zoos

"Physically, it is not difficult to see the disadvantages to zoos. Instead of the acres of open land most of these animals are used to, they are penned up in cages or pens, which never exceed an acre" This used to be the case, but now zoos are making environments that better suit the animals. Instead of being kept in cages, many zoos have large areas where animals can move around freely. . http://www.arbeitssprache-englisch.com... "In fact, the required amount of space for a tiger's cage is 1,728 cubic feet, or a 12 foot cube. " this is actually the minimum required amount. --- "If we breed the domesticated kind from the wild ones, slowly, the wild will begin to fade away and we shall be left with more problems than possibilities" Actually, breeding the animals keeps them from extinction. The animals won't have to deal with poachers, low food supply, and all the other natural disasters that cause most animals endangerment. . http://www.physorg.com... --- "There are still many zoos around the world which mistreat animals" This may be true, but if they are mistreating animals, they really must not care about breaking the law (since mistreating animals is against the law anyways) so if we were to close all zoos, who's to say that they wouldn't continue their "service"? These zoos will go on no matter what kind of laws we pass. --- "We consider Germany a fairly civilized country. According to nation master, Germany holds Europe's largest economy and second greatest population. It's GDP per capita (National gross domestic product divided by population~approx. value of goods produced by each person) is $35, 270.36, ranked #19 in the world in 2006. " yes, but can you explain to me what you were meaning by this? (I am sorry, I just don't understand how this pertains to zoos. I know you have a reason, I just don't think you made it clear) ;) --- "However, that wasn't enough for some people. In 2008, the Berlin Zoo decided to take matters into its own hands, namely, selling some of the zoo's older animals to a slaughterhouse, where they could reap the rewards from the flesh and skins" This is sad, and not every zoo does this, but isn't this what we do with cattle? Why should exotic animals be treated any differently that cattle? --- "As well as animal abuse from the inside, what about from the outside. Are zoos protected enough? Apparently not. An England zoo experienced horrific carnage due to vandals who invaded a petting zoo" Yes, but this happens to pets and cattle as well, so it is not just from zoos. --- "However, the majority of these, while not considered appropriate for certain age groups, rarely involve unsuspecting creatures being hurt. Porn does lead to demoralization and shorter life expectancies, mostly for young women in that business, but they are not (at least, not in America) captured against their wills and held captive. These animals have no choice. It is simply the luck of the draw, who will go first and who will stay, forever, for a year, a month, a week. .. " when you have a pet hamster or guinea pig, are they not held against their wills and held captive? Yes, they are. Have you ever (and I know you have at least once), picked up some random animal on the side of the road, in your backyard, etc, (whether it be a turtle or a frog, etc) put it in a box or jar and kept it? This is just the same thing. --- "it took me a while to get over my fear of goats. " Yes I remember when I went in the cage to feed the goats one time, I was wearing a dress and one of them hopped up and untied my bow! (sorry, just a random burst of knowledge) --- "Also, another example of America's not-so-great-entertainment industry: Las Vegas. Much goes on there that no one hear about, after all, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Not for Shaquille, however. Shaquille is a 150 lb black leopard, who, as part of a Las Vegas night club act, jumped through rings of fire. If he didn't perform as well as expected, his boss beat him with a baseball bat, in the face, until he was bloody. " Unfortunately things like these have to happen. But this is not the zoo. This is a night club act. Not saying it is okay to do, but this goes on in the home with house pets. So does this mean we should not be able to keep house pets too? (I read those stories, and those are some very sad stories. But think, if they were kept in a zoo, this would not have happened. ) --- "Let's move on to providing jobs. My opponent has not listed any sources, so I shall wait for those. " 17,780 estimated people are employed by this type of work. Alot of jobs wasted. Sorry about that. Here are my sources: . http://www.bls.gov... -------Arguments------- 1. ---Conservation ---The procedure for getting zoo animals have changed. They no longer get them from the wild anymore, they get them from captive breeding. This does not hurt the newborn animal, because he is used to his environment in the zoo. Some breeding programs help restore endangered species, as I have mentioned before. Zoos also take animals rescued from traveling circus's. 2. --Research--Zoos also provide an opportunity for scientists to conduct research. In 2002, zoos participated in over 2200 conservation and research products in more than 80 countries. (sources for arguments one and two)- . http://animals.howstuffworks.com... 3. -- Reproduction-- The zoo gets to control which animals reproduce, and the males will not have competition, which means they will not getting hurt competing against other males. The females will also have a safe environment to have her newborns, and will not have to worry about other animals eating her babies. . http://sd71.bc.ca... Thank you and I look forward to the next round :)