Nicholson Clare NicholsonMs. GardnerEnglish 10H, Period 23 May 2015Zoos: Are they worth the suffering?European Association of Zoos and Aquaria reports that up to 5,000 healthy animals in zoos across Europe are euthanized each year (qtd. in Johnston). However, this single statistic, though starling, comes nowhere close to capturing the cruelty inflicted on the animals that are held captive in zoos across the world. Captive animals are, not uncommonly, given improper care or harmed, even killed as part of conservation efforts. These methods are not only harsh, but can end up being counterproductive, causing a decline in captive animal populations -- an especially dangerous consequence for endangered species. Although it is inarguable that conservation efforts should be made to protect Earths diversity of animals, zoos should not be the places for such efforts, nor should they exist; many zoos expose animals to unsafe environments, intentionally cause them pain or discomfort, and even kill them -- both unintentionally and purposefully.Primarily, some may argue that these measures taken by zoos are, overall, beneficial to the conservation of many species. For example, zoo industry officials...argue that live-animal exhibits are the best way to boost public awareness and raise funds for conservation efforts. (Berens). Zookeeper Laura Reisse even goes as far as comparing zoos to an ark (qtd. in Seely). Additionally, many justify the conventionally unethical acts of zoos with claims of conservation, such as European Association of Zoos and Aquaria -- Eaza -- executive director, Dr. Lesley Dickie. Dickie states that the euthanization of healthy animals is necessary to sustain the genetic diversity in captivity that could be found in the wild (Johnston). In summary, many believe that zoos greatly aid in animal conservation efforts, and that the pluses outweigh the negatives (Berens). While this may be true in times of desperation, it is undeniable that the animals exposure to potentially dangerous environments, intentional maltreatment by zookeepers, and death, whether deliberate or not, is not worth the occasional plus.Admittedly, some of these extreme measures taken by zoos, though harsh, are beneficial in the long run to the conservation of certain species. Overall, however, it cannot be ignored that the uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous, living conditions of captive animals are not justifiable by these infrequent benefits. For example, in an analysis on captive elephant deaths, The Times reported: most of the elephants died from injury or disease linked to conditions of their captivity, from chronic foot problems caused by standing on hard surfaces to musculoskeletal disorders from inactivity caused by being penned or chained for days and weeks at a time. Of the 321 elephant deaths...half were by age 23, more than a quarter of a century before their expected life spans of 50 to 60 years. (qtd. in Berens) In the case of a specific elephant named Chai, who was sent to a zoo across the country from her home in Seattle in hopes that she would breed, it wasnt just her inanimate surroundings that negatively impacted her, but the elephants she was kept with. Keepers had to isolate her from the herd after part of her tail was bitten off by another elephant (Berens). Elephants, however, arent the only ones kept in detrimental conditions. In general, since younger animals bring in the tourists, they are often cast aside once they outgrow their loveable-baby appeal: Theres never enough space for all the adult animals. Many of them are simply warehoused in off-exhibit buildings designed solely to cage and house animals with no place to go. [They are] Stored like used car parts (OConnor). Based on these facts, it is evident that conditions of animals, not only elephants, can be detrimental to their health and even life threatening. In addition, these conditions are often easily looked over by the public, ensuring no motivation for change: If the occasional pang of guilt flashes through an onlooker as she watches...a rare tiger languish in boredom in a fenced patch of grass...she can quickly appease herself by reading the two-sentence plaque that tells her how sadly rare these creatures are and how zoos plan to save them (Praded). Ultimately, the poor living conditions of animals in many zoos is not only dangerous, but it is counterproductive when it comes to population conservation. Furthermore, research shows that captive animals are frequently exploited and mistreated by zoo staff. Sometimes, animals are intentionally harmed, as they were at Dickerson Park Zoo, where Chai the elephant was sent; restraints and bullhooks were used on the elephants by the zookeepers as a way of asserting dominance (Berens). However, other times, the pain of captive animals is only an inconvenient side effect of other processes, such as artificial insemination, a