrys ability to present itself as a prime agent of conservation. (Parker) . The Copenhagen

Zoo in Denmark was dissecting animals in front of the public and viewed these animals as a

waste of space after they saw them unfit for viewing pleasure (Parker). Copenhagen Zoo

recognized these animals corpses as nothing more than meat and failed at implicating the

mistreatment that took place to their actions. Parker also states that this threatens the zoos

industry as a whole to present its conservation methods (Parker). Obviously, this contradicts the

Zoos ideology of not conserving an endangered species but exploiting it. Through these

examples, it is clear that some zoos do not value these animals well-being and clearly is not

focused on conservation but solely on entertainment. The mistreatment that occurred in the Zoo
 Tuttle 3

in Ukraine does not represent all zoos. There are Zoos which value conservation and this creates

the question: What efforts are made by zoos that value conservation and the welfare of animals?

There are still zoos that value and support animal welfare. Discussing these examples of

positive effects that zoos have on conservation efforts are important in understanding that not all

zoos are in the wrong. Some zoos hold important and viable beliefs in bettering the lives of

animals and their well-being. In the article, Can Zoos Offer More Than Entertainment? Eric

Jensen states that, Given that there are over 700 million visits to accredited wildlife attractions

every year, even if only one-third of these result in improved understanding of biodiversity and

conservation, that is still a significant contribution. (qtd. In Gross). Gross discusses how

wildlife attractions such as zoos can offer education to people who do not know or understand

the importance of animal conservation and by doing so bettering the efforts of conservation.

Also, Gross states that, The second, separate claim to moral justification for zoos and aquariums

rests on the welfare of the animal species concerned (as opposed to the individuals that animal

rights are more concerned about). (Gross). Gross findings are justifiable due to looking at the

bigger picture. Conservation attempts are an important concept to think about because even

though these animals are not in their natural habitats, many zoos value making animals

comfortable and making sure they are living in adequate conditions. By keeping these animals in

safe environments, they cannot be harmed and therefore this contributes to animals welfare in a

larger spectrum by thinking about the safety of a species rather than a single occurrence where

the animal was affected negatively. Through these positive approaches that have a healthy aspect

on these animals lives, one can assume that not all zoos are harming their animals and just want

to conserve these exotic species so everyone can continue to enjoy them.

 Tuttle 4

Another important factor that contributes to an animal's welfare in various wildlife

attractions are the organizations that advocate for their safety and well-being such as, PETA

which stands for People for the ethical treatment of animals and as well as, The Humane Society

of the United States. Both of these organizations have the same goal which is making sure that

animals are treated ethically and with respect. The organizations are radical in some of their

advocating practices, I want to discuss and analyze the different ways these organizations

advocate and as well as the effectiveness of their approaches. PETA often discusses animal

rights and one novel that they advertise discusses that in the novel, Animal Liberation, Peter

Singer states that, the basic principle of equality does not require equal or identical treatment; it

requires equal consideration. (Singer). This quote exemplifies what PETA stands for as a whole

and that is to see animal equality, not as the same as humans but to have the same consideration

that one would have for a human and this ties into conservation by what these organizations

think conservation is and that is to consider these animals well-being when conserving a species.

PETA also uses other methods to advocate their message such as, social media, websites, and the

use of celebrity appearances to influence peoples actions (PETA). The humane society of the

United States also adopts some of these advocating practices but they take a more political

approach and are less aggressive. On their website, they claim that they are the most effective

animal protection organization and this is because of their less aggressive approach on

advocation (The Humane Society of the United States). The reason these organizations advocate

these issues are because of the injustices that occur in zoos and other wildlife organizations and

in doing so trying to make life better for animals across the nation.

There is no way one facility can accommodate the specific needs of all species. This is a

major question to consider when deciding if zoos should be allowed to attempt conserving
 Tuttle 5

species. In Jozef Keulartzs article, Captivity for Conservation? Zoos at a Crossroads, Kreger

states that, Moreover, it is virtually impossible to create realistic simulations of some forms of

predatory behavior, such as chasing and killing prey, in captivity. (qtd. In Keulartz). Kregers

statement exemplifies that zoos cannot create vast landscapes where they can act naturally as

they would in their natural habitat. Inadequate habitation diminishes the health of the animal and

disables the animal from being what it is, a predator. The question is, are these accommodations

still unethical even though the natural habitat is unlivable and it is an attempt at conserving the

species? When can one define what is better for these animals, letting them live like they should

and risk the survival of that species or conserve the animal and restrict it from its natural

instincts. The statement above is the crossroad that is referenced in the article. The conservation

attempts that zoos undergo are just not good enough to make a difference in the decline of a

species. In Keulartz article, Captivity for Conservation? Zoos at a Crossroads, he states that,

However, not only are the success rates of breeding programs disappointing, the prospects of

reintroduction programs are also low, largely because ecological, social, economic and political

aspects were not taken into consideration. (Keulartz). This statement clearly represents how

zoos cannot effectively influence the decline of a species and many of their methods are just not

enough to conserve a species. The zoos are not focusing on these problems enough and are not

concerned solely on conservation but also focused on making a profit. The main area of the

facilities attention are for the consumers that produce income. As long as the customers are

happy they are less concerned about how the animals are. These animals are a second priority for

financial gain and zoos are not the best attempt for conserving any species, if anything they

endanger the preservation of a species rather than aide in it.

 Tuttle 6

Through the accounts of multiple reporters and advocators that have witnessed the

injustices of animal cruelty, have revealed that a number of wildlife organizations are trying to

create an uncivilized society. This uncivilization is evident because of how these certain zoos

value the life of their animals and how they let the public view the animals. The failed

conservation efforts of multiple wildlife attractions also contribute to the argument that animals

need to be in their natural habitat. Facilities simply cannot achieve this in a way to accommodate

the vast and various habitual needs of these animals. Organizations that strive to educate people

and to establish a more civilized society in relation to animal welfare are prime examples of a

civilized discourse community. Through these organizations attempts, even though sometimes

radical, can achieve the establishment of the civilization of the public. Also, zoos that contribute

to ethical conservation are still not able to accommodate for all of these animals needs. These

examples of animal mistreatment, have been and will continue to spread throughout the world. In

doing so will influence the public and aide in the decivilization of these communities. Through

the efforts of PETA, and other organizations and zoos that are concerned about these issues will

hopefully influence the public and create a more civilized population. These examples contribute

to the evidence that zoos are not suitable for conserving and protecting the lives of exotic and

endangered animals. We cannot stand aside and be oblivious to the unethical actions that are

affecting these animals. The longevity of these animals species are crucial so that generations to

come will be able to enjoy these animals as we do and hopefully learn from our mistakes.
 Tuttle 7

Works Cited

Gross, Michael. "Can Zoos Offer More Than Entertainment?" Current Biology. 25.10

(2015). J. Murrey Atkins Library.

Keulartz, Jozef. "Captivity for Conservation? Zoos at a Crossroads." Journal of

Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. 28.2 (2015): 335-351. Print.

 Tuttle 8

Levy, Clifford J. Tight Times in Ukraine Means Cramped Quarters for Its Zoo

Animals.The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 Dec. 2009.

Parker, Ian. Killing Animals at the Zoo. The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 9 July

2017.

Singer, Peter. Animal Liberation. New York, N.Y: New York Review of Books, 1990. Print.