Are Zoos Immoral?
Photo by Aidas Ciziunas on Unsplash
““Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.””
In 2013, the documentary film Blackfish ruined memories of Shamu for many people. It criticized SeaWorld and other parks for taking orcas from the ocean and keeping them in small tanks with other orcas. The fallout from the film has led SeaWorld to halt its orca breeding program, stop orca shows with humans, and eventually phase out orca captivity altogether. That’s a big deal, considering that SeaWorld is one of the most popular theme parks in the world, and “Shamu" has been their main attraction. What should we think about this as Christians? Is it immoral to keep animals in captivity?
Part of the answer revolves around what rights animals should have, and part of it is about our responsibilities as the dominant species on Earth, made in the image of God. As the verse from Proverbs above tells us, care for animals is a part of righteous living. And yet, in the Bible, God called on people to sacrifice animals and eat some of them. Animal welfare is important to God, but they are not to be treated like humans. If you kill and eat a man, you commit murder and cannibalism. If you kill and eat a cow, you commit dinner.
The Bible doesn’t give us ten-point instructions on the rights of animals. But it establishes principles of charity and justice that we can apply to our treatment of creatures. The hierarchy of life on Earth that we can infer from the Bible is this: God first, then humanity (made in God’s image), then animals, then plants and everything else (then telemarketers).
By applying these priorities, we can establish principles for using animals for meat, dairy, work, transportation, and companionship, treating creatures with dignity and charity, bringing them as much comfort and as little suffering as is reasonably possible. Of course, there will be different opinions about what is reasonable, but when we have a moral framework we can have a constructive debate.
So what about zoos and aquariums (fish zoos)? Is there a good reason to remove a creature from its natural habitat and put it on display? Is it humane to have animals perform tricks and shows for us, whether for SeaWorld shows, in fairs and circuses, or even as pets? (Also: Is it morally objectionable to carry a dog in a purse, or just tacky?) Can zoos be created and run in ways that are morally good?
Some Benefits of Zoos
I have had experiences with bad zoos. On a visit with my family in Pennsylvania, we went to a small zoo with tiny, dirty cages and poor conditions for the animals. It’s a depressing place. It’s sad to see majestic beasts like leopards kept in concrete rooms with nothing that resembles their natural habitat. Zoos that work like this should be closed down, because they are bad for animals and bad for the case for zoos in general.
But I have been to good zoos and aquariums as well, and I believe that there is a right way to display wild creatures for the public. The zoo in my area has large enclosures for most animals, with proper diets for the creatures, good medical care, and exercises to stimulate their thinking. It’s a place to witness the beauty and diversity of nature, and I enjoy taking my family there (when it isn’t blisteringly hot out).
Thinking about my experiences with bad zoos and good zoos leads me to consider the purposes and roles of zoos and aquariums. There are several reasons I believe they are important:
Zoos educate – There are many things you can learn at a good zoo that you probably won’t be exposed to anywhere else, such as how far a monkey can throw a turd. When I go to the zoo, I read the signs and explain the animal facts to my kids. They discover how different parts of the world are unique, what animals live where, and which ones are endangered and why. They ask the zookeepers questions. Education outside of the classroom is important, and zoos are great places for school classes and families to learn about nature.
Zoos inspire awe and wonder – Standing a foot away from a huge tiger, with only a pane of glass or a fence between you, is a very different experience from watching one on your television screen from the safety of your couch. I love nature documentaries and they serve a purpose, but there’s nothing like experiencing wild creatures in person. Though it’s controversial now, it’s why SeaWorld got orcas in the first place; they are awesome creatures.
This doesn’t only apply to large animals; even small ones can lead us to appreciate their beauty, adaptability, complexity, or strangeness. In our numbed-out, always-on, technological age, sometimes we just need to be held in spellbound wonder by something really cool. Animals are really cool.
Zoos inspire conservation – It’s hard to care about things you know nothing about and have no experience of. Zoos give people a first-hand look at what animals and habitats need to be saved, even those far from where we live. They help people form emotional investment in ecosystems around the world.
For some, learning about endangered creatures and environments prompts an emotional response, but no action. But for others, it inspires them to donate to conservation organizations, spend money on products that are more nature-friendly, or take other actions to be better stewards of the natural world. Zoos make abstract ideas like extinction more real and change attitudes about conservation. Done well, they are an important part of the conservation movement.
Zoos often work for local conservation as well, showcasing local species and ecosystems, and teaching people how to study and care for their own surroundings. Zoo Miami has an excellent Everglades exhibit that teaches urban and suburban visitors what is at stake in local conservation work, and reminds them that they can make a difference. While it might be the elephants or giraffes that get people through the gate, Zoo Miami puts their local exhibits front and center and maximizes their impact.
Zoos save animals – It might seem counterintuitive, but by taking some animals out of their habitats, zoos can play a role in saving species. As endangered animals’ populations decline because of habitat destruction, poaching, or other factors, zoos can be an ark that preserves biodiversity and (even if only temporarily) saves animals from extinction. In addition to raising awareness about the plight of threatened animals, zoos can keep populations alive (and mating), and some have released animals into the wild after captive breeding.
Zoos contribute to the community and economy – Charlotte, North Carolina is the largest American metropolitan area without a zoo. The reason I know that is because it is noteworthy; zoos are an important part of urban environments. Zoos bring people into cities. They provide jobs. They inspire locals to go into conservation careers. They serve as cultural hubs, hosting events and class trips, and sponsoring outreach activities. They often become an integral part of the city and surrounding community. Without zoos, our cities would be less vibrant and less interesting.
I have driven to cities just to visit zoos and aquariums, and spent money in local economies that I otherwise would not have. Zoos are engines of economic activity. Even if this is only a secondary benefit, it is a benefit.
Zoos serve all these purposes, and surely more. Not all zoos are great; they can be done poorly, and every zoo has some room for improvement. But, when they are done well, zoos and aquariums make our culture richer and help nature at the same time. The community at large, and zoo leaders in particular, must work to find the best ways of making zoos excellent, so they have maximum positive impact for wildlife and for people. God made animals awesome, so let’s steward our power over them well.