Should Zoos Exist?

Zoos are great, right? You get to be up close and personal with some amazing animals that you'd pretty much never get to see in the wild. Clearly, zoos are a win for people. But when it comes to the animals, zoos might cause more harm than good. Should zoos exist?
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*How did zoos become a thing?*
Humans have been capturing and displaying exotic animals for thousands of years. The earliest known collections date back to 3500 BCE in Egypt, where rulers kept hippos, elephants, baboons, and different species of large cats. Now back then, that didn't mean that your average Egyptian could go check any of that awesomeness out. These early zoos were really just a way for kings to flex on other kings. Modern zoos, where the public can come and watch animals exhibiting their natural behavior, didn't really become a thing until the early 1800s. The longest continuously operating zoo in the world is the Vienna Zoo, which has been going strong for more than 260 years.
*What are the arguments in favor of having zoos?*
Zoos may be great entertainment, but their big goal is to educate the public about wildlife and what we can do to protect them. Zoo animals are sort of like ambassadors for their counterparts in the wild. Zoos also contribute to scientific research. "Zoo" is short for zoological park, and zoology is the scientific study of animal biology and behavior. In addition, zoos work really hard to save animals that are threatened in the wild. Zoos can take at-risk animals, breed them in captivity, and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
*What are the arguments for NOT having zoos?*
Zoos have their problems. Not all zoos are created equal. Some are clean and well staffed, others aren't. There are some in the richest cities in the world, and there are some in conflict zones. What this means is that not all zoos have the resources to properly care for the animals they house. And for many critics, no amount of education or research justifies keeping animals captive. That captivity can be REALLY bad for both physical AND psychological health. And while zoos have been really helpful is saving endangered animals, it doesn't work out for certain species. For example, most large carnivores like lions and tigers that are bred in captivity die when released into the wild. It turns out that they haven't developed the natural behaviors they need when they're out on their own and have to fend for themselves.
SOURCES:
Do we need zoos? (The Atlantic)
www.theatlanti...
Why zoos are good (The Guardian)
www.theguardia...
The case for the end of the modern zoo (New York Magazine)
nymag.com/intel...
Zoos and their discontents (New York Times Magazine)
www.nytimes.co...
Stress and lack of exercise are killing elephants, zoos warned (The Guardian)
www.theguardia...
Most Captive-Born Predators Die If Released (National Geographic)
www.nationalge...
Captive Breeding Success Stories (PBS)
www.pbs.org/wn...
Quantifying the contribution of zoos and aquariums to peer-reviewed scientific research (Facets Journal)
www.facetsjour...
Evaluating the contribution of zoos and aquariums (Conservation Biology)
warwick.ac.uk/...
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#zoos #animals #zoology

[@francoisrd]

I think large enough enclosures with natural habitat is critical. Think open air sanctuary instead of cage

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

And social requirements. I mean id love a masion but id go crazy without a person to interact with.

[@4311666]

I love safari parka for this very reason safari parks and animal sanctuaries are better than zoos

[@euminkong]

I think you're right. Imagine living in a house until you die. I saw a lion and a leopard just walking in circles...

[@andresparra114]

Sure i mean the big 3 animals that suffer in captivity the situation is much more complicated, Whales i am totally against sea world they should not be in captivity because of many factors, but it is different for elephants and polar bears, Elephants are declining and money zoos donate enough money to keep a wild population of elephants from poachers for a full year though i agree they should have plenty of space and other elephants with them, Polar bears are declining and quickly some turn to cannibalism which harms the population badly we need them in captivity feel free to disagree, now thankfully zoos are improving living conditions everyday, like the san diego safari park is absolutly impressive elephants look so happy, And biologists like Jane Godall would agree with me, Zoos might not do anything for the 90% of the visitors but that 10% could be the ones who save the polar bear, siberian tigers, white rhinocerous or the gharials.

[@rayyanibrahim451]

@@andresparra114 I can totally agree. I got hooked on zoology after elephants at the San Diego Zoo and it absolutely inspired my passion for them.

[@itsyao]

My love for animals and the environment was not from going to the zoo. Instead, learning from PBS and amazing well put documentaries. I believe you can learn how to love things from afar and still champion their habitats without visiting them or disrupting their life.

[@Lokicharms2002]

Yao Yang education isn’t the only point of zoos though. Yeah you can learn all of that stuff at home, but that’s not gonna keep species from going extinct in the wild, which is the main point of zoos

[@xBloodxFangx]

For a lot of people just learning about the animal isnt enough. Im the same as you, I watched documentaries and learned to love animals that way, but I also hated snakes until I held one at a zoo. Now I own a few pet snakes and run my own educational class about them and what we can do to protect them in nature. For some you need to actually see and experience the animal to really gain an appreciation for them and the fear of what if they were gone.

[@f3rn436]

ME TOO!! I never whent to the zoo tbh

[@Lokicharms2002]

Sarah it’s so much harder to protect animals in their natural habitat. Obviously I wish we didn’t need zoos but I’d rather these animals be in a well managed zoo where they can live safely then go extinct extremely fast because they weren’t safe from things like habitat loss and poaching. Zoos make sure none of that stuff happens to the animals so that they can try to repopulate the species and allow them to go back to their natural habitat once it’s safe to.

[@aiiv7839]

@Sarah They're trying. They're really trying. But considering how...unstable Africa is, with the civil wars and poverty...it's tough.

[@faya6974]

There are different kind of zoos though, you can go to safari car and enter the zoo without putting them in cages.

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

Exactly. Some people would argue that not everyone can afford to go on safari, but so what? There's plenty of things that only rich people can afford. These days, even homeless people have cell-phones, so everyone can see anything they want to see. Seeing animals in person can be an "upgrade" for people who can afford it. Insisting on zoos so that poor people can see animals in person is a garbage argument. ¬_¬

[@faya6974]

@@user-vn7ce5ig1z Im not talking about an African safari that you need to travel and pay money, im talking about a different kind of safari. There are safari in America and Europe that ive been to where animals are free inside an extremely huge land and you get to see them by being inside your car and the zoo bus.

[@judsondelong6366]

Those are good zoos

[@nitsannishri5038]

Safari is just a bigger zoo, a bigger cage.

[@brunellgeovannirosalesleiv9972]

you also sucke

[@ericvilas]

The only zoos that are ethical are the ones that take sufficient care of _all_ their animal's needs. That includes the need for space and natural interactions. I think the zoos that manage to satisfy those needs _are_ ethical, and important. It's important to be nuanced in this and not say "all captivity is bad" or "zoos are always good". Humans learning to love animals and wildlife is a good thing, and captivity is bad insofar as it harms the animals. So ideally, you'd have massive zoos where the animals are genuinely happy and well-kept.

[@keyserxx]

I was pro zoo until I saw a staff member 'stimulating' a walrus to into getting in the mood to breed. That was the last day I was pro zoo. I haven't been this offended since I accidentally installed the hot coffee mod.

[@porcupinesauce3872]

@@keyserxx ;) got a video clip of that? just for scientific research purposes

[@heitorsantos7046]

Eric Vilas, i had love zoos when i had 10 years since 2016 to 2017 may.

[@alexcontreras6103]

Which is none that house polar bear, elephants and some big cats none of those species can have their spaces replicated because it's far to massive

[@rayyanibrahim451]

@@alexcontreras6103 Not really. While we can't 100% replicate their exact territories, we can try our best. The good zoos have large enclosures for all of these species will providing them mental stimulation in the form of enrichment (polar bears hunting live fish, elephants having to work for their food, tigers having to swim for their food, and leopards climbing for their food) and of course basic training (not circus type stuff but stuff like lift you paw so the vet doesn't need to shoot you with a tranquilizer dart to see how bad your cuts are).

[@ssiddarth]

Was actually just thinking about this a few days ago, loved the balance perspective you provided in the video but in my opinion humans shouldn't keep animals in captivity unless it's for the protection of the animals themselves.

[@AboveTheNoise]

Enigma Thanks for the compliment and for sharing your POV on this issue!

[@andrewdoughty3347]

I agree and most zoos with the funds, staff, and acredidation do just that

[@aratipandey7601]

?

