What does it mean to be born in captivity, to live in a zoo?
Modern zoos focus on public education and conservation of species. However, there are other ways to learn about animals than to peer at them behind bars. I often wonder: do we have a right to confine animals for the sake of our knowing? Supporters justify zoos and captive breeding programs because of the ever-increasing list of endangered species. (Humans are the greatest threats to animals, by the way.) Yet, preservation of natural habitats and conservation of the species in the wild might be better for the animal than a captive breeding program. From our side of the bars, zoos might look like a good thing, but please think again. Zoos are a form of animal exploitation. We catch them; we keep them—on our terms. No matter how hard even the best-run zoos try, they encounter problems with nutrition and overall care of animals. The problems that zoo elephants face are a prime example. The stress of captivity causes abnormal behavior such as biting, self-mutilation, swaying, and pacing.
