Behind Bars Matt McGraw
A glance into the world of a caged beast
Behind Bars
Copyright Š 2016 Matt McGraw All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without prior written permission by the owner, Matt McGraw
Behind Bars Matt McGraw
Forward Going to the zoo is something that we have all done at one point or another in our lives. As a kid there’s always that excitement of seeing all these amazing animals that you have only read about in books or seen on TV. However, as an adult, when I go to the zoo I can’t help but notice that many of the animals tend to look sickly, bored, or just generally unhappy. Is it just the skepticism of growing up, or is it something more? I decided to research the issues that come animal captivity and find out what exactly the major problems are that cause an animal behind bars to become so sad. Through my search, I discovered a number of problems with keeping wild animals in captivity over long periods of time, many of which are readily prevalent in nearly every zoo not only in the U.S, but across the world. Groups such as Animal Equality, Friends of Animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and many more, are outspoken advocates of animal rights, and make it their duty to uncover and eliminate these problems. While some of these groups may be a little extreme, and often it is hard to agree with everything that they do or say, it is undeniable that when we see the disheartened creatures locked away in zoos, circuses, aquariums or other forms of animal “entertainment,” that it is the least that we can do to make their lives a little bit better. The purpose of this book is to shine light on these issues, and let you decide for yourself what needs to be done.
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The Zoos National Zoological Park, Washington D.C. Founded in 1889, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is one of the oldest zoos in the country. Between both the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), the park houses more than 1,800 animals and over 400 different species, 30 to 40 of which are endangered or threatened. Over 350 animals at the zoo are endangered or threatened. The main urban park area has 163 acres, and when added to the SCBI’s 3,200 acres, the zoo is one of the largest in the entire country. Since it is a part of the Smithsonian Institute, the zoo is financed by federal funding for operating expenses, so the zoo is free to all and open nearly every day of the year except Christmas Day.
The Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia The Philadelphia Zoo’s claim to fame is that it was the very first zoo in the United States. Opened in 1874, the zoo is only 42 acres but packs in over 1,300 animals. Many species at the zoo are endangered or threatened and it is a renowned place for managing to breed animals that are not usually able to be bred in captivity. The park is also well-known for the massive Channel 6 Zooballoon which rises above the zoo itself to view the animals and the city from above. Located near Fairmount Park, the Philadelphia Zoo is a for-profit function and relies on ticket, merchandise and food sales, along with donations, to keep the zoo functioning.
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National Zoo Washington D.C.
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Loneliness One of the major problems with zoos is that they need to keep their populations in check. This means that often, they will only have one animal of a certain species. At the National Zoo, there is only a singular male peafowl, better known as a peacock. It’s understandable that animals that are locked up without any companions of there own species, can often become depressed and lonesome, particularly with animals that are naturally social.
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Separation Below is Bei Bei, a giant panda cub who is less than a year old. To the right is his father, Tian Tian. Bei Bei is the third offspring from Tian Tian and his mother Mei Xiang. He has an older brother Tai Shan, 10, and a sister Bao Bao, 2. The zoo, which had had a previous agreement with China, was forced to send Tai Shan to China in 2009. Fortunately, there wasn’t much separation anxiety between the family and Tai Shan adjusted to his new surroundings in China well, but often this is not the case, and animals who are separated from their family and familiar surroundings often become depressed and have trouble eating, socializing, and adapting to further changes.
Merchandising It can be argued that often animals are exploited for their appeal to those who want to make them into a commodity. Fortunately at zoos this only extends animal-free stuffed toys, fluffy hats and animal masks. However, merchandising is something that has brought death to countless animals throughout history and in the modern day. Use of their furs and body parts to make commodities such as coats, wall mounts, and trophies among other things, is something that has claimed the lives of an untold number of creatures.
Lack of Space Room is often the biggest problem at zoos, as some try to pack as many different animals as possible into a small a space as they can. A lack of room to roam can have a multitude of problems for animals, including but not limited to: behavioral issues, depression, becoming overweight, restlessness, and aggression. Fortunately, many zoos combat this through exercise and play time outdoors, but too often it’s easy to see a caged animal staring out the window and longing for more.
Overeating Creatures such as the seals below are a little plumper than normal, but this is a common theme in animals that spend their lives in captivity. Unnatural diets, boredom and too little exercise can easily cause obesity and a whole range of health issues that accompany that.
Undereating On the other side of that coin, many animals, such as these elephants, can become depressed or unhealthy and not eat enough. This can be a more difficult problem for zoo trainers to solve than simple overeating, which can be controlled through portion control, and starvation can sometimes claim the life of a sick animal.
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Boredom Often, the daily routine of a caged animal is just the same thing all day every day. The monotony and lack of stimulation can cause many animals such as this Orangutan named Lucy, and these two big cats to simply stare out the windows or pace endlessly. Boredom can cause depression and irritability.
PhILADELPHIA ZOO Philadelphia, Pa
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Unsatisfying Habitat This American alligator is one of the oldest animals at the zoo, being born in 1955 in the Florida Everglades, when he was oneyear-old, he was caught and transported to the Philadelphia Zoo where he has been ever since. The tiny environment he now resides in is nothing compared to the vast swamps of his youth and many animals that are captured in the wild and brought to artificial habitats have major issues adapting.
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Constant Human Interaction Many animals, such as these birds, are constantly flooded with human interaction. The constant lack of peace and quiet or personal space can cause certain animals to become nervous or aggressive and develop behavioral problems.
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Zero Threats Although this is on the surface a good thing, for the health and well-being of a domestic animal who’s wild at heart, the lack of excitement or need for survival skills can make animals dull and bored. For these tigers and lions, the zoo will give them large balls to chase and play with in order to simulate a hunt, and keep their reflexes and minds sharp. Sometimes a threat can be having no threats at all.
Unnatural Segregation Below is Kuchimba and to the right is Louis, both are young, male gorillas who have been separated from the troop in order to prevent them from fighting with the lead male Motuba over the two females. In the wild, it is not natural for young males to be in close proximity with one another, and to avoid inter-species conflicts, often zoos will separate or join groups of animals in unnatural ways.
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Conclusion The point of this book is not to point fingers at zoos and say that they are doing things wrong. I would say that most of those who make their careers working at a zoo genuinely loves what they do and takes care of their animals to the best of their ability. This book solely discusses issues that can and do arise at zoos and other institutions where animals are kept in captivity. Despite how you feel about animal rights and zoos in general, I would hope that we can all agree that zoos are ingrained in our society and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon so we should at least look out for our furry friends in the meantime. Keeping an eye out for potential problems and making them as comfortable and happy is possible is a great way for everybody to win, and for zoos to remain the exciting and fun places that we used to remember them to be. - Matt McGraw