An Evaluation of the Ethics of Zoos

Abstract

Just how did zoos come to be? Animals from all over the world, imported into our cities, organized in an orderly manner–it doesn’t seem strange until you realize, wait, this giraffe is from a whole other continent! What are you doing in California? Humans have owned animals for thousands of years, as far back as 2500 BCE in Egyptian and Mesopotamian aristocratic menageries (Rutledge et al.). Menageries are private collections of animals, especially ones that are exotic, typically for exhibition. Zoological gardens, or zoos, gained more attention and interest in the 16th and 17th century when the Age of Exploration allowed discoveries of exotic animals. Noblemen were the most interested in the exotic animals, which were considered luxury items (Hardouin-Fugier and Baratay). But since then, the missions of zoos have shifted from entertainment to conservation (The Editors of ProCon). The “modern zoo” model was created around the 18th century, during the Age of Enlightenment. The period, characterized by increased scientific, rational, and logical thought, prompted a more scientific perspective towards captivity (Rutledge et al.). Thus, these organizations have become much more ethical over the last few centuries, acting as significant contributors to conservation as our planet continues to burn. Although zoos’ main ethical justification is conservation, research shows that conservation efforts do not justify captivity.