Ever since the mastery of domesticating animals, humans have felt compelled to achieve a better understanding of animals by observing them in closer contact. With this new desire to create close interactions between humans and animals, the idea and practice of captivity was created. In more recent years, the practice has been under fire by animal rights activists who claim that captive animals suffer more harm than benefit from their captive environments. Though many facilities that receive attention are shown in a negative light, there are many other facilities that have positive and beneficial effects on the animals in their care. These facilities that are seen as beneficial to the animals can be used as a model for others around the world. They can also be used to better the effects of captivity on animals and to create superior programs that respect and prove beneficial to their animal inhabitants. By examining the negative and positive repercussions faced by animals in different facilities and analyzing the behaviors, treatment, and living conditions of individuals in their care, the facilities can be evaluated to then create a better program for captive animals. 

One of the first things one should consider when looking into this argument is the meaning and different types of captivity. The literal meaning of captivity, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is "the state of being kept in a place (such as a prison or a cage) and not being able to leave or be free" (Captivity, 2016). In the case of animals, they are usually either taken from their natural habitat and put into a zoo, aquarium, or other facility, or are born and bred in such a facility and put in an exhibit. In some cases, facilities have rescue or rehabilitation programs that bring animals into their care, but these programs are less known and discussed in the context of the animal rights movement. There are many types of facilities and programs that make up the overall community of captive environments, the most common of which being zoos, aquariums, and facilities of the sort. These types of facilities are meant to contain many different species in one place, most of which are kept in an enclosure that is relatively small compared to their natural habitat, creating one of the baseis used in the argument for animal rights. Because of the small enclosures, it is often argued that the animals involved in this type of captivity suffer from unnecessary stress and develop behaviors that are unnatural and uncommon to their wild counterparts. Another different form of captivity can be found in sanctuaries. Sanctuaries are facilities that usually take in animals that become too expensive or that have been "abused, neglected, or abandoned" and keep them for the extent of their life to provide a place of safety and care for the effected animals (Shea, 2014). Unlike zoos, most sanctuaries can choose whether or not they will exhibit the animals, meaning that they have the opportunity to provide an up close experience for guests or choose to remain solely as a place of care. The sanctuaries that decide to exhibit the animals are annually subjected to inspection and regulation by the federal government to ensure proper care and conditions are given to the animals in the sanctuary's care. Similarly, wildlife reserves and safaris provide a form of captivity that allows the animals to roam free in their natural habitat while still allowing protection and observation. This type of captivity frees the animal of the unnecessary stress caused by enclosures and allows the animals to remain in their natural environments. Because this type of captivity does not negatively affect the animals, it is often overlooked by animal rights activists. 

Research has shown that in most cases, animals that live in captivity do suffer from some sort of psychological or behavioral effect due to the confinement of being in an enclosure. In a case study observing chimps, scientists found that the chimps exhibited behaviors uncommon to wild chimps such as, "[poking] at their own eyes and other body parts, [banging] themselves against surfaces, [pulling] out their hair, [pacing], [drinking] urine ... " and other abnormal behaviors (Viegas, 2011). Many of these abnormal behaviors scientists attributed to the confinement of the zoo itself, as all the captive chimps observed displayed some uncommon behavior. However, other studies have shown that if the environment that the chimps are subjected to is improved, the behavioral and mental concerns can be reduced (Viegas, 2011). In another study, researchers focused on the well-being of "wide-ranging" animals, such as polar bears and Asian elephants. It had been observed that while some smaller species thrived in captivity, the bigger species were having difficulty in many areas such as behavior and reproduction. The results of the research showed that the polar bears studied were prone to pacing, can signal stress and/or psychological disorders caused by the lack of space in the enclosures (Clubb, 2003). The scientists believed that because the polar bears were accustomed to foraging and having free range in the wide, the inability to perform these natural behaviors produced a negative side effect for the bears. With the conclusion of the study came the suggestion of an expansion of the enclosure to allow the animal to have some freedom to roam, or to keep the bigger, wide-ranging animals out of captivity all together (Clubb, 2003). Though negative effects were investigated and proved by the research, it showed that facilities have room for improvement in living conditions that could make captive life easier and less stressful for the animals.

A lot of the controversy that surrounds keeping animals in captivity stems from the situations in which captive animals are treated poorly. Many groups, PETA being the most prevalent, have spoken out on these instances and fight for the animals and their rights. The SeaWorld franchise is known in the media for the countless accusations of malpractice and mistreatment when it comes to the care of their animals. The company has been targeted and attacked by animal rights activists for years. While other animals in the franchise are also defended, the main topic for most animal activist groups is the care and treatment of the company's orca whales. Groups like PETA have fought for the use of orcas in shows to be discontinued, even going as far as to file claims with the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) for abuse due to scarring and lesions found on both orcas and dolphins under the care of the company (Ponting, 2014). In 2013, a documentary know as Blackfish, was shown on CNN that highlighted the mistreatment of orcas in SeaWorld's care. This documentary provided video footage of the captive whales, a history of how they were captured and contained and various statements and interviews against the company from former employees. The films main subject is Tilikum, the orca, as he has exhibited many negative psychological and behavioral qualities since his capture and extraction from the wild. When interviewed on the capture of the orcas, whale hunter John Crowe stated that, "[it was] the worst thing [he] had ever done ...  just like kidnapping a little kid away from their mother" (Blackfish, 2013). Along with this statement, footage showed the Tilikum's mother frantically trying to help him and calling out to him in distress.

