Team Debate: All Animals Should be released from zoos

Introduction: Thank you Solon and Lee for undertaking this debate with us! We think that it will prove to be very exciting, and a learning process for both of us. Team Debates are an excellent way to improve strategy and look at things through different perspectives. Good luck, and may the best debater(s) win! Contention 1 - Endangered Animals: Throughout the world, more and more species are coming under a constant threat . Whether it may be from climate change, human hunting, or predatory overpopulation, the list of endangered species is growing larger. If intense recovery efforts are not put into place throughout the world, we risk the danger of many species becoming extinct/endangered. Zoos are an increasingly viable option in the preservation of animal species around the globe. Under the watchful eye of scientists and veterinarians who are experts in animal species, animals with a decreasing population can be rehabilitated in a safe environment. An example of a working measure to rehabilitate endangered species is the (2) Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Dozens of Zoos across North America are joining the efforts of AZA’s Species Survival Plan (SSP). In the past three decades, the SSP has been able to bring back dwindling populations of: black-footed ferrets, Californian Condors, red wolves, and several other species. Not only does this system preserve animal populations, but it also starts a resurging movement within their species. Another benefit of having dwindling populations preserved in zoos is that scientists are able to use the SSP as a research tool to understand the biology and populatory dynamics of endangered animal species. Utilizing this hard evidence, scientists can effectively use this data to ensure the survivability of these species for decades to come, by breeding them in safe environments and protecting them from unnatural hazards. Using zoos as a staging ground, endangered species can be brought from the brink and made a thriving population. Contention 2 - Habitat Some, if not most animals are born and raised in zoos. Releasing them into the wild could be potentially catastrophic since they do not know how to hunt for their own food and survive in the wild. The animals in zoos require the aid of zoos to live in and without them they have no skills to survive in the wild (3) .By releasing animals from zoos you are ultimately sentencing masses of animals to their deaths - on a global scale! Since the resolution states the word: ‘all’, this means that we are not just talking about zoos in the UK and America, we are talking about zoos all over the world. Zoos are essential and some of the world’s best best zoos. “ The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is sporting some big attractions. The zoo fills up their 210-acre space with one of the largest exotic tree collections, a massive aquarium and hundreds of different animal species. Its breeding programs and research have been so successful that almost all the animals in the zoo were born on the grounds.” This proves that we cannot simply release all animals to their natural habitat, they do not know anywhere other than the zoo (4) . To conclude this contention, I have demonstrated that releasing all animals to their natural habitat is not a good idea and would be mass slaughter of all endangered, injured Contention 3 - Education School children are naturally curious about animals (5) and see them everywhere in their daily lives, and an opportunity to go to the zoo and see them up close is an amazing experience for them. With this opportunity, they learn about animals and endangered species. Zoos have added signs to most places (6) where animals are located in order to inform people about them too, including their natural habitat, how many there still are in the world, what they eat, and so on (6). Not only school children, but everyone can be informed about animals at zoos, as they raise awareness towards important issues about animals and some good zoos tell us what we can do to help (5). Contention 4 - Economy It has been revealed that American zoos and aquariums contribute $16 billion (7) annually! This the economic impact that zoos bring to America annually. This money is used to help in a number of ways by the American government and a percentage of this money made goes to help improve the zoos quality and helps to keep endangered animals protected. As well as the money related economic impacts, zoos also create jobs for the population. In America alone, zoos have created 142,000 jobs for people. If you propose that we release all animals from zoos then you must also be proposing that we get rid of all these workers. Whilst it is true that some of them may get jobs elsewhere, some of these workers will evidently be rendered unemployed, with no source of income. 5.5% of the USA are unemployed (8)! The US has roughly 320 million citizens (10). If you work out how much 5.5% of that is you will get the approximate answer of 17 million (9) US citizens (If jobs were easy to find then there wouldn’t be 17 million unemployed. By making the decision to release all animals from zoos, you are effectively making the decision to not only wipe out endangered species but you are also sentencing the government to bankruptcy and the workers to unemployment. Conclusion In all of our arguments we have written, we have discussed and provided tangible evidence as to why our arguments are sound and can be proven with empirical evidence. We are looking forward to reading your contentions and thank you once again for undertaking this debate with us, and we now hand it over to you.Sources(1) http://nationalzoo.si.edu...(2) http://www.scientificamerican.com...(3) http://occupytheory.org...(4) http://mom.me...(5) http://www.caledonia.ednet.ns.ca...(6) http://occupytheory.org...(7) https://www.aza.org...(8) https://www.google.co.uk...(9) http://www.percentagecalculator.net...(10) http://www.usnews.com...;