Exotic animals from all around the world can be accessed easily and viewed just by simply walking into a zoo or aquatic park. When animals are removed from their natural habitats and are confined to small environments they endure mental and physical issues at the benefit of their captives wallet. They loose the stimulation to live thus becoming sick with depression and stressed out from the conditions among them.

This idea from Zoos, published by Last Chance For Animals, accurately summarizes the negativity and unethical lives animals live in captivity. Animal captivity inside zoos, circuses, and aquatic parks has shown tremendous harmful and unethical effects on the health and well being of animals.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of events exploiting the brutal truth about what happens behind the scenes of animal captivity in zoos, circuses, and aquatic parks. With the increase in events, comes the increase of curiosity and research among those interested in the well being of animals all across the globe. Researchers studying animals living in captivity have investigated the mental and physical health tolls captivity takes on animals. Many investigations regarding the animals’ health have been publicized causing a breakout of protests across the country against animal captivity. These published works are promoting improvements in zoos and encouraging the release of these animals into sanctuaries. 

A major film that was recently released to the public brought light onto the harsh lives that killer whales experience when forced to be inside captivity at aquatic parks such as SeaWorld and others worldwide. Blackfish is a documentary of a killer whale, Tilikum, who killed three trainers in his lifetime (Blackfish). Other trainers from multiple aquatic parks were shown throughout the film telling their stories of Tilikum’s behavior and how he reacted to the treatment inflicted by trainers as well as the other whale. The insider’s perspective of whale captivity given by those who were interviewed gave good insight to the public about how the whales were treated and how this treatment effected their actions and well-being. To punish a whale for not performing a correct task, trainers negatively reinforce the animal with no allowing food. The whale’s reaction to this negative reinforcement shows how the harmful treatment trainers practice influences their overall health. The stories that were told regarding the treatment of Whales in SeaWorld shed light on the true facts behind these highly intelligent animals (Blackfish). 

SeaWorld was proven wrong by many marine life experts that the facts they give to park-gooers and visitors are reliable. SeaWorld exclaimed that killer whales are just as dangerous to humans in the wild, which in fact is not true (Blackfish). There has been no evidence ever recorded of a wild killer whale killing a human in their natural habitat. The lifespans of wild killer whales, whom tend to live 80+ years was explained by SeaWorld the false information about how they live longer in captivity. A major marking of a male killer whale is their tall dorsal fin running along its back. Tilikum whose dorsal fin was collapsed over happens very rarely in the wild but SeaWorld stated that this occurrence is common. A collapsed dorsal fin in the wild is a sign of sickness but occurs in captivity due to the lack of mobility in the pool size (Blackfish). Places like SeaWorld exercise these false claims, in order to hide the unethical treatment to their animals.

Wild killer whales are free to roam hundreds of miles a day, which allows them to avoid conflict with other whale “pods.” Whale pods are groups of whales that have specific languages unique to their own group (Blackfish). Aquatic parks take whales out of their pods and mix them with other whales from separate pods and confine them into close living quarters. Mixing whale pods can be detrimental to their well being as the whales are unable to effectively communicate with each other causing distress and conflict amongst the whales (Blackfish). This stress between the captive whales causes an intraspecific conflict, which builds tension between the whales triggering an unhealthy environment.

The free, practically limitless, space also aids in maintaining the whales’ mental health. While whales in captivity are more prone to stress and conflict with other whales because of the limited space they are allotted. Captive killer whales are forced to be in a 200 feet deep pools were they are prone to “raking.” Raking is intentional psychical harm from a whale in order to show frustration, disliking, or dominance to another whale (Blackfish). The whale Tilikum shown in the documentary Blackfish endured a lot of raking by other whales due to the tight enclosure. Researchers that studied Tilikum’s environment and behaviors believed this raking caused by limited space led him to develop psychological issues that made him become more aggressive and attack the trainers (Blackfish). Expanding the small enclosure is an easy fix to avoid these problems between animals yet these steps are not taken seriously until a tragic event occurs. The repetition of negative events leads to more psychological problems as the whale grows causing harm to their health. 