Not only are the animals taken from their pods, or family groups, at a young age, but they are then subjected to isolation, being contained by tanks that are relatively small compared to the animal's size. One neuroscientist, Lori Marino, commented on the topic saying that, "All whales in captivity have a bad life. They're all emotionally destroyed. They're all psychologically traumatized" (Blackfish, 2013). Scientists who observe the orcas attribute this deterioration to the orca's highly developed emotional and social bonds that are cut off by the isolation of captivity. This emotional damage is then reflected through aggressive behavior, such as unprovoked attacks of other animals and trainers, alike, and self-harm, such as ramming repeatedly into walls. Not only does the film look into the emotional and psychological harm effecting the animals, but it also provides extensive footage of the injuries sustained from the concrete walls and bars of the tanks. Reflecting on his time there, former employee and trainer John Jett stated, "I'm not at all interested in having my daughter ...  grow up thinking that it's normalized to have these intelligent, highly evolved animals in concrete pools" (Blackfish, 2013). With the raised awareness that the film brought to light, more and more people began protesting for better treatment of the whales or for their captivity to be discontinued all together. After the release of the film, the SeaWorld franchise suffered a decrease in attendance to the parks and a decrease in the overall value of the company. Because of this, along with the multiple protests and accusations directed toward the park, SeaWorld has released a statement saying that, as of this year, orca breeding and shows will be discontinued and replaced with new "natural orca encounters" that will exhibit their natural behaviors (A Vision, 2016). Though PETA was not satisfied, it has been marked that this is a significant change for the franchise, moving it towards a more positive facility with how it handles its marine mammals. In a statement to the press, CEO Joel Manby announced that three parks "may move to the closer balance of rides, shows and animals found at the company's Busch Gardens parks" (Kay, 2016). As for the fate of the current orcas that inhabit SeaWorld, they are said to be the last generation that will be featured in the parks. While some still want them to be released into the wild, it has been noted that captive dolphin and whale release has not been successful, leaving the park to hold onto the last of the captive orcas.

Unlike most of the facilities that are negatively portrayed by in the media, there are some facilities that have already adopted practices to positively influence the animals in their care. One facility that applies these practices in everyday operations is the South Carolina Aquarium located in Charleston, SC. Having been a volunteer for the facility, I have had personal experience with how they care for the animals and what procedures are followed to ensure the best possible environment for the animals in their care. The animals under the care of the SC Aquarium are treated respectfully and are given special attention in all aspects of their captive life. Behind the scenes, each morning there are workers that freshly prepare foods for each of the animal species and their required diets. The workers in charge of the food preparation take into account each of the animals' natural diets and their specific nutritional needs and use this information to create a balanced meals throughout the day. All of the exhibits and enclosures are created with the safety and comfort of the animal(s) in mind, meaning that they are constantly checked to make sure that the ratio between animals and space are appropriate. Not only does the staff check and regulate the ratios in the exhibits, but for the various tanks, they also constantly check the basic water qualities (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, etc.) to ensure that the habitat is suitable for the animals within. 

Although the SC Aquarium houses an assortment of marine life, it is also home to many local species of mammal, reptile and bird. The highlight mammal species is the river otter, found in the "Mountain and Streams" portion of the aquarium. The otters are kept in a rather large enclosure that includes pool, hollowed log, and other various enrichment toys. When they are not in the enclosure, which is only at night, the otters are kept in a large caged area so that they can be monitored and to ensure their safety after hours. Most of the birds, such as the owls and birds of prey, and reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, are kept in their enclosures for the majority of the time, unless they require special care. The exceptions for the birds are the marsh birds and the Bald eagle, as the marsh birds are kept in an enclosed outdoor extension and are free to roam, and the bald eagle is put in a cage to be monitored for the night. For the reptiles the exception is the albino alligator, who follows the same procedure as the bald eagle. Along with its many marine species, the SC Aquarium also offers a home for many animals that would not survive in the wild and offers rehabilitation for sea turtles through their Sea Turtle Rescue program. As mentioned before, the bald eagle and albino alligator were exceptions for the enclosures, but they also represent the two animals that were taken in by the SC Aquarium due to their slim chances of survival in the wild. The bald eagle, also known as Liberty, was found with a broken wing entangled in a telephone pole wire. After being rehabilitated, it was determined that the damage suffered by her wing would render her unable to fly, giving her little hope for survival on her own, therefore the aquarium took her in. As for the albino alligator, being born with albinism, he cannot camouflage in his natural habitat. This creates a problem for the alligator because it not only disables him from surprising prey, but it also makes him a target to other predators that may have been in the area, making his chances of survival slim to none. By taking in these animals, the SC Aquarium not only gains an educational exhibit, but it also ensures the survival and care of the animals that would have difficulty on their own. Another positive aspect of the SC Aquarium that has received praise in the local media is the Sea Turtle Rescue program. This program takes in injured or sickly sea turtles and provides them with the medical attention they need so that they can be rehabilitated and released back into their natural habitat. The turtles that are brought in are each given their own tank and are monitored almost constantly to see how their health is progressing and to ensure that they remain in stable condition. Each turtle varies in the time it takes to fully rehabilitate, but once it reaches full health, it is then released back into the ocean. With all of the positive influences the SC Aquarium offers animals through its various policies and practices, it can be used as a model for other facilities to follow to create better programs. Instead of taking from the wild for pure entertainment, facilities can be made to offer rehab and release of various species, and for those that are kept specifically for exhibit, special care and treatment can be given to ensure the best possible circumstances for the animals.

Though many captive facilities, such as zoos and aquariums, are shown in a negative light and reprimanded for their practices, I believe better programs can be made to ensure the health and safety of the animals within. There are many places that create positive influences for the animals in their care and if we used such facilities as models to create better programs, I think that captivity of animals as a whole could benefit and flourish. The problem with many facilities today is that there is not a mutual respect between the animals and their captors, as many places are scolded for malpractice and abuse. I feel that once a mutual respect is put into place, captive animals will reap the benefits of these positive relations, creating a more sanctified and stable captive facility.