[@benjaminzuniga1552]

Totally agree 😍🐘 😍

[@cheese-bv7yn]

@Alexis Martinez well some may be happy but elephants on the other hand, are used to living in huge families but in some zoos, they are put in enclosers with 2-4 other elephants.

[@HonestlyAnnaFun]

Thank you for saying not all Zoos are equal. Some are for profit only. Others are for conservation and education. Those other zoos have strict standards of animal care, making sure animals have a healthy life in their Zoo habitats.

[@lbeschrich]

Should animals be put in cages for our "education?"

[@colinlo189]

​@@lbeschrich to your answer:definitely not,but I do believe that not all zoos keep animal in 'cages'

[@minttea2963]

​@lbeschrich it's more for conservation and education on conservation along with research but I understand what youre saying. in an ideal world no but some animals has been captive so long we can't just release them into the wild unfortunately unless they're undergoing a breeding program. that being said not all zoos are equal like he said and even doing all this. some are horrible and only for profit

[@WCKD_WZRDNG_WLF]

I don't think that most of us will truly understand what it feels like to be trapped behind metal bars for most of our life and then be released back to this random place called the "Jungle" and then die because our own families don't accept us. Please everyone reading this: whenever possible, choose the zoos you visit wisely. never support animal abuse of any sort because animals have feelings too :3

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

And thats why i dont go to SeaWorld

[@knucklessammich3875]

Well you don't have to worry about going extinct a good chunk of the animals that are in zoo are endangered species and matter fact some of them are you can breathe it in the same as though because guess what some of them turned to cannibalism or they get caught by poachers so it really just depends do you want to take the risk and see the animals go extinct or do you want to help them

[@baconcool5834]

Prisoners:i have been behind in jail with no freedom for 14 years and cant find a job cause they wont accept me so i know.

[@baconcool5834]

I was jocking btw

[@antipetaassociation4279]

exept there are many good zoos that dont put animals in cages and do a lot to help them

[@KevinRAAMAAAGE]

You should look up przewalski Horses. Zoos brought them back from extiction. They are the last true wild horses that have never been domesticated. That is pretty important, they're basically ancient horses

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

Or the european bison is another example, the last wild herd was killed during WW2 by hungry russian soldiers but now there are thousands back in the wild again. Loads of animals benefit from zoos

[@kolorsoftherainbow4295]

The California Condor and ʻAlalā (Hawaiian crow) are also slowly being brought back from the brink of extinction because of zoos.

[@KevinRAAMAAAGE]

@Gixxis they're feral, not wild. Seriously look it up

[@KevinRAAMAAAGE]

@Gixxis here's even a Smithsonian article, go nuts. My other source is being an Equine Studies student. Oh the things reading and using google will tell you. nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/przewalskis-horse

[@KevinRAAMAAAGE]

@xi jinping that's the horse I'm talking about, I just didn't spell it right man

[@n0on343]

Maybe they should have bigger enclosures for the animals with some prey for them so they learn natural instincts and so they aren’t bored and ca; play around

[@aratipandey7601]

Yo soooooooooo cooooool vid 🤪🤪🤪

[@avadi2973]

That’s animal sanctuaries

[@antipetaassociation4279]

thats most zoos

[@Zepellin]

It’s kinda been seen as unethical to feed live prey to animals (I see why zoos would do it but don’t ask me ask the people calling it unethical) and modern zoos that are accredited by AZA have big spaces

[@jessieals4423]

……or just leave them alone

[@drtao8325]

as long as the zoos have good resources and conditions, they are ok.

[@SolaceEasy]

As long as people have good conditions and resources they are okay

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

@@SolaceEasy is that combining with the first guys comment?

[@Artzera824]

@@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498 is that combining with the third guys comment?

[@manusm2137]

@@Artzera824 is that combining with the forth guys comment?

[@myadebique6004]

No it's not at all. They were born to be free just like us. Imagine seeing the same area for the rest of your life

[@Desyx14]

I've seen a few zoo's that have a lot of open land for their larger animals. Those ones I like.

[@jimfaust6342]

Me too. No animals should be cramped up. The bigger the area the better.

[@godzillaboy011]

Exactly.

[@juanda_55]

Same as me❤

[@wanderingjellyfish9647]

I think Zoo’s who put the animals first and keep them safe and happy are perfectly fine. There’s still shady zoos but there’s also a lot of good and safe ones. Chester Zoo for example has some amazing giant indoor forests where a lot of the animals there won’t even know they aren’t in the wild and they are safe and a large amount of the profits go to saving the species in the wild. Along with conservation efforts created by the Zoo. Scientists can study them easily and the public can experience and become motivated to help them. Without good Zoos like these I think we’d be in an even more dire situation than we are now with the environment.

[@avadi2973]

Yes this is better but I still think it’s wrong even in those areas most animals kept in those places are sad and are taken from their family at a young age so when they come back into the wild they will never know how to live there also it’s bad because zoo’s have animals stuck in cages all their life for being innocent basically like a prison and being watched by millions of people say this what if disabled people were going extinct and other people decided to put 7 disabled people in a cage for entertainment that would be horrible but that’s the same thing we are doing for animals I think animal sanctuaries are way better they don’t have them being watched and allow them to experience wild life and move around while they’re being saved from dangerous places and take care of their animals

[@wanderingjellyfish9647]

@@avadi2973 But a lot of protected and safe Zoo’s don’t have animals in cages. They keep most of their animals in giant artificial enclosures or open big fields. Similar to bad zoos there’s also a lot of inhumane sanctuaries that keep their animals in unsafe, undeveloped and unregulated conditions which can create all sorts of problems for the animals. Whilst the concept of sanctuaries is nicer the issue isn’t wherever animals should be held in sanctuaries or zoos its about wherever they should be held in safe protected zoos and sanctuaries that put the animals interests first or ones that put the public first. Of course I believe putting the animals first is best. My point is that there are a good amount of safe protected zoos that do this though and bring a lot of benefits to general society as well. Zoo’s and sanctuaries should be held to high standards but if they can do so I think they should exist for the greater benefit of the natural world. There have been many animals, species and natural spaces saved because of projects designed by safe and protected zoos. I know there’s some really bad zoos that make you angry as they do me but please don’t write off every type of zoo organisation because of it.

[@avadi2973]

@@wanderingjellyfish9647 oh sorry if that came off as writing every zoo I did not mean all I totally agree with you I feel sanctuaries aren’t given enough funds as zoo’s when they’re both equally good I feel if sanctuaries had enough funds they would be amazing

[@wanderingjellyfish9647]

@@avadi2973 That’s okay friend :) I agree with you. My point was only to ask people to not write off all Zoos as being bad for animals and used an example of a good Zoo but I hate the Zoos that continue to abuse animals all the same as you do. Poor Zoos and Sanctuaries should be shut down and only good quality zoos and sanctuaries who are respectful to their animals well beings should remain open. A lot of good quality zoos function similarly to good sanctuaries but still call themselves Zoos so I like institutions like those.

[@antipetaassociation4279]

@@avadi2973 most big zoos are well managed and treat their animals well

[@MikeySharky]

It all depends on the zoo.

[@floofyt2008]

Yes some zoos take great care of their animals and love them. Others however don't

[@LKVideoFun]

Yea rule of thumb if you want to be careful check if is the AZA if your in America or the WAZA if your anywhere else.

[@DaSilverBackz]

True

[@Simon-Smith.]

zoos are prisons for animals where they can become physically and mentally ill, but for humans, zoos are a source of entertainment and making money. What right do we have to cause harm and suffering for mere entertainment and financial gain?

[@LKVideoFun]

With out zoos the scimitar horned oryx, black footed ferret, California condor, przewalski's wild horse, Père David’s deer, Wyoming toad, kihansi spray toad, Christmas Island blue tounged skink, Christmas Island chained gecko, potosi pupfish, Cachorrito de charco palmal, golden skiffia, beloribitsa, marbled swordtail, Monterey platyfish, pedder galaxias, Hawaiian crow, alagoas curassow, Guam kingfisher, socorro dove, and the spix’s maccaw would all be extinct. I understand where your coming from but good zoos do better for animals than harm. Solving zoocosis will be the zoological battle of the 21st century but when that fight is over I just don’t see a problem with zoos. Edit: I forgot to mention this but most zoos are not for profit a small nit pick but I would feel dis honest not mention it.