Psychological issues are very common within animals of captivity. The amount of stress the animals are put under is the most common cause that leads to a state of depression or psychosis (Halberstadt, Alex). Zoos do their best to develop a natural habitat for the specific species but artificial elements used don’t compare to the resources found in nature that the whales are biologically accustomed to. “Zoos use these artificial elements because they are much easier to manage and maintain than many natural elements… most the trees and rocks in this exhibit are artificial” (Braverman 35). When walking through a zoo, a bystander would notice these things but wouldn’t account for them as being harmful or unusual for the animal. An environment that never changes doesn’t allow the animal to adapt and grow as they would in a natural habitat in the wild while searching for food for survival. Being fed on a trainers schedule daily limits the excitement and freedom of being able to eat whenever desired and mentally makes these animals dependent on others. In previous times, trainers at zoos with only a high school education used a dart gun to induce a sedative on the animals when needing to get close or transport the animal. This caused them to run frantically, urinating and defecating uncontrollably causing physiological harm when repeated (Halberstadt, Alex).

 Animals in zoos are forced to be constantly viewed. Not having places to hide behind or run off to, whether from spectators or other animals causes stress on the animal. The animal lives a repetitive life causing their unique personalities and motions to grow dull (Halberstadt, Alex). Dr. Virga, a behaviorist, says it takes temperament, curiosity, and mostly decades of practice to be able to interpret animal behavior. Animals who don’t have words to share their feelings use the way they act as language (Halberstadt, Alex). Experiencing wild and captive animals behavior allows for Dr. Virga to identify when an animal is suffering from a mental disorder such as extreme stress or depression. Irene Pepperberg, a psychologist from Harvard stated, “Animals in the wild cant afford to be depressed. It will simply be killed or starve, since its environment requires constant vigilance.” This quote emphasizes that animals in the wild cannot waste time doing nothing; they always have to be on alert for predators and prey. Survival is the number one motive in a wild animal’s brain thus allowing them to adapt and learn to stay alive (Halberstadt, Alex).  

The reinforcement process animals go through to learn behaviors in aquatic parks is another cause of psychological issues derived from captivity. Mammals such as, dolphins and elephants have shown they are able to recognize themselves in mirrors. The intelligence behind these mammals identifies that they are smart creatures (Halberstadt, Alex). These highly intelligent animals enjoy learning. However, when negative reinforcement occurs during the learning process of training, the enjoyment to learn these new skills weakens in the animal (Melfi, Vicky). This negative reinforcement technique can also lead to severe frustration in the animal and cause it to lash out on the trainer or other animals (Hosey, Geoff). When negative reinforcement is the only experience these intelligent animals endure they become mentally paralyzed which leads to depression and an unhealthy environment. 

Whether they are based on positive, negative, or neutral interactions with exotic animals in captivity, any interaction between humans and animals affect both the animal’s and human’s life in many ways. Different interactions between animals and humans that are developed allows for the animal to identify if it is under a stressful situation or not (Hosey, Geoff). Human-animal relationships (HAR) have differed over centuries between many species ranging from positive, negative, and neutral relationships (Hosey, Geoff). These negative relationships that are built between the humans and animals affects their mental state in captivity

 Many animals have a fear of humans, but allowing them to adapt to positive relationships such as spectators petting them and talking to them brings more trust and less stress into the encounter. When animals undergo negative interactions with humans like hitting and harsh shouting, they become stressed and have elevated cortisol levels (Hosey, Geoff). When the increase in cortisol levels occurs continuously and frequently, this hormone causes the animals to develop inflammation and excessive amounts of stress in their bodies. These reasons along with many more are the bases for the demands of better Human-animal relationships for the animal’s sake. Having a positive relationship between caretaker and animal is vital to ensure the animal lives a stress-free, happier life (Hosey, Geoff). 

In a zoo environment, animals interact with hundreds of humans a day, which can be extremely stressful for the animals. Studies have found that changes in normal behavior including aggression between animal groups and psychological problems are very common in animals of captivity (Hosey, Geoff). Having a negative interaction with humans causes animals to take the stress out on other animals inside the enclosure they are with which in turn leads to more stress on the animal that is being abused. This change from negative reinforcement is only the start to improving the livelihood for animals and allowing them to be comfortable with their trainers (Hosey, Geoff). 

