Appearing as havens to wildlife and diversity, zoos are far from an innocent place.
Living just a short drive from Orlando, Florida, I grew up with a particular love for SeaWorld and its animals. Petting stingrays, feeding belugas, and watching the famed “Shamu show” easily captured my naive imagination at five years old. However, this love didn’t last.
While parks like SeaWorld and Marineland market themselves as champions of marine rescue and conservation, they’ve come under intense
In the past five years alone, Marineland has seen the mysterious deaths of 16 beluga whales, a bottlenose dolphin, an orca, two seals, and two sea lions. Despite a lengthy four-year investigation by Ontario Animal Welfare Services, little progress has been made in addressing the facility’s practices.
Disregarding ongoing concerns for animal welfare, Marineland announced plans to reopen for the 2024 season.
It’s up to us, as consumers and attendees, to make informed decisions about which zoos and aquariums deserve our support, discerning between those who prioritize animal care and conservation and those who only care about entertainment and profits.
Animals should never be forced into interactions; their participation must always be voluntary. Unfortunately, many facilities, like Marineland, fall short in this regard.
One option is to seek out facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which prioritizes animal welfare, global conservation, and education. With 10 per cent of the roughly 2,800 USDA-licensed animal exhibitors in the U.S. holding AZA accreditation, this certification demonstrates a rigorous commitment to high standards and excellent animal care.
In Ontario, the Toronto Zoo and Ripley’s Aquarium are the only AZA-accredited institutions.
While AZA-accredited facilities aren’t unethical in principle, improvements still need to be made to current facilities and policy. Although zoos and aquariums strive to mimic the wilderness and treat captive animals as if they were in the wild, it’s virtually impossible to create perfect environments for numerous species.
Animals with large territories—such as large carnivores, birds of prey, African elephants, migratory birds, dolphins, and whales—suffer significantly in captivity. These species, unable to follow their natural behaviours, often experience stress, under-stimulation, or even zoochosis.
There have been strides in the right direction: SeaWorld’s decision to end its killer whale shows and breeding programs, along with its reinvestment in conservation and research efforts, gives us hope
In a perfect world, zoos would be replaced by wildlife reserves dedicated to preserving native species. Sadly, the reality is quite the opposite, as zoos often serve as the final refuge for many endangered species whose natural habitats have been destroyed or overtaken by expanding human developments. Specifically, the United Nations reports human activities could lead to the extinction of one million animal and plant species.
It’s our moral duty, as the primary drivers of climate change, to support and protect species that are powerless in the Anthropocene era. Next time you, your family, or friends consider visiting a zoo or aquarium, remember your money has an impact on animal welfare.
Our choices have the power to inspire future generations to love and protect the welfare of animals around the world—the right way.
Nelson is a fourth-year Health Sciences student and The Journal’s Senior Photo Editor.
Tags
Animal welfare, Wildlife, wildlife conservation, Zoo
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