[@laynewyman3160]

Its impossible to say "Zoos are bad" and "Zoos are good". It really depends on the institution itself. As long as the animals are well taken care of emotionally and physically then I am okay with that zoo operating. In fact owning a zoo is one of my personal dreams.

[@win0044]

It doesn’t matter if their well taken care of. Animals are meant for the wild not in zoos

[@Zepellin]

@Sunshine AZA Zoos don’t take animals from the wild unless it’s rescue or something and guess what they’re American also you do know zoos can be beneficial in making a sure a species doesn’t go extinct

[@mr.plagueyes0006]

@@win0044 By that logic, pets should stay in the wild cuz they're animals as well. Let's not forget that a lot of animals are endangered so zoos are necessary to keep their population steady.

[@kaydenchan7093]

@@mr.plagueyes0006 and lets not forget that many animals may not be able to survive in the wild, due to some causes.

[@venividivici6738]

@@win0044 Good credited zoos do more for conservation than any of us will do in 10 lifetimes, zoos serve as embassadors for the animals, a visit to a zoo, seeying the animals right there in front of you surpasses any emotion you can get from a documentary, of wichbkids just dont have the patience to sit through. I worked i zoos that treat their animals better than most hospitals treat their patients, I've seen freacking elephants recieve acupuncture right in front of me. But sure the kid with a KZbin channel probably knows more than a guy with a masters in biology and actual real experience. Think with your brain not your hearth

[@JaggedBird]

As long as they have large enclosures with natural habitat recreations along with good conditions and caring staff, then they're okay. This is much more critical if they are on the endangered species program that helps them repopulate

[@erikalenoeye8925]

Yes...And it'd better if Intelligent animals like chimpanzees and elephants are given activities and playthings for their physical health along with to overcome their depression and boredom

[@JaggedBird]

@@erikalenoeye8925 exactly This is how they should operate. Places like Dublin Zoo are trying to make all these elements be implemented as they're one of the zoo's aside from Photo Island to be on the endangered species rescue program in Ireland (yeah not many other zoos here except those two. Not sure about the other popular one). While some enclosures seem small in the Dublin one, they're snug and organic enough to their actual habitats to work.

[@Ishan_amp]

Yup

[@Ishan_amp]

@@JaggedBird My local zoo is a bad one but I still like it tho

[@Ishan_amp]

@@JaggedBird Yup you're right

[@Drygyer]

That background music was so good. I started jamming along with the bass and forgot to listen to what miles was saying there for a second.

[@AboveTheNoise]

Drygyer haha! Thanks. Selecting music for each episode is actually one of the toughest parts of editing. Everyone has a opinion on what works and what doesn’t!

[@zjapp]

Thats not a gold thing

[@khorshedalam629]

@@zjapp your right it isnt GOLD

[@wealthiness]

It depends on the conditions, of course, when they have wide-open areas it's better, at the Oakland Zoo I saw the chimps fighting & beating up the baby for some weird reason maybe because they were stressed of being in such a small area for that many chimps, everyone gathered & screamed in fear for them...

[@Lokicharms2002]

Jonathan Duenas but you can’t just assume that the animals are stressed. You never know why animals do what they do. So unless you’re an animal behaviourist, you can’t judge that.

[@2011arish]

Grace Turner yea let’s keep you and 100 people kept in a room for life and see how that turns out for you

[@Artzera824]

exacly like grace turner pointed, you just dont know. And thats it, its an assumpsion with no basis, as I believe you didnt know if thats a usual behaviour of the animal at the time u wrote this.

[@adamkhan4583]

Hi, while I've never been to Oakland zoo I can tell you that what your seeing is a sad but common occurrence for chimps. Alongside humans they are the most violent animals on the earth. They attack and kill other chimps as well as other primates. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5yqp5Wiq8SnqZY en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gombe_Chimpanzee_War

[@Silverswitch1]

Male manuals tend to kill the offspring of another male so they are able to breed with the female. It would have happened in a small enclosure, a large enclosure or if they were wild. It is very natural for them to do that.

[@bluewolfgamez5001]

This is like, exactly what I need for my homework, Its a lot to think about!

[@knelli02]

Same

[@AunaGodinezMagana]

Hi! My fourth grade class loves your videos. 6 students voted that zoos should still exist. 8 students voted that zoos should no longer exist. Thank you for the information! -From Elkhorn Village Elementary School

[@AboveTheNoise]

Love to hear it! So glad it's a useful teaching tool and your students like it!

[@atletix_603]

Zoo’s have good sides ofc. When it comes to taking care of injured animals , educating people about wildlife, spreading awarness around endangered animals and increasing numbers of endangered species. But then it is really important to have enough space for the animals to roam in, many of these animals naturally wanders many miles in a day. But i still think that we should focus more on protecting the wild habitats the animals orginates from. We should continue to fight against poachers and habitat destruction and let the wild animals do their destiny. The tiger for instance, is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator and keeps the population of other animals low. thereby maintaining the balance between prey and the vegetation upon which they feed. So it is important to think about What happens to other animals when taking species out of their natural habitat. I also think it is very exciting knowing that it lives different kind of animals in all sort if ecosystems.And it makes me more calm knowing they could roam free and do their thing. But some humans causing negative impact and fuck up the natural process.

[@alexcontreras6103]

Educating is close to zero

[@crbconservation4449]

No ones ever said that we shouldn't take care of the world outside the walls of the zoological institutions, in fact zoos are leaders in the respect spearheaded the response teams to try and grab and protect or rehabilitate wild habitats and ecosystems but my only question to the individuals that oppose zoos is simply this. So what do you propose to replace the massive hole that would leave in wildlife conservation and ecological preservation, you can't just say zoo bad, you have to have a fall back plan in place and a way to replace the innumerable tasks that zoological institutions undertake, every instance from the Kihansi Spray Toad to the Spix Macaw, animals that would no longer be found on our planet without zoos, what about the millions of dollars raised directly by zoos not to mention the invaluable education factor, the proactive approach that every good institution takes weather we're talking about the CryoLab at SDZG or the hundreds of outstations in every country around the world, created and managed by zoological facilities, so give a platform for us to work off of, to have a debate over you have to create a substitution for a hole you're making, so I'll talk to you to the end of the earth about the whys, hows, and whats, but we have to talk about it

[@obi-wankenobi9743]

If they have big enclosures then it’s fine imo

[@WhatnotArt]

This was really helpful and informative! I needed this exact video for a project, and it was perfect! Thank you.

[@AboveTheNoise]

So glad we could be of help!

[@24tromo]

I'm both and teach my kids the same "People cant protect what they dont love and they cant love if they dont know" sad but true! When we remember love is about caring for others (including animals) first and not money or selfish, everyone wins even with zoos. Plus how can we protect and perserve wildlife unless we study and learn them like bison, red wolves, etc.

[@quibily]

I went to a zoo in a small city in China, once, and it was so depressing..... My small town American zoo that I grew up with was so much better. All the animals had so much space to roam, I barely got to see some them because they were so far away, lol. And then this one in Neijiang, China, the big cats had space to roam the size of a college dormitory! Poor guys...

[@gollumtheartisticnewt1028]

I saw one... the bear Cubs were manacled....

[@abesapien9930]

Those are the lucky ones. Animals know much, much worse in China. There are literally zero animal protections in China, so citizens can do whatever they want. Look up the Yulin Dog Festival.

[@dudedude315]

@@abesapien9930 The Chinese government doesn't give a shit about the enviroment and that's depressing

[@Nico-kf8wr]

I will always love well run zoos because when you get behind the scenes of them, you can see how much effort they put on helping the animals inside and outside the zoo

[@nitsannishri5038]

Nico they should be in the wild, animals shouldn’t be kept in cages for entertainment

[@thatgamer6380]

@@nitsannishri5038 Zoos breed endangered species to save them

[@nitsannishri5038]

that gamer Yes I’m sure zoos in America are helping the rhinoceros and hippos that originated in Africa. They just took them and presented them for entertainment.