painful and traumatic process which Chai was forced to undergo a total of 112 times: keepers had to train Chai to accept artificial insemination...Zookeepers chained Chai's four legs to anchors, pulling them tight so she couldn't move an inch a technique called short chaining (Berens). Pandas, as well as other species, are forced to undergo artificial insemination as well, so that zoos may simply churn out more cash cows (OConnor). It can be concluded from this information that captive animals in zoos, especially certain species, arent unlikely to fall victim to unjust treatment. Though there are reasons behind each exploitation, the cruelty inflicted upon these living, feeling beings should not be justified by the individual benefit or profit of zoos -- especially if the real cost is the mental and physical health of the violated animals.Lastly, any benefits of zoos conservation efforts are outweighed by the horror of animal death rates in captivity. As previously stated, reporter Ian Johnston shocks with the statement that Up to 5,000 healthy zoo animals - including hundreds of larger ones such as giraffes, lions and bears - are killed by zoos in Europe every year. Though Dr Lesley defends these numerous euthanizations with claims of genetic diversity and future reintroduction programs, animal welfare group OneKinds Libby Anderson said that the idea that killing zoo animals was part of a conservation effort was misguided. These animals will never replenish the wild populations...we have to address the challenges that they face in their environment (qtd. in Johnston). Often, these killings for the sake of genetic diversity are useless, anyways -- and that isnt even considering all of the unintentional deaths in captivity. Reporter Jennifer OConnor addresses both of these issues, stating that The vast majority of animals who are bred in zoos are not endangered, and most of the ones who are in trouble arent going to be released into their natural homelands in order to bolster wild populations. For every elephant born in a zoo, two more die, yet zoos continue to subject elephants to painful and frightening artificial insemination... Moreover, investigative reporter Michael Berens asserts that the infant-mortality rate of elephants born in captivity is three times their infant-mortality rate in the wild, at at a staggering 40% (qtd. in OConnor), while many other zoo animals die from conditions related to their captivity, such as diseases that spread easily from one captive animal to another -- such as the EEHV virus (elephant herpes) that killed Sri, one of Chais only two calves. All things considered, these death statistics show that zoos conservation does not always mean protecting every animal in a zoos care -- sometimes, it means killing, directly and indirectly, animals that may have lived and thrived, had they been born in the wild. Overall, its eerily ironic that animals are dying in such large numbers at zoos, the facilities at which they should thrive most, according to the implications of the mere phrase conservation. In conclusion, the few benefits of zoos and their claims of conservation are greatly outweighed by the costs when one considers the negative impacts of poor conditions, maltreatment, and possible premature death of the animals that zoos hold captive. When visiting zoos, people are more absorbed in looking at cute animals than learning about conservation and the animals it concerns: they think of the zoo as a leisurely day trip instead of an opportunity to learn, also oblivious to the cruelty being inflicted upon zoo animals everywhere. Something needs to be done, because this unjustifiable horror wont just stop. As OConnor argues, Zoos are businesses whose merchandise is living, feeling animals. As long as society considers it acceptable to keep animals in captivity so that humans can while away a couple of hours gawking at them, this merciless and mercenary cycle will continue. Something needs to be done for these animals, and soon -- neither Europe, nor the rest of the world, can afford to lose another 5,000 captive animals this year.

Works CitedBerens, Michael J. "Glamour Beasts: Elephants Are Dying Out in America's Zoos." The Seattle Times. 05 Dec. 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher.Web. 20 Apr. 2015.Johnston, Ian. "Zoos in Europe 'Kill 5,000 Healthy Animals a Year'." The Independent. 27 Feb. 2014: p. 16. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.O'Connor, Jennifer. "Zoos' Dirty Little Secret." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 24 Feb. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.Praded, Joni. "Reinventing the Zoo." E Magazine. March/April 2002: 24-31. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.Seely, Ron. "Sure, the Animals Are Cute, but Vilas Zoo Also Has a More Serious..." Wisconsin State Journal. 17 Dec. 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.