Wild Animals Should Be Held In Captivity For Entertainment Purposes

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Animal Captivity
Humanity always holds itself in high regard and thus considers all other creatures as inferior. However, what is unknown to many people is that all creatures of the world exist independent from the other. The birds, the lions, the elephants, the tigers, etc. all have lives and want to exist in environments that help them to grow and appreciate what is around them. But, instead of allowing them to exist on their own and in their natural habitats, mankind has taken upon himself to ensure that all animals are kept for his pleasure. The right to life and freedom of movement appear to apply to mankind only and hence the many zoos that are inexistent. However, since creatures exist independent from the other, it is only right to make sure that animals live in environments that help them grow and exist independent from human beings. Animals do have rights and thus should not live in captivity. For mankind to want to keep animals in cages is selfish and only highlights the dark side of humanity, which is often loaded with pride and greed. Building on the above, this paper thus seeks to support the notion that animals should not be kept in captivity for entertainment purposes. The reasons discussed will be based on the notions that while living in captivity, animals are deprived of the ability to live freely and also the fact that the cages and zoos are never designed with the animals in mind but with people in mind and how they can get the most pleasure out of viewing the animals.
While living in captivity, animals are limited and cannot engage in their natural or instinctual behaviors as they should. For mankind, their choices are left untouched, and people are allowed to make whichever choices in their lives. However, when animals are held captive, they are denied their fundamental rights, which mainly include the right to make choices for their lives. Animals Charter (np) notes that animals held captive “have no ability to decide what they will eat, where they will sleep, or who their mates will be.” These are choices that need to be left untouched, but that humanity forcefully denies animals. Such choices confirm a creature’s existence and makes living worthwhile. With these choices taken away, animals get to have limited options, and this makes life stressful instead of easy enough to want to live the next day. For humankind, stress is only reserved for them, and it is thus difficult to consider that animals could be stressed as well. However, when their options are limited, animals get stressed, and it becomes incredibly difficult for them to live as freely as they should.
It is also crucial to point out that animals in captivity are forced to endure conditions of physical as well as psychological pain. The repercussion or implication of the above is that is hampers their development and changes the way they should live and develop. As indicated before, every animal needs its natural habitat to grow to enjoy life. However, when animals are kept in captivity and forced to do things they have not naturally evolved to do, they end up being in pain, and this also breaks their spirit as indicated by the World Animal protection (3). A good example are the elephants used to carry or transport tourists in jungles. The article notes that “elephants destined for the tourist industry experience great physical and mental trauma. Isolation, starving, hitting, and beating are just some of the methods used to initially break their spirits and get them to behave and perform.” Even though in the end, these animals do as they are supposed to, they grow up in pain and fear of their masters. The article continues to note that like human beings, “elephants can develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” (3). These are facts that are possibly unknown to the individuals running the zoos and keeping animals in captivity. A life of physical and psychological pain or torture is not one that should be endured in silence. So, it is crucial that animals be granted their rights and be allowed to live and exist in their natural habitats.
As creatures that have rights, it is unfair that animals are denied the freedom of making their natural choices. As indicated earlier, all living things exist independent from the other. This statement means that like humans, animals also have different lives and look forward to the next day like mankind. Taking this away from them means that a fundamental part of their lives is removed. A 2019 article from the Animal Defense Fund notes that in the U.S., “common animals kept as pets include lions...