Mixed feelings about zoos/aquariums

[wildr0se2]

As I am a month in on my vegan journey, I am on the fence about the ethics around zoos/aquariums/places of entertainment. On one hand, I can see how they can exploit animals. Take SeaWorld Florida, for example, with the orcas years ago. Or animals who are kept in captivity and are not cared for properly. But what about these places that DO treat animals ethically? I have read mixed things about whether it is vegan to go to these places. I rarely take trips to places like those, but still. What do y'all think?

I definitely would be down to visit a sanctuary, though! I love knowing some species are being rescued.

 

[Lou]

Well, it depends.
Something that is new is that now PETA supports "some zoos".
I know I read something about this a while back but now I can't find it. but if I find it I'll post a link here.

 

[PTree15]

I've never liked zoos, even when I was a kid. I always felt bad for the animals, having to live in cages and in such small areas.

 

[shyvas]

But what about these places that DO treat animals ethically? I have read mixed things about whether it is vegan to go to these places. I rarely take trips to places like those, but still. What do y'all think?

I definitely would be down to visit a sanctuary, though! I love knowing some species are being rescued.

Firstly, congratulations for starting a vegan journey. Everyone's path is different and we all learn as we go along. Please feel free to ask any question that you may have.

Perhaps you should obtain some useful information from the Vegan Society a s their definition of veganism is spot on:

"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."

Go Vegan

www.vegansociety.com

Secondly, there is no such thing as an animal being treated ethically if it's in captivity. All animals should be left in their natural habitat; the wild.

Anyone, that goes to a place where an animal is being held prisoner cannot say that they are a vegan.


There is a huge difference between an animal sanctuary (not a petting farm, where animals are exploited) and a zoo or entertainment park/aquarium. The former take in abandoned animals or those who have been saved from exploitation. Moreover, they need support and funds from the public as their one and only objective is to provide a safe environment for these animals.

Seaprison (aka as Seaworld) is the most sad and appalling place for orcas and sea turtles. Poor Lulu who has been in captivity for 83 years in Brighton's Seaprison, is a living example.

I'm part of a local group (Brighton Animal Rights) who demonstrates on a monthly basis outside this prison.

Not only is it wrong, but Lulu's life has been stolen from her. She will never know what it's like to swim in the wild, have babies and know what freedom feels like. She spends her days and nights in a dingy, dark and cold tank, swimming around in circles, whilst a pimp makes money by showing her sadness to an avid audience who simply do not care.



Lulu who is in obvious distress.

Will Sea Life Brighton Finally Release The World’s Oldest Captive Sea Turtle For Her Twilight Years?

Animal activists are calling for the release of the world's oldest captive sea turtle, Lulu, from Sea Life in Brighton

plantbasednews.org

Please read:

What's Wrong With Zoos & Aquariums? | Born Free USA.

 

[KLS52]

I've never liked zoos, even when I was a kid. I always felt bad for the animals, having to live in cages and in such small areas.

As a kid I was always torn between feeling bad for the animals and their restrictive environments and my love and fascination for them, wanting to see/touch them.

We used to go to the Catskill Game Farm in New York every year and I loved feeding the baby goats and deer. I was clueless until I started bringing my own kids there and started learning more about such places.

 

[Second Summer]

Some zoos take part in species conservation programmes which are obviously important for species on the brink of extinction. Though they might not care as much about the individual animals as they care about the species. And they usually can't do much to help preserve the natural habitats of the animals which are often threatened as well.

I and the family have visited Monkey World in Dorset, UK, a couple of times and even donated money. It's described as a "ape and monkey sanctuary, rescue centre and primatarium". The one thing that is similar to a zoo is that human visitors can watch wild animals, and the animals obviously are somewhat confined, but they mostly have larger areas to roam than in zoos, and there are places to hide out of view from human visitors. There was also a wonderful long-running TV series about Monkey World and the work they do that aired some years ago here in the UK.

 

[Lou]

like all things philosophically its not always black and white.
PETA used to be totally against all Zoos but recently they have recognized that Some zoos do more good than harm. There is even an accreditation group that they rely on to help judge which zoos are OK.

Again I read about this a while back but I haven't found the article yet. I'll look when I have more time but maybe someone here has seen it.

 

[Lou]

Did a deeper google dive and did not find the article I was thinking of.
It may have been something in my local paper. Oakland Zoo is not that far from me and they have collaborated with PETA. Not necessarily an endorsement but something.

"...Oakland Zoo has long prioritized common sense and welfare, and PETA looks forward to continued collaboration on improving the welfare of captive wildlife across the U.S."
- Brittany Peet, Esq., Director, Captive Animal Law Enforcement, PETA Foundation

 

[Tom L.]

Welcome and congratulations on going vegan, @wildr0se2 !

I think it's possible for some places to keep animals in captivity and still take adequate care of them- but it's not easy. An animal can have a reliable, steady supply of the best food and water, as well as veterinary care- and yet still be unhappy because they don't have proper contact with their own species (if they're an animal who likes to live in groups) or enough space to move around in (such as a bird in a cage or a dolphin in a tank).

Thinking back, it took me a long time to grasp this because I was aware of how animals were raised and killed for food and other reasons. Compared to that, a zoo or game farm seems benign (like the one in Catskill, NY, which my family visited several times, as did @KLS52 's family). Gradually, my opinion changed somewhat. I remember seeing a rhinoceros who seemed to have as much space within the fencing around him as I do in my house... and a dolphin performing in a tank who seemed sad.

 

[Chryssie]

I have not been to a zoo or Sea World in years and years though Lynda and I did visit the Clearwater Aquarium a couple years ago. This is a non-profit rescue that was made famous by the movie "Dolphin Tale" about a dolphin that was rehabilitated. The animals there are not able to be released back into the wild. These kinds of places are good as the money they get from admissions goes to the care of the animals and environmental issues. Now on the other hand, Sea World is pretty bad for the exploitation with the animal shows but they do also do rehabilitation work which is very important. So I have very mixed feelings about Sea World but as the tickets are outrageously expensive, it isn't much of a dilemma.

 

[KLS52]

I've been to Mystic Aquarium a few times when my grandkids were younger but not in the last 8 years or so. It is non profit and they do some rehabilitation/releases but not all of the animals fall into that category.

They did receive certification from the American Humane Organization, whatever that means/is worth. They do focus on education/conservation but I'm pretty sure there were allegations at some point of animal mistreatment.

 

[Brian W]

Some zoos take part in species conservation programmes which are obviously important for species on the brink of extinction.

The animals don't care about their species being on the edge of extinction, that is just a human folly, the animals just want to live their own lives in freedom and happiness. There are no valid excuses for zoos to exist!