The Ringling Brother’s animals such as the elephants and tigers are prime examples of the negative effects animal captivity has on the animal’s physical and psychological state. Circuses in which animals are trained to perform have almost all negative impacts on the animals both mentally and physically (6 Big Reasons Why Big Cats…). These animals endure conditions and events such as being forced to travel in small steel boxes, being trained using punishments such as bull-hooks, and being forced to run through fire as entertainment. The situations these animals of the circus have to go through are most definitely not natural and they leave permanent negative impacts on the animals overall wellbeing (Ringling Brothers Circus Plans to Shut down…). These unnecessary acts cause tremendous tolls on the lives of these animals forcing them to react negatively on accident. Over the past two decades, 23 people have died and 250 injuries to humans caused from these wild cats in distress. As the public became aware of the mistreatment the animals were enduring protesting’s heighten to release the animals into sanctuaries where they belong (6 Big Reasons Why Big Cats…).

When an animal dies prematurely, researchers investigate the animal’s health and living conditions to determine the causes that lead to death. The premature death of an exotic animal represents the corrupt affects animal captivity has towards the captive animal as well as the entire species as a whole. The causes of premature death vary and can be accidental, but the death still results in a tragic and unnecessary loss. The African elephant, whom developed arthritis from standing on concrete all day caused tremendous attention to the fitting standing in which the Seattle Zoo stood for (Thomas, Emily). The more tragic events that occur with the lives of animals in captivity the researchers try to develop a working system to improve the lives of animals. 

Many developments have been made to improve the lives of animals in captivity. Making use of technology to improve the quality of life animals have during their experience in a zoo is one reason to keep animals in captivity (Webber, Sarah., et al.). Animals in captivity allow scientists and researchers to learn more about a certain species with convenience. Technology also engages the minds of these intelligent animals allowing them to stimulate their brains and allowing them to periodically escape from the depression and stress they endure in captivity (Webber, Sarah., et al.). A study was performed on Great Apes and the use of digital technology to engage their minds but lacked the tools to measure the before and after responses of their mental and physical health benefits (McCormack, Kim., et al.). However, using interactive systems at zoos to engage zoogoers with the animals has mostly shown a correlation with more stress endued upon the animals due to the interaction between them and humans (Webber, Sarah., et al.).  

Animals, who are endangered or extinct, can be brought back to a better population size by man made breeding grounds so these animals can thrive again (Borrell, James). Arguing against the captivity of these certain species is a needed site to repopulate a species should occur in sanctuaries or national parks that are protected without public interference. Another counter argument to animal captivity is animals that have been injured and need life-long care to survive should be kept in captivity, but this captivity is acceptable because they aren’t forced to perform or be open for show (Borrell, James). However, this is still tempering with the natural way of lives for the animals, causing them to rely heavily on care from humans instead of letting nature take its course of action. 

Becoming aware of the behind the scenes problems animals forgo within the life of captivity brings a much needed light onto the unacceptable treatment aquatic parks, zoos, and circuses have on animals. The unethical management SeaWorld and Ringling Brothers Productions have become accustomed to has started to be more prominent in the public eye causing an increase in protestors and investigations in order to help the animals suffering from captivity. Research shows mental and physical injuries on have become more common in animals in captivity. Behaviors associated with stress and aggression that animals express is in reaction to what they are forced to endure on a daily basis when they live in captivity. Experiencing the same routine everyday and encountering unnatural behaviors, such as human interaction, is not common for animals of the wild. This causes the animals inside captivity to develop a multitude of problems. Stress, severe depression, OCD, arthritis, and many more occur due to the unnatural relationships they encounter or lack of natural stimulants their wild counterparts experience. 

These highly intelligent animals enjoy the stimulation of learning new tricks and skills. However, when these learned actions are reinforced with negative punishments mental abuse takes over the animal’s mind causing the animals to react in ways that could be harmful to trainers, other animals, or the abused animal itself. Positive relationships between the animals and humans is very important for both the animal’s overall health and the human’s safety. Although there have been many improvements for the animals’ health in zoos and aquatic parks, the man-made environments will never come close to the conditions wild animals need to strive and fulfill healthy, happy lives. 

With improvements gradually making a difference for the captive animals well being, overall, the negative affects outweigh the positive when debating the ethical standpoint of animal captivity. 