[@andrewdoughty3347]

@@nitsannishri5038 I feel like they have to do that in a way because if they don't people won't be able to see what the animals are close up and it makes people more willing to donate towards the survival of the species

[@nitsannishri5038]

Lazer Chicken It shouldn’t help, and it’s not helping, it’s for entertainment

[@99sins]

I don't consider "zoos also do good things" as a strong argument. You could map that over to slavery easily and realize how weak it is. The real question here is: do these positive aspects (making the public care, having breeding and conservation plans, etc.) that zoos bring to the table necessitate the profit-focused captivity (what I define as "zoo") of the animal. It's very clear that zoos are a human-centered entity with the care for the animals being of secondary concern, thus making it bad for the animals (since it's not FOR the animals) in my view. There's a whole other discussion on whether or not a sanctuary is just a glorified zoo or not but, in essence at least, the point is to take care of the animals first with ideas like opening it up for public view being of secondary concern. Sanctuaries also tend to specialize and focus on animals in need while I often wondered how many of the animals I saw in zoos were actually rescued or there for the sake of the animal itself vs. being marketable. Overall, I have yet to see any actual strong arguments (when asking from the animal's perspective) in favor of zoo's specifically. Most arguments that I have seen that have any strength usually regard captivity in general and ignore the necessity question. I hear high welfare (marketing) slavery is very popular these days.

[@hc6157]

Kaweta animal care isn’t a secondary priority these days, not for the people who actually work with the animals. Zookeeping is an incredibly, incredibly competitive field, and the video is right about the fact that a lot of modern zoos are shifting towards conserving or rescuing animals who can’t easily be rehabilitated into the wild. Private wildlife rehabilitators are overworked and overrun with people who try to keep wildlife in their own homes, only getting help from the rehabber when it’s too late to save the animal’s life. Often, these are also animals who have underlying health issues and cannot be fully introduced to the wild. What I’m saying is, there is absolutely an animal need for zoos and public wildlife sanctuaries. And while I’m won’t say that zookeepers are largely on the receiving end of the profit-oriented stuff, I’d say they’re the most important because it’s very competitive for them to get paid to do their job. Don’t let organizations like PETA tell you fluff XD keeping animals in captivity is not *inherently* cruel. The problem that he raises with African animals is a good one, which is why I’m in favor of zoos focusing their efforts on native wildlife, and leaving the highly complicated animals for wildlife sanctuaries or national parks in their native countries. I’m an enthusiast in the professional field, and boy, the people who do this work don’t do this for the money.

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

I see it similarly to clinical trials on humans. In many cases it's not great for the individual, but it pays off if you look at the whole population. This is because (as mentioned in the video) it creates generations of kids that have penguins, tigers and elephants as their favourite animal. And when these people grow up, they are more aware of the importance of nature and more willing to protect it.

[@99sins]

​@@hc6157 Like i mentioned, your positive arguments are about captivity overall. I can easily agree when the whole point is for the betterment of the animal (and the whole reason it has to be in captivity isn't because of us to begin with but that's another can of worms). Having individuals with good intentions and "trends towards rehab and conversation efforts" is nice and dandy but it still doesn't tackle the issue that zoos are inherently there for people to come visit and pay to see animals. None of that has any benefit for the animals itself and we could strip away all that and have animals in captivity without it having to be a zoo. Again, my argument is that a zoo, by its namesake alone, inherently necessitates the marketable captivity of an animal for the pleasure of the visitors, therefor shouldn't exist where places that are inherently centered around the animals (rehab centers, sanctuaries, conservation spots, etc.) could otherwise be utilized. I'd much rather a ground up approach where we convert (and support) zoos to these animal-centered areas rather than make sure the slave owners (and visitors) are nice and make animal-centered changes to their system. A zoo would stop being a zoo by the time its actually there for the sake of the animal. I also know many nice slave owners with really good intentions, that doesn't justify slavery.

[@theark890]

Kaweta the people who come and pay money to learn and view animals are not usually the main priority at Zoos by any means, and you can ignore the overall arguments for captivity, but those are why zoos exist and what they prioritize - care of animals, promoting education, interest in the natural world, and animal research. Although, the tourism and sales are usually the reason Zoos are able to expand and operate at a higher quality. The $ that is garnered from spectators is largely put towards animal area expansion, better filtration and larger tanks (for aquariums), as well as more staff, and higher quality staff to better care for the animals, and safer research space for visiting/hired anthropologists/researchers. That being said, I’ve met many zoologists and anthropologists, and non of them are living a “lavish” lifestyle by any means. That being said, if you want better arguments and data as to how or why zoos actually operate or what their focus is, then you should ask the people who work at them and run them, not KZbin. They have emails and contact information, and if not available, email the “contact us” email and ask for contact info of zoologists- it’ll take a little bit of work, but if you’re actually interested, or just want pro-zoo viewpoints, they are your best source. My father did it for me when I was young, and since then I’ve reached out as well for more info, and I’ve been on a few private walkthroughs, talked for hours with zoologists and researchers, and talked to staff about how the tourism $ is actually spent. Some goes back into marketing and cosmetics, sure, it’s got to make $ somehow so it can hire good staff, create better environments for their animals, and provide more in-depth, yet entertaining educational opportunities for people.

[@thelmabelves9677]

You don't need to lock up an animal to learn about it and love it

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

No but over the decades it has saved millions of money and made it a whole lot easier. I mean imagine how hard it is to try and track down a snow leopard just to take some nail clippings

[@crbconservation4449]

So what do you propose to replace the massive hole that would leave in wildlife conservation and ecological preservation, you can't just say zoo bad, you have to have a fall back plan in place and a way to replace the innumerable tasks that zoological institutions undertake, every instance from the Kihansi Spray Toad to the Spix Macaw, animals that would no longer be found on our planet without zoos, what about the millions of dollars raised directly by zoos not to mention the invaluable education factor, the proactive approach that every good institution takes weather we're talking about the CryoLab at SDZG or the hundreds of outstations in every country around the world, created and managed by zoological facilities, so give a platform for us to work off of, to have a debate over you have to create a substitution for a hole you're making, so I'll talk to you to the end of the earth about the whys, hows, and whats, but we have to talk about it

[@Zepellin]

Zoos have protected many animals

[@justusb.plorer8773]

Bless you, Above The Noise! I can't express how grateful I am to finally find a KZbinr who looks at every aspect of the Zoo debate and encourages forming a personal opinion rather than declaring all Zoo's as bad.

[@AboveTheNoise]

Thank you for watching!

[@SimbaM-sh6cz]

I think zoos that take care of the animals properly are just great, when you think about it not all the animals are "happy" in the wild: herbivores know that they can die in a second if not careful and predators usally starve to death... In conclusion if a zoo provides enrichment and correct space to a wild animal it's totally fair for me

[@casienwhey]

animals dont have the ability to give consent to their own captivity and it's presumptuous of us to assume it.

[@pxstel_pxonto8546]

I agree, as long as the enclosure is adequate you can have an animal as long as you know the temperament, enclosure size, etc.

[@MrNote-lz7lh]

@@casienwhey But doesn't the reverse also work? How can we presume they want freedom either?

[@agme8045]

The zoo in my city was closed a couple of years ago. I loved going there, seeing all the different animals, being able to feed some of them, learning about them. I wish i could go again, and already as a more mature person read all the signs and learn even more. I even took a night tour when i was younger, it was really cool tbh, its not as if I remember much lol but I remember it being super fun. Im not really aware of the animals conditions being good or not, but i do remember how the lions had this pretty large plot of land and that you could barely see them from the pathway. The zoo was literally in the middle of my city, so probably not so good for them, but when you entered the zoo it was like a totally different place, almost like you weren’t inside the city. Oh man, i would die to go there one last time, now being older and actually understanding and remembering stuff. In case anybody reading this is curious about why it closed down lol: im not completely sure, but I remember there was like a really hot summer, and the polar bear died. And if im not mistaken a seal also died (not at the same time though, but close enough i think) and so because its a really big city and it was the only zoo, the animals were kinda famous lol, like for some reason people knew their names 😂, and well a lot of pro animal and anti zoos groups started demanding for the zoo to be closed, for being unethical or whatever, and i believe there was some negligence in the zoo with the animals and some of them weren’t being cared properly, of those the polar bear and the seal or something, and well in about a year it was decided the zoo were to close and the animals would be shipped back to their natural habitats, though not all of them could be shipped so some remained there or were taken to other zoos, but well lol, the zoo was then converted into an “ecopark” lol and its literally a park where people can go run or whatever, tbh I’ve never been there since it closed down, mainly because it took a really long time to be finished and well never cared enough to take a visit. Well hopefully the animals are better now, but its sad that there is no zoo anymore. (Just to be sure i don’t support them being mistreated or anything, but i think there should be zoos where animals are taken proper care and have nice big habitats.)

