Animals Captive In Zoos

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C. Animals captive in zoos are behaving abnormally and living unhealthily.
1. Polar bears are tolerating hot weather, large fish such as orcas are cramped in small pools, and elephants that are innate to warm weather are suffering from harsh winters in zoos. The Milwaukee County Zoo was ranked in 2014 as the 8th worst zoo for treatment of elephants by the environmentalist group TakePart. (show picture). This picture shows one of the two elephants at the Milwaukee County zoo that are not being taken care of properly. This zoo is accredited by the AZA, or Association of Zoos and Aquariums, but is clearly not taking the best care for its animals.
2. Animal’s behaviors are being effected by zoos, many showing signs of distress.
a. One of the …show more content…
The AWA, or Animal Welfare Act, is a federal law mandated towards all accredited zoos. Many zoos are not upholding this law.
1. So what does this law say? The basic requirements are that the animals must be fed, watered, and sheltered.
2. Responsible for enforcing this law is the APHIS, or Animal Plant and Healthy Inspection Service. It is mandatory that a yearly inspection of zoos is conducted by the APHIS and that investigations take place any time a complaint is filed about a zoo. The problem with this is that there are only 104 inspectors, and there are over 2,000 zoos to inspect.” This is how many zoos can get away with planting animals in small rooms with cement floors that are nothing like their natural habitat.
3. The United States Department of Agriculture explains that many zoos often interpret this Act differently. Specifically concerning the cage space regulations, many zoos see it as only requiring that “the animals be provided with enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and move around a bit.” Zoos can get away with the bare minimum to uphold these mandates. But the bare minimum is not good enough. Many animals are left to stand long durations on cement floors and can eventually get …show more content…
Zoo administrations focus more on their attractions to allure more visitors and revenue. They choose to spend their money elsewhere instead of on the welfare of their animals.
(Transition: The causes to this problem are significantly bearing, so what should be done to combat them and figure a solution?)
III. (Solution) The solution to the problem of animal suffering and upholding zoo laws is for the government to enact more establishments to make sure zoos are implementing the laws regarding zoo quality. If zoos are unable to follow laws already enacted, then they should close.
A. The US Department of Agriculture explains that the Animal Welfare Act is “the only Federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers.” If this is the only main federal law that zoo associations are following, it must be effectively carried out. There must be more zoo inspectors available so that the quality healthcare and safety of animals is guaranteed.
B. In addition to the Animal Welfare Act being strictly enforced, I think the federal government should also consider legislating another law that will require zoos to close if they are unable to uphold the
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