“Discover the wonders of wildlife conservation at Edinburgh Zoo:” an alluring invitation to one of the world’s leading conservation charities, The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
It serves to reverse the decline of at least 50 species by 2030, through running breeding programmes of endangered species and a genetics lab to generate long term conservation management. But how can this be promised when there are multiple incidents of the organisation failing to release captive animals back into their natural habitat, such as the giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang being sent to China after their 12 year loan period in 2023? This undermines the idea of “saving species” by further restricting them to confinement. How do we, as humans, gain the right to breed, capture and confine other animals? We need to question the notions of humanity’s superiority over wildlife, which glorifies the captivity of species.
There is merit to the statement that conservation can be important in protecting endangered species. However, do the benefits to a population compensate for the individual animals which are isolated and bred within man-made programmes? It is in animal DNA to adapt to threat, so can we really justify the statement that zoos protect animals from habitat loss, starvation, and predators? Isolated animals often develop depressive symptoms from confinement, strict human contact, and lack of interaction with broader species. They can become institutionalised in these conditions, leading to a lower quality of life, which is seen in the captivity of elephants. Captive elephants tend to live shorter lifespans than wild ones, facing lower reproductive success, high infant mortality, mental trauma, and health issues. Zoos claim to create living conditions alike to the wild, with open spaces and greenery, but these animals are still confined under human control. Violations of animal rights cannot be justified.
Zoos have justified their captivity activities as conservation. However, studies have shown that a lion’s share of species are rarely endangered, with many never returned to the wild. Born Free is an organisation concerned with these claims being exaggerated and unjustified. Failing to return animals to the wild acts as a catalyst in the extinction crisis of animals by keeping them within manmade walls of confinement, affecting not only the animals imprisoned, but the remaining population in the wild. Being barred from the world and separated from species can mean that many animals imprint on humans, not only preventing them from their true identities, but creates a form of dependency on humans that makes it difficult for their own release.
Zoos have historically served as entertainment for humans, showcasing animals with disregard for their wellbeing. Through modernisation, zoos have progressed to involve research and education in conservation activities. RZSS is an example of this, by using Edinburgh Zoo as a vessel to educate the public and generate funds from admission fees. While Edinburgh Zoo is credited by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, holding them to a high standard, there are many across the world prioritising entertainment over the wellbeing of animals. This is apparent through SeaWorld’s controversial use of captive marine animals to mimic circus-style performances, after releasing press statements that these killer whale and orca shows would be ended. Animals used for these activities suffer from psychological and physical distress: ‘Zoochosis’ being a major behavioural adaptation where captive animals develop stress from stereotypic behaviour from obsessive or repetitive actions such as pacing. People can visit safaris or animal sanctuaries if they want to learn about wildlife. So why should we force animals into zoos for human benefits? Humans should make the effort to engage with nature, not the other way around.
The belief that modern zoos disregard animal welfare entirely is an outdated perception in many cases. However, there are still present practices which demonstrate unethical treatment of animals, perpetrating hierarchies that position humans as superior and dominant over other species. Despite being credited by attributed organisations, zoos still partake in the breeding and removing of animals from their natural habitat. A good zoo ensures animals are cared for and enriched within their walls—however they are still within walls controlled by humans, unlike their natural state in the wild, before human interference.
Image by Mark Chan for The Student