[@benjaminzuniga1552]

I thought the same about the circus animals. But look how they were treated just for our pleasure. Close the zoos, it’s animal abuse!

[@youtubecommenter7389]

@@benjaminzuniga1552 So they can get extinct by illegal poachers?

[@Zepellin]

@@benjaminzuniga1552 zoos have multiple animals safe from going extinct and you’re saying it’s “animal abuse” when zoos have them safe? Ok

[@venividivici6738]

@@benjaminzuniga1552 Good credited zoos do more for conservation than any of us will do in 10 lifetimes, zoos serve as embassadors for the animals, a visit to a zoo, seeying the animals right there in front of you surpasses any emotion you can get from a documentary, of wichbkids just dont have the patience to sit through. I worked i zoos that treat their animals better than most hospitals treat their patients, I've seen freacking elephants recieve acupuncture right in front of me. Stop behaving like a PETA zealot

[@GigachadHGDYDBHDB]

i hate zoos from childhood. my school had a field trip and my parents sent me thinking i would like it but little did they know that i like it when animals are happier than me. i thought "wow! we are going to a forest!" but i saw all those innocents caged up and stolen from their families........... i was crying and screeching in front of my teachers that i wanted to go home. she thought i was scared that the animals will attack me and my classmates were also telling me not to worry and that they wont attack me but i wasnt concerned about that........... i was guilty......... heh, who knew a 6 year old could feel such complex emotions........ i did......... i explained to the teacher and she said "but we need to learn about the animals right? god made them for this little one. still, if you dont enjoy this, you can go to the bus" i went to the bus, layed down meanwhile the driver was chilling around in his seat talking to someone on his phone. i was thinking that this is wrong........ zoos should be banned.......... and all those mature thoughts which are rare for a 6 year old like me. i was just so sad........... i went back home stressed, my parents thought i was scared just like others but i said that i was not scared but actually guilty and guess what? same reply as teacher. ever since i hated zoos and i never go there. i even told my parents that i dont wanna drink milk, honey or wear wool, leather or silk anymore(i was vegetarian so already no meat. i said that when i was 10) they said i wont get nutrition, since youtube didnt exist at that time, i only used google and read articles or bought books about veganism and told it to parents. they were horrified. they didnt know that it was so cruel. they thought people just squeeze nipples and done. they thought people just collet stuff from flowers and done. they thought people just cut some hair and done. they thought that they are just taking their cocoons which are useless to them but that not true. they realized that and my parents, my siblings and me are vegans.

[@David-di5bo]

The question shouldn't be whether or not they can or have created valuable research, it is whether the zoos actually made it possoble. How many of those thousands of research papers could not have been done using techniques of observation in the wild?

[@DennisTjhie]

Presupposes that you can find all of these animals with ease and observate them for a prolonged and calm period of time, which in reality for some animals it is almost impossible to encounter them in the wild and for those you can more easily encounter there are other issues that might affect the ease of conducting such research as a real life situation makes negating elements that can influence outcome more difficult and it often requires more extensive and prolonged research (We are talking years and years longer). Not to mention that there is a reason why research is conducted both in the wild but also in zoos as it are two wildely different approaches to research each with their own benefits and negatives beyond the whole zoo issue, purely looking at research methodology. It is profoundly ignorant to equate the two as two equal approaches as each one lends itself better to a different research approach.

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

Well u can admit that zoos make it a whole lot cheaper and easier

[@SK-sq5bk]

cou cant protect animals without zoos. without captive breeding progrand, many animals would be extinct

[@ToucanPlayIt]

There are two types of zoos. The ones that just use animals for display, and the ones that actually give their animals a good enclosure, and all of their needs. They use the animals as ambassadors for the species, to help people gain knowledge about them.

[@Imperiused]

Keep up the good work guys. I don't really swing one way or the other with zoos. Although I might put foward an argument that the digital age has made Zoo's educational value redundant. You can now get closer to animals online and watch them in their natural habitat pursuing more natural behaviors. Outside experiences that allow to you feed and touch the animals, Zoos only really offer the experience of being able to see animals "in real life." This definitely matters to some people, but for me the ability to observe these animals in my own home through programs like Deep Look has taken away any desire to spend an entire day at a Zoo looking at bored animals.

[@mrmofo2215]

PREACH!

[@hc6157]

On a grand scale it does matter, seeing things online isn’t the same as getting an emotional connection to something right in front of you. Not to mention that the video is absolutely right about the conservation efforts undertaken by zoos, how it gets people invested in conservation overall. I know a lot of wildlife rehabilitators, and in lieu of actual brains about this stuff, a staggering number of people try to raise wildlife in their own homes, usually only contacting the rehabber when many animals have died or it’s too late to save them. Zoos, wildlife rehabbers, and wildlife sanctuaries serve a very real need to protect our wildlife from ourselves, both directly for sick, injured, and near-extinct animals, and indirectly by educating fools not to capture backyard bunnies for their own amusement. There needs to be that authority so people don’t get ideas that they can do it themselves. Imo we need more zoos, just for native wildlife. Frankly most zoos are exactly that, they’re just not the ones you think of when you think “zoo”.

[@AboveTheNoise]

Thanks for the comment!! You bring up a great point- I wonder how many others share your opinion on this.

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

Its one thing to see an animal on tv. Its an entirely other experience to see the real thing in my opinion. If i watch tv and see a shark im not rly phased. But if i go outside and see a frog i get rly excited. Might just be me though lol

[@agme8045]

Couldn't think of a KZbin name. Same lol

[@utubedano]

Nice video. Short and sweet, yet it explained the points clearly. It was necessary too. Thank you for this video. I probably will be sharing around...

[@AboveTheNoise]

Thanks for that positive feedback! Always great to know our videos are having a positive impact.

[@giraffeman326]

Yeah it’s good that they’re protected... but I kind of feel bad of them.

[@Oliver-jx2je]

Same they should have the right to Rome freely in the wild

[@Coolrecords567]

@@Oliver-jx2je what if their endangered

[@Oliver-jx2je]

True but animals like elephants and giraffes and others i think they should have the right to be in the wild

[@Coolrecords567]

@@Oliver-jx2je agreed

[@dudedude315]

For living in healthy and happy habitats, instead of having the risk of being poached?

[@ihatemirrors1216]

Have to write a 3 page argumentative essay, picked this for my topic, haven't started and it's due next week. 😭

[@AboveTheNoise]

That sounds tough! Help this video helps. Check our sources in the description - there’s lots of good research and background info there. Good luck!

[@nicholasemjohnson47]

I think that overall, zoos are important, because so many species are in danger of extinction due to excessive poaching. I pray one day we will no longer need them.

[@THAT.RANDOM.GUY_]

Most of the animals they keep in there though aren't at risk...

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

@@THAT.RANDOM.GUY_ giraffes, lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, crocodiles, snakes, gorrilas, monkeys and tigers. All very common zoo animals that have certain species with wild populations under 1000

[@lizzymc1300]

Sanctuaries.🤗

[@ipurpleu1668]

@@lizzymc1300 Sanctuaries do not put animals back in the wild or help with wild populations. Zoos (accredited zoos) do. Zoos (and I'm talking about accredited zoos) have done more for conservation than any other industry or organization on earth. The Arabian Oryx, the Przewalski’s Horse, the California Condor, the Corroboree Frog, the Bongo, the Regent Honeyeater, the Panamanian Golden Frog, the Bellinger River Turtle, the Golden Lion Tamarin, and the Amur Leopard are just a few of the many species that have been saved from extinction, purely by species survival plans in zoos.

