Zoo's are inhuman

Since my opponent is using a fallacy to swing the debate in his favor, I feel I have no option but to make this round for refutation.[1] You said: "I may have got the word wrong as what I meant was inhumane which means: 1.) without compassion for misery or suffering; cruel. and the example off the online dictionary for this is: "confining wild horses is inhumane" " "(unless they shove it down their throats" Inhumane)." This is moving the goalpost fallacy to aid you in our debate "confining wild horses is inhumane", our debate is clearly "Zoo's are inhuman" you can have another debate named "Zoo's are inhumane" if you wish but that doesn't apply at all to this debate. Therefore your points above should be ignored and poor conduct should be noted. [1] In round one you said: "Some of these animals ARE allowed back into the wild but many no-longer have the ability to survive on their own after a lifetime in captivity, and what is this besides torture" I'll list three links showing examples of torture and three links showing animals in a zoo, and let the voters decide. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Miserable links - PETA, not hard to find a reason why PETA is bad, they even have a history of killing animals.[8] [9] [10] - Another link was a google book that I cannot view, so I researched it and alot of what is said is out of date in fact the book was written june 1st 2000. I also can't help but feel that you used it for your entire round 2 arguement about stress. - In the guardian, it didn't support your argument that zoo's are inhuman. It simply admits that stress+disease = a shorter lifespan - Although chinadaily was a source it gave no credibility or logic, just pathos appeals - Nique just emphasized on why the animals are best suited for a larger environment, while ignoring that the environment's are often destroyed/being occupied by humans, I believe that source would approve of zoo's protecting endangered species. What is the point of even making an argument if you have no credible sources to back it up? Pathos appeals Your entire argument you have simply used pathos appeal after pathos appeal, however you are lacking logic and credibility, below are a few quotes of your desperate emotional appeals. "Animals are held in undersized containment areas for their entire life (just like a jail) when they have done nothing to deserve it." "Some of these animals ARE allowed back into the wild but many no-longer have the ability to survive on their own after a lifetime in captivity, and what is this besides torture?" "animals are locked in a small containment area like a prisoner." "it is cruel making these animals miserable from doing the same thing everyday" It seems the only points you have that show some effort are questions, so i'll answer them: "why do we need to have the other 5000 species in zoos if zoos are "helping" the endangered ones?" A. They help fund the zoo which protects endangered animals B. The animals have protection from nature(predators). C. They are used to educate zoo visitors about animals, this is also results in funding for endangered animals. Example: A school trip to the San Diego Zoo for educational purposes will give the zoo money which allows it to afford a better staff(such as nutritionists), pay off debt resulting from purchasing a huge amount of land and building on it, teaching survival traits to animals that will be reintroduced to habitats, and expanding allowing more animals safe and secure homes (obviously including endangered species and possibly getting endangered species off the endangered list) What if you were the animal? What if you were in this small containment area for your entire life? Do you not think that there would be a psychological toll on your state of mind from the everyday routine and torment from people everyday? A. Simple I would enjoy my life in which I was fed well and could possibly interact with other animals meanwhile wild animals are malnurished and constantly facing predators, I see no problem with having a life of relaxation. "Don't you think that every day getting woken up by screaming and being surrounded everyday wouldn't make you feel trapped?" A. I assume when you say woken up by screaming and being surrounded everyday, you mean that people viewing me and learning about me from a fence/rail far away? I've never seen people screaming at the animals or surrounding them, I believe I would get use to being viewed however. "You say they are taught survival skills, but essential ones?" A. I believe any survival skill that determines life or death is essential. Your final paragraph: "As you said earlier they enter the wild healthy, but how long will that last? training can only go so far. How do they cope when they do begin to starve? How do they cope when they are being hunted? How do they cope when they are being chased, after being in a containment area trying to sleep through the psychological torture of the everyday life of being a prisoner of the zoo. Part of surviving in nature is gaining the experience from growing up in nature. These animals may get a head start, but nature will catch up with them sooner or later. Also, do they have 'tests' to make the animals run for their lives? If they don't then I don't see how teaching them to get their own food is helping when they can't even escape a predator." A. Health can last as long as the animal is alive for example the body or let's say even bone structure of a wild animal may be deformed due to lack of a healthy diet when developing in its youth. [11] B. When they begin to starve they cope the same way any animal would, they look for food (instinct). C. When chased they cope the same way any animal would, they try to survive (instinct). D. They are far from prisoners they live a life of luxury, have the best food given to them, and even have nutritionists who make sure they develop well. E. They obviously have a much better chance of survival than a baby animal considering they enter the wild fully functioning, healthy, and trained to survive. I hope you now understand why zoo's are not at all inhuman/cruel and actually aid animals. Sources: [1] http://rationalwiki.org... [2] http://coto2.wordpress.com... [3] https://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com... [4] http://www.medievality.com... [5] http://www.smithsonianmag.com... [6] http://comozooconservatory.blogspot.com... [7] http://suburbanmamas.wordpress.com... [8] http://www.freerepublic.com... [9] http://www.petakillsanimals.com... [10] http://www.theatlantic.com... [11] http://www.anapsid.org...