On zoos and by extension aquaria:
We must recognize that we share this planet with many different types of Creatures.
We should endeavour to learn about these creatures. They can be broadly separated into three classes.
1) Non-Sentient
2) Sentient
3) Sentient AND Ethical
It is Ethically acceptable to keep Non-Sentienf Creatures in a zoo or aquarium as long as an adequate habitat is provided for them. We must be
extremely careful that these Creatures do not escape and become exotic and invasive pests (this applies to ALL classes of creatures). We should be very careful when removing ANY creature from it's natural habitat, but this might be necessary for conservation purposes (All classes). These Creatures should not be kept for Human amusement, but for educational purposes (All classes). [Creatures that are suitable for pets are acceptable, as long as they are treated humanely (Sentient or Not)]
Sentient Creatures are often difficult to keep in captivity. We must recognize when these Creatures are distressed due to their captivity. They will often exhibit abnormal behaviour, such as lethargy, depression, violent temperament, etc. We should endeavour to correct the causes, where these occur.
Problems occur when collecting Sentient Ethical Creatures from the wild. (These are the Great Apes and SOME of the Cetaceans). Simply, it is NOT Ethical to collect these Creatures from the wild (or to hunt them). We should endeavour to protect their natural habitat. The one's that ars already in captivity (whether collected from the wild or born in captivity), might have lost their survival skills in the wild. We should endeavour to communicate with these individuals, and ask them what their preferences are. They do not have the same level oc higher reasoning ability as Humans do and their thought processes might also be very different from ours.
Take, for example, a Dolphin born in captivity, even if we learned to communicate with her/ him, and asked if he/ she would like to be returned to the wild, the response would be, "The Wild?" It would be Unethical to release this individual into the wild, as she/ he would be unable to survive.
Another example, a Dolphin that was collected from the wild, and has been in captivity for some time, might actually choose to remain in captivity to educate us on Dolphin society and our relationship with them.
Also, some Scientists, although well-intentioned, do cause harm to wild Creatures in their endeavour to study them, more care should be taken.
to think that zoos are morally wrong?
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On zoos and by extension aquaria:
We must recognize that we share this planet with many different types of Creatures.
We should endeavour to learn about these creatures. They can be broadly separated into three classes.
1) Non-Sentient
2) Sentient
3) Sentient AND Ethical
It is Ethically acceptable to keep Non-Sentienf Creatures in a zoo or aquarium as long as an adequate habitat is provided for them. We must be
extremely careful that these Creatures do not escape and become exotic and invasive pests (this applies to ALL classes of creatures). We should be very careful when removing ANY creature from it's natural habitat, but this might be necessary for conservation purposes (All classes). These Creatures should not be kept for Human amusement, but for educational purposes (All classes). [Creatures that are suitable for pets are acceptable, as long as they are treated humanely (Sentient or Not)]
Sentient Creatures are often difficult to keep in captivity. We must recognize when these Creatures are distressed due to their captivity. They will often exhibit abnormal behaviour, such as lethargy, depression, violent temperament, etc. We should endeavour to correct the causes, where these occur.
Problems occur when collecting Sentient Ethical Creatures from the wild. (These are the Great Apes and SOME of the Cetaceans). Simply, it is NOT Ethical to collect these Creatures from the wild (or to hunt them). We should endeavour to protect their natural habitat. The one's that ars already in captivity (whether collected from the wild or born in captivity), might have lost their survival skills in the wild. We should endeavour to communicate with these individuals, and ask them what their preferences are. They do not have the same level oc higher reasoning ability as Humans do and their thought processes might also be very different from ours.
Take, for example, a Dolphin born in captivity, even if we learned to communicate with her/ him, and asked if he/ she would like to be returned to the wild, the response would be, "The Wild?" It would be Unethical to release this individual into the wild, as she/ he would be unable to survive.
Another example, a Dolphin that was collected from the wild, and has been in captivity for some time, might actually choose to remain in captivity to educate us on Dolphin society and our relationship with them.
Also, some Scientists, although well-intentioned, do cause harm to wild Creatures in their endeavour to study them, more care should be taken.