[@robertagallant3819]

I love the blue dropped shadow behind the yellow lettering on your gray T-shirt.

[@erikmekiassen5167]

I never liked zoos but he got a point. we need a way to protect animals in danger, and no one will do it for free so to make it a business is maybe not so bad

[@jimmysa4070]

I love it when we play god!

[@lizzymc1300]

Sanctuaries.👐🏻

[@starwick.v2864]

Well sanctuaries are much better especially in places were poaching is a major threat

[@beowolf9480]

well, as long as it's an AZA or EAZA accredited Zoo or Aquarium (with the exception of a few) they put the quality of their animal over the education of the guest most of the time, in fact Animal Planet has several shows going behind the scenes on zoos and aquariums, all of which are AZA accredited

[@beowolf9480]

@@starwick.v2864 well, sanctuaries aren't always good, take the tiger temple for example, they have their Tigers on chains, and people in it, it's really not a good place, and even then, sanctuaries really only work with certain animals

[@glenngilbert7389]

A well balanced video - zoos contribute hugely to conservation and education. In properly run zoos, animals breed and have as close to a natural life as possible - remember well maintained zoo animals live far longer than their counterparts in the wild. Important also to remember that without zoos, many species would now be extinct

[@penguinboy32]

Personally I think it depends on the zoo, staff, money, where they are, and what they get to do.

[@carriefischer4889]

LAST YEAR IN SEPTEMBER,IT WAS ME AND MY MOM AND MY SISTER IN LAW KELLY, WENT TO THE NEW ZOO IN LITTLE SAUMICO IN GB AND IT WAS FUN TO GO TO, AND THEY HAD MY FAVORITE THING THERE THE REAL LIONS, MALE AND FEMALE LIONS AND IT REALLY COOL TO SEE THE MALE AND FEMALE LIONS AND THE LIONS ARE REALLY COOL AND NEAT ANIMALS, AND AFTER THAT WE GOT SOMETHING TO EAT AT THE NEW ZOO IN LITTLE SAUMICO IN GB, I LIKE LIONS🐯🐯 AND CAUSE THERE REALLY COOL AND NEAT ANIMALS, AND THERE ALSO BIG CATS, I HOPE MAYBE IN A NEAR FUTURE, WE CAN GO THERE AGAIN, AND SEE MY FAVORITE THING THE. LIONS. LIONS ARE REALLY COOL AND NEAT ANIMALS, LIKE ON THE LION KING AND THE LION KING 2 SIMBA'S PRIDE AND THERE REALLY BIG CATS ,.

[@Zepellin]

@Sunshine you just say “zoo bad” no source/evidence to back up your argument

[@agrilledsandwich2745]

@@carriefischer4889 who asked?

[@hannahgendron7094]

I think there needs to be a major transition away from zoos that are convenient for people to look at the animals, towards sanctuaries with several-acre enclosures that allow for keeping endangered species alive but in a setting where they can gradually regain skills (at least for large animals, small animals wouldn't need that kind of space to live naturally). These sanctuaries could still allow visitors, but the animals could get away from the people when they want to.

[@rocketscienc]

At least enough space, food, fairly sufficient facilities for the animals.

[@ErnestKhamilov]

No

[@jessesarrazin8713]

Due to the human population, resource needs and infrastructure the wild is not so wild anymore. Nature conservationists and zoos are vital to help raise awareness and protect the last natural biomes.

[@DaAlgonzo97]

Such a great video :) -- I also really like the thumbnail

[@AboveTheNoise]

Algonzo97 yes, we were fortunate to have a very talented thumbnail artist work on our show for a short while. :)

[@xx_sophigiovanna_xx6474]

There should be sanctuaries not zoos ,purely for the animal's well being and not human entertainment. If they don't need to be in captivity, then they shouldn't be there.

[@porcupinesauce3872]

honey how u think they gonna have enough money to take care of of em?

[@crbconservation4449]

@Caed Chiaffone But none of them do the work of zoological institutions, Sanctuaries are amazing on case by case basis, but they do nothing for species wellbeing or conservation abroad I want to ask you this. So what do you propose to replace the massive hole that would leave in wildlife conservation and ecological preservation, you can't just say zoo bad, you have to have a fall back plan in place and a way to replace the innumerable tasks that zoological institutions undertake, every instance from the Kihansi Spray Toad to the Spix Macaw, animals that would no longer be found on our planet without zoos, what about the millions of dollars raised directly by zoos not to mention the invaluable education factor, the proactive approach that every good institution takes weather we're talking about the CryoLab at SDZG or the hundreds of outstations in every country around the world, created and managed by zoological facilities, so give a platform for us to work off of, to have a debate over you have to create a substitution for a hole you're making, so I'll talk to you to the end of the earth about the whys, hows, and whats, but we have to talk about it

[@freshlypainted]

yeah but where to find the money?

[@tanyawolkenberg9194]

I love animals and I feel so sorry for them stuck in cages! :(

[@venividivici6738]

Good credited zoos do more for conservation than any of us will do in 10 lifetimes, zoos serve as embassadors for the animals, a visit to a zoo, seeying the animals right there in front of you surpasses any emotion you can get from a documentary, of wichbkids just dont have the patience to sit through. I worked i zoos that treat their animals better than most hospitals treat their patients, I've seen freacking elephants recieve acupuncture right in front of me. But sure the kid with a KZbin channel probably knows more than a guy with a masters in biology and actual real experience.

[@v_adorbss]

him: he might have ruined my childhood me: and mine too

[@venividivici6738]

Dont see why, most of the video was him talking of how good zoos can be and can do

[@brunomarquezbecerril5034]

Pros Endangered species can be kept safe and be bred People can learn more about animals They can interact with other animals of their same species Cons Their space is limited They live in a fake habitat Their mental health could damaged In my own opinion, zoo’s arent as bad as people think, after all, its the best way to learn about other animals by seeing them and they keep endangered species from extintion.

[@adianarchived]

@AboveTheNoise can u pls do a vid on Is "It best for endangered animals to be in zoos or in the wild." pls thx

[@AboveTheNoise]

That would be a good sequel to this video - which, btw, is our most viewed video on our channel. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@adianarchived]

@@AboveTheNoise np

[@marsoelflaco5722]

Zoos are a "double edged sword". On one side, depending on the zoo, the animals may not have the best habitats. They are treated well, better than some humans. They just don't have the space to roam free. On the other side, zoos give people the opportunity to see the animals up close and to appreciate these creatures. Some of these animals are endangered or their natural habitats are at risk. Zoos help to keep humans aware of wildlife and environmental conservation.

[@venividivici6738]

Good credited zoos do more for conservation than any of us will do in 10 lifetimes, zoos serve as embassadors for the animals, a visit to a zoo, seeying the animals right there in front of you surpasses any emotion you can get from a documentary, of wichbkids just dont have the patience to sit through. I worked i zoos that treat their animals better than most hospitals treat their patients, I've seen freacking elephants recieve acupuncture right in front of me.

[@marsoelflaco5722]

@@venividivici6738 Right!!!

[@iulaihe51299]

if run correctly and they work with breeding programa to train them for future release im all for zoos

[@XionDestiny_inspires]

In my opinion, it depends on how the animals are treated. If the animals are mistreated by the zookeepers or the people who visit the zoo, then zoos should be banned because animal abuse is illegal. However, one must consider that zoos are here so the public can enjoy seeing different animal species or learn more about them. Besides, zoos are like a refuge for the endangered species who's home is too risky for them to live them. Many poachers might be there and might try to kill endangered species for their patterned skin or other purposes. Zoos want to keep endangered animals safe so they can live a long life. But, I've heard on the news a few months ago that some animals die in zoos because they're too used to wildlife. In short, my opinion about whether zoos should be banned is well, it just depends on the animal's situation in the zoo.

[@BrooklynnJean]

Exactly if the animals are treated right that's all that matters. I have been to the Indianapolis zoo many times. They have a Walrus and a hippo that they have had for years. I have lost count at this point of how old they are. I just checked I guess the Walrus is no longer there but he lived to be 40 years old which is normal. But in general they are happy and very spoiled. The hippo and sea lion like to photo bomb people. I agree that zoos that don't treat the animals right should be closed and those animals should be moved to a better place. I saw one zoo that had super tiny enclosures and you could tell that the animals were miserable. Thankfully they were closed down and the animals were relocated to better zoos with real enclosures.

[@mistypedhi]

There can be sanctuaries for research and rehabilitation for animals but to put them on public display for profit is wrong.

[@nickmoon4933]

5:09 you’re welcome Love the vids 👊🏾

[@aliceinwonderland548]

😂

[@lucytheloser8791]

I believe regular zoos should be shutdown. It's a bit tricky as Zoology is an industry in itself, however, as he mentioned, no amount of research nor education can amount to the damage caused by animals kept in captivity for their entire lives. If any zoos are remained, they should be left as breeding centres only. Then, the animals should be set free after a short while.

[@dudedude315]

A lot of zoos can't send animals back to the wild due to disabilities, being used to humans, and a lot of animals have mental health problems because of the poaching industries.

[@venividivici6738]

Good credited zoos do more for conservation than any of us will do in 10 lifetimes, zoos serve as embassadors for the animals, a visit to a zoo, seeying the animals right there in front of you surpasses any emotion you can get from a documentary, of wichbkids just dont have the patience to sit through. I worked i zoos that treat their animals better than most hospitals treat their patients, I've seen freacking elephants recieve acupuncture right in front of me. Overall you show to know very little of how things work

[@lucytheloser8791]

@@venividivici6738 I forgot to include that breeding centres and zoos where they take care of injured, ill or disabled animals. My main argument is that zoos should not be opened if their only purpose is to entertain - zoos that neglect their animals.

[@temperial]

what's the background song that starts at about 2:15?

[@netheritehatescursing]

Plants?

[@CaptainCretaceous91]

I think zoos should exist, especially wildlife sanctuaries and preserves.

[@panch-ovilla3768]

zoo could be good but the most aren't. i worked in one of the most famous zoos in the world for 10 years. and for me with my knowledge of animals i have to say the most zoos are not good and they are hypocrite zoos breed animals to make money (the don't sale them but with baby animals you get a lot of visitors. the breed with animals the are related together and or sick animals who should not get the opportunity to reproduce. so i am sure some zooanimals will extinct earlier then the ones in the wild if people see that some animals have problems with a life in captivity (elephants die earlier then in the wild and polar bears have fur problems mental problems stereotypical behavement) our zoo argued with " yes but the are the ambassador of there kind and look them up protects there species in the wild, and so we have genetic material to reproduce them in the future) but this is not true zoos make money and that's it they don't care about genetic material or save them in the wildness. i don't speak for all zoos but 95 % of all zoos i know are like that. humans killing all the animals in the wild and we are so selfish to look some of them up so we can watch it forever.

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

It mostly depends on the animals needs. I mean orcas kept in captivity have been studied and believed to have psychosis from being without a natural enviroment and correct social needs met. I think something like 95% of male orcas have a flopped over fin and it is believed to be linked with depressionm

[@SK-sq5bk]

@Sarah they only do it in the wild for survival. elephents spend most of thir time eating. in many zoos they have large habitats and acess to pools and indoor areas. the best example I can think of is animal kingdom. the enclutures there look like a sivahana in africa

[@theponysittersclub2765]

It just depends for me, if it is a good zoo where animals are taken care of I'm OK with that but say an aquarium I live near, their bearded dragon has too small of an enclosure the last time I saw it, I should know. I HAVE a bearded dragon.

[@cestlavegan5793]

Sanctuaries are the way to go. They’re the most humane form of captivity. Animals shouldn’t be put on display for us like they are in zoos.

[@Lokicharms2002]

c'est la vegan wellll zoos and sanctuaries are almost the same. Many zoos are better actually. And about the display thing, most sanctuaries allow visitors, just like zoos ;)

[@cestlavegan5793]

Grace Turner The key difference is that zoos are for people and profit, while animal sanctuaries exist solely for protecting and rehabilitating rescued animals.

[@Lokicharms2002]

c'est la vegan I agree with the sanctuary part, but the part about zoos is just totally untrue. Yes zoos do need money, but not for greedy purposes. Most of the good ones are non-profit anyways. They need money to keep the animals happy and healthy, fund conservation programs, and for tons of other stuff for the animals welfare. And it’s not just for entertainment, yes some people go there for entertainment, but that’s not what the zoo is going for. I’m not saying every single zoo is amazing, I’m saying we shouldn’t be generalizing all zoos to say they’re all bad. Cause they’re not.

[@crbconservation4449]

Sanctuaries are great on a case by case basis, but they don't do anything to preserve species diversity or benefit conservation abroad

[@NolongerUsedChannel35]

Most zoos are good, some aren't. But most are, research news zoos before going to make sure that they are good.

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

0:11 Zoos are archaic, outdated, and obsolete. In this high-tech digital age, they are no longer necessary. Why go to a zoo to see an animal locked up in a cage from a distance when you can get up close and personal with all kinds of animals, including ones that could never work in a zoo in large widescreen HD 3D 360° HDRI VR? 0:19 - The "in person" thing is meaningless and extremely overrated. How is seeing animals sleeping more interesting than watching a documentary? 0:30 - Not only do they often end up sick, dead, or infertile, but it's offensive to treat them like criminals because they're 'neat'. 🤦 2:19 - Documentaries showing animals being themselves increase people's knowledge, awareness, and interest in animals _much_ more than seeing an animal lying around bored and lifeless. 2:39 - There are plenty of ethnobiologists and researchers who manage to do their work without locking up all the animals. ¬_¬ 3:00 - That's pretty much the only argument for zoos: we're making them extinct, so we need to keep a few boxed up in case we need to make more some day. 🤦 Maybe we should stop making them extinct instead. ¬_¬ 5:05 - I bet you'd feel differently if it were you in a cage. ¬_¬ It's time to retire zoos permanently.

[@crbconservation4449]

So what do you propose to replace the massive hole that would leave in wildlife conservation and ecological preservation, you can't just say zoo bad, you have to have a fall back plan in place and a way to replace the innumerable tasks that zoological institutions undertake, every instance from the Kihansi Spray Toad to the Spix Macaw, animals that would no longer be found on our planet without zoos, what about the millions of dollars raised directly by zoos not to mention the invaluable education factor, the proactive approach that every good institution takes weather we're talking about the CryoLab at SDZG or the hundreds of outstations in every country around the world, created and managed by zoological facilities, so give a platform for us to work off of, to have a debate over you have to create a substitution for a hole you're making, so I'll talk to you to the end of the earth about the whys, hows, and whats, but we have to talk about it. I personally disagree with most every point you make and believe your view of modern zoology is severely mislead

[@gr3sm4ry58]

after reading articles about zoos and keeping animals in captivity, i’m not so sure about my opinion, i could say that it’s okay to keep them in zoos since it’s safe for them and don’t go through the danger of being eaten by other species, or killed by poachers. but at the same time, they’re kept in small cages without being able to run free in their own habitat, and go through depression or mental illness, that happen in animals, and we don’t always know how they’re treated in these places, nor the conditions they live in. overall i still think they should live in their own habitat even if it means they could be devoured by other species, and i think there are more ways to help instead of only keeping them in zoos, like protect them from people trying to sell their skin, horns, etc. for their own benefit. for example: doing protests of the injustice that animals go through, or signing petitions to stop it.

[@anonymous_gaming9248]

This video is a amazing explanation

[@gunnergrimmett7725]

There is a zoo called the Phuket Zoo that does not care about animal abuse. They even drug tigers so they don't attack guests

[@leo-in6kg]

I searched this up cause I needed to write a persuasive text for my homework 😆

[@AboveTheNoise]

Hope it's helpful!

[@leo-in6kg]

Above The Noise it was thanks!

[@khorshedalam629]

@@AboveTheNoise my teacher had us see this for a persuasive text to

[@claudettesavard6418]

I have to watch this for my homework to

[@apeswagger890]

It’s very hard to breed endangered animals in the wild, that’s why we have zoos. Well you’re probably asking why do we show them to the public. Education is one reason, another reason is because how will they get funding. I doubt people would pay for something they couldn’t see.

[@GrumpyGrimo]

Who is from Palnet Zoo reccomemdations? :D

[@Zepellin]

@ZAHARIA IUSTINA-MARIA he means planet

[@YoungMule]

It’s scary how closely zoo animal behaviors mirror many of those we see in humans in developed countries. Depression, anxiety, self harm, sedentary lifestyle etc. perhaps we stumbled upon a formula for stamping out fulfillment while increasing profits that works across species.

[@heidimatz7804]

I think zoos are good for animals, but we should try to give them more things to do in there cages.

[@janelleaquino]

I want to be better educated at this. Are zoos band-aid solutions? I understand the point of keeping animals captive to keep them from going extinct. Assuming breeding programs succeed, what then if they were released into their natural habitat? Won't the same factors that drove them to extinction affect them again?

[@venividivici6738]

Good credited zoos do more for conservation than any of us will do in 10 lifetimes, zoos serve as embassadors for the animals, a visit to a zoo, seeying the animals right there in front of you surpasses any emotion you can get from a documentary, of wichbkids just dont have the patience to sit through. I worked i zoos that treat their animals better than most hospitals treat their patients, I've seen freacking elephants recieve acupuncture right in front of me.

[@varc2322]

I love Churros

[@cryppi1510]

In a sealion exhibit in Alaska, this sealion just swam in one direction over and over. The other seals did as well. They seemed to have gone insane, just taking the same route for hours and hours on end. Doesn't seem like a healthy mental state for any animal, human, or being, period.

[@Zepellin]

Alaska is touchy as it’s a hard place to live in but many of the other states have great zoos and thanks to AZA we can tell these animals are treated right

[@ribbonfly]

Good zoos should exist because the world is a mess right now.

[@fundude6127]

We should have habitats that simulate nature better. Like have prey animals be in proportion to predators. Keep visitors safe by having glass and fences in certain paths.

[@Theres_No_PlanetB]

Love animals, don't eat them.

[@fredericka.4296]

Or do both. I love bacon!

[@kassandraofodyssey6475]

Except farm animals. You can eat those.

[@wakeg40]

Wow!!! You have no idea how ironic it is that of all the tigers on the world you picked that one! Her name is Akasha and she is the best tiger that’s ever lived and she was a rescue at the boarder. That tiger may actually be the “least pacy” tiger that ever lived in captivity as she had so much enrichment! So ironic that she was used for this video lol. I agree with the majority in this video and sadly if a cat is in captivity they will pace stereotypically at least a little bit (some cats in some zoos a lot) but that cat very rarely so the fact you have video of it is pretty unlikely. If I had to guess she wasn’t pacing in aberrant way but an anticipatory manner as one of us was about to go in and play with her. So the pacing was probably akin to an excited dog when they know you’re almost home. Good video though. :)

[@Anita-bz9uv]

like si te dieron este video como tarea de ingles ._. no? ok

[@abril1631]

I personally think that zoos are a very educational place but when it comes to the animals it can become something darker, because we don't have the actual information of how do they keep, how they feed them and many things that can compromise their health

[@jitt9264]

Easy answer: They shouldn't

[@jitt9264]

@xi jinping u trying to be funny or somehting?

[@barbbeyer312]

Because of the loneliness and isolation of most zoo animals, it to me tion the shorter life span, I see absolutely no justification for supporting zoos. Animals who need help or rescue belong in sanctuaries. A place where the animal 's wants and needs are the priority.

[@gaiafirst4266]

No, they are from a time before tv. Only farm animals, so the kids find them to cute to eat for dinner.

[@darkmode7455]

False advertising/false promises

[@michaelmunoz8014]

Just the possability of saving a species with a reserve population alone is good enough to have zoo's

[@lexTS89]

My zoo is among 10% of the best zoos in America. All the enclosures are huge, and they all have amazing care, as well as they don’t have too many animals so it’s not that hard for them to keep up. This video is awesome :)))

[@rosalynparks1969]

If it's about protecting species, and that quote you mentioned, I think zoos should be treated more like reserves than theme parks. It would be better if animals had larger enclosures, like, much larger, and possibly be given the opportunity to do things they do in the wild, such as hunt and scavenge. That way they aren't dying of boredom and lack of physical activity, and may be able to survive when introduced back into the wild.

[@venividivici6738]

Good credited zoos do more for conservation than any of us will do in 10 lifetimes, zoos serve as embassadors for the animals, a visit to a zoo, seeying the animals right there in front of you surpasses any emotion you can get from a documentary, of wichbkids just dont have the patience to sit through. I worked i zoos that treat their animals better than most hospitals treat their patients, I've seen freacking elephants recieve acupuncture right in front of me.

[@mimeslife]

I gotta watch this video for my class because we’re doing a writing test, I’m so scared ☹️ I’m going to come back and tell myself how it went

[@AboveTheNoise]

Good luck with your writing test! How did you like our video?

[@mimeslife]

@@AboveTheNoise I loved it! It helped a lot and thanks!!😁😁

[@thewhittingtons6540]

I don’t believe in zoos personally. I do believe in rehabilitation centers for endangered species and have that animal go back in the wild.

[@hx.1.32]

where are you in the zoo?

[@monica-mn2cd]

I love how all that ppl in the comments are making excuses as to why zoos should exist, most of them say animals in danger of extinction as if humans weren't the number 1 reason that is happening, just face it ppl, zoos exist bc humans like the entertainment and companies like the money

[@spookytrips3592]

Depends on how they are treated by the staff. I really hate the idea of zoos and we how we throw animals in cages because they can’t communicate through language with us, but that’s how the world works.

[@Thxiuy]

I choosed zoo should not be closed in. A debate but what this man said is true but I want to strongest point what that would be can someone give me some ideas??

[@cameronnorris2055]

there are also nature reserves in the places where the animals come from that help them develop the behaviors needed in a mostly wild place (if they don't have parents to teach them)

[@mariavitoriadavidricoqawer2374]

the zoo is a way to protect some species from predators maybe for don`t extinct, I am not happy with caging them, because they are animals and they need to have a big space in their natural habitat. Nonetheless, the zoo is often used to learn about animals, the problem is that they are not toys and WE CAN'T EXPERIMENT WITH THEM.

[@lc6896]

The animals I don’t like seeing in captivity are big cats, elephants, cetaceans, and any other large animals. Now, zoos are important for conservation, but most zoos don’t have many endangered animals that can be rereleased to the wild. The only zoos and aquariums I support are The Wilds, Florida Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Tennessee Aquarium, and the Aquarium of the Pacific. These places take incredible care of the animals. The issue with most zoo conservation programs are that great apes, cetaceans, elephants, and others cannot be released.

[@lc6896]

I will not go to any zoos or aquariums that keep cetaceans, large carnivores, great apes, and other animals that are proven to have psychological damage from captivity, and any that have enclosures that are too small for the animals. I’m still deciding on whether or not to support aquariums with octopi. Are we going to make them suffer in the name of “education”? That seems extremely cruel. Before zoos, I support animal sanctuaries and research and animal protection projects happening in the wild. But, some animals really do need to be in captivity to save them, and their habitats recreate the wild almost perfectly and many animals are rescued, which is why I support the places I support.

[@politicized744]

Building off of what Francios Roewer-Despres said, protected habitat needs to get more attention. You may not realize deer were almost wiped out in many areas of America around 70 years ago. Now there are too many of them! Zoos have their place for science and study, but remember wild animals are wild animals.

[@James-zr1lu]

What's true of a lion, which if true of a human, would make it okay to put a human in a zoo?

[@vincentjacobsson3981]

ANIMAL FRIENDS SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND NOT BE FORCED INTO CAPTIVITY AND ALSO PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM!

[@kiwi6421]

Just a heads up, when you said Black Footed Ferret you actually showed a picture of a European Polecat

[@pancakerat8656]

I think it depends on the enclosure or we’re they got the animals