Why SHOULDN'T we support zoos and their conservation work?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
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Today’s video:
When I was growing up, a day out at a zoo was one of my favourite activities. I loved seeing all the different animals and I never once questioned whether or not zoos were ethical, or if they actually did benefit the conservation of animals in the wild.
Interestingly, I stopped going to zoos before I became a vegan, with the last zoo I visited being Barcelona Zoo. I had recently seen the movie Blackfish and had become passionate about the captivity of marine animals, but I hadn’t yet extended that concern to the captivity of terrestrial animals as well.
However, as I was wandering around Barcelona Zoo I came across a bear enclosure, inside of which was a bear sat forlornly looking around. I followed the gaze of the bear as they looked at each of the walls of the enclosure and it suddenly hit me, these are wild animals being held captive. They have no agency, no chance of escape and no freedom.
We are often sold the idea that animals are well-cared for and happy in zoos and that zoos do important conservation work, but is this actually true? As is the case with farmed animals, we often mistake the fact that the animals are given food, water and medication as constituting care. However, providing the basic requirements for an animal to survive hardly constitutes genuine care and appreciation for the best interests of the animals.
It’s time to recognise zoos for what they really are, animal prisons that exist for the primary reason of making money.
Today’s video is an in-depth look into the ethics of zoos, and the arguments that they use to justify their existence.
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All sources + transcript: surgeactivism....
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Today’s video is an in-depth look into the ethics of zoos, and the arguments that they use to justify their existence. Are animals happy in zoos? And even if they're not, isn't it all justifiable anyway because zoos do so much for conservation?
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It’s jail for innocent animals
SIaves.. |||||||😈💵💷💴💶.....
.. Hitler and Stalin and Pol Pot, were Killing innocent souls. Bludgeoned to death... 👈 Hint hint 🤥🦠🍖🔴.... 🙄. Over a frigging 5 minute burger et cetera !!! 🐅🦒🔴🔫😈... CuIt🔴foIIowing !!!!! What a world we live in !!!!! Sick !!!! 🖕🔴.
@@VeganV5912 were socialists, like mussolini, the communist party of china was created in france, in Shangaï by socialists. Far right, doesn't exist.
You pretty much cover all of the things that i think about as i evolve as a vegan, the unethical veganism thing where so many people call themselves vegan but they arent actually and now the zoo thing
Next it would be great to talk about pets, pets are unethical unless adopted since they are bred and sold as products, stealing babies from their parents over and over, i killed so many pet fish as a child and i could simply get a refund for them, their lives did not matter unfortunately
Ultimately the goal is to not have any pets left to adopt after we stop breeding them
I grew to hate zoos as a child when it became blatantly apparent to me that animals there were unhappy, but I never could have fathomed that they were on psychiatric drugs as well.
Good lord, the story about Marius the Giraffe is sickening.
Marius the giraffe is well explained from the director of copenhagen zoo at the time, Marius is a genetically common giraffe, the animal collections which offered to take marius in got denied because the director felt as if the spaces offered could have been taken up by a more genetically diverse giraffe, which in turn creates a more healthy genetic population instead of creating a bottleneck genetic pool.
Plus marius got fed to the big cats at the zoo, how is this any different to a horse or cow being culled for being fed to the big cats? both the cow and giraffe has equal intrinsic value, why is there not an uproar of the millions of cows slaughtered every year but instead to one individual giraffe?
@@johnho9546 bruh how the fuck are you possibly defending shooting a giraffe, in a zoo, by zookeepers.
@@kevinsaviro2708 Because if you want a healthy genetic pool in this species, then culling can be essential to prevent inbreeding depression which results in unhealthy population for the future.
Culling marius isn't pleasent, I also like giraffes, but what different was this to shooting a cow to be fed to a lion?
@@johnho9546 you dont need to shoot it in front of the public though
@@johnho9546 maybe because a giraffe is an endangered species, and even if they aren’t a suitable spouse I don’t see the need to murder them, imagine if the same standard was applied to humans.
Zoos do indeed need to be talked about more
Hypocrite
@Assassin 9958 found another cult drone
About how great they are lol
@@AM-tb4fn educate yourself instead of being extremely gullible
@@alipetuniashow why don't you educate urself first?
"People have never seen a humpback whale or a blue whale in captivity, and yet feel no less strongly about their protection than the animals they see in zoos." Well said.
I like to use a similar argument with dinosaurs. Dinosaurs have been extinct for 65 million years and yet kids are always excited to learn about them, view them in museums and if you presented photos, even most adults would have no problems recognizing different species. Most people probably know as much about a giraffe as they do a t-rex. Captivity for entertainment sake is purely selfish and unnecessary.
@@AB-ft7ng this is why I view museums as the second best alternative to zoos or aquariums besides sanctuaries, I’d argue museums are even more educational than zoos because people aren’t focused on looking at the exhibit as much so they may be more akin to reading about it instead.A skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex isn’t moving around as opposed to a giraffe in the zoo so people generally just gawk at the animals and don’t bother learning about them anyways and instead just munch on popcorn
Many zoos use the charismatic animals (big cats, African animals, bears, apes, etc) to fund conservation for less likeable animals, (toads, insects, bats, salamanders, snakes) which people are less fond of.
I disagree with the conditions many animals are housed in in zoos, but I do believe they're an important part of conservation efforts. They should absolutely do better though.
If zoos hadn’t built that connection to nature in general among kids, I kinda think people would absolutely give zero fucks about whales
@@Limemill The question to ask then is if zoos are the only thing that gives kids or people a connection to nature?
I’m battling the Mayagüez Zoo here in Puerto Rico where animals are dying as a result of neglect in an environment for which they’re not suited. These prisoners are sentenced to this perpetual jail for simply being non-human. This is no way to live. Please do not sponsor and rebel against zoos. #UntilEveryCageIsEmpty
If there is a donation page for your cause please let me know
I just subbed to your YT. I have a series called Vegans across the World, on my channel. I interviewed Nataly (the AV Organizer for Guaynabo) and we talked about that zoo. I also just interviewed Georges Hayek (Lebanese Vegans) and he was talking about working on shutting down their zoo, in Lebanon. Please watch those if you can! I think you all might be able to strengthen your campaigns if you strategize, together? Thank you for battling the zoo!
@@trashcarcass Very cool! Happy to have you. I'll be dropping a HUGE video tomorrow on which I've been working on for a week. Nataly is great. Wish I could go cubing more often!
I hate zoos and circuses and stupid petting zoos in fares. These poor innocent animals deserve to be free.
But they can’t be freed. Idk how it is in Europe but here in the states, zoo animals are all unreleasable
I’m going to add this: it *depends* on many factors if a zoo is good or bad. In fact, there is no black and white answer. (Imagine that!)
Zoos can be bad if the enclosures are way too small for the animal (like if you put a lion in a small kennel or a snake in a container where it can’t stretch out), and if there’s no enrichments in their area (like rocks and plants according to the animal). It can also obviously be bad if the animals aren’t properly taken care of as well as if the animals were just captured from the wild (unless for exceptions).
Zoos can also be good for many reasons. Zoos can help stop extinction in a species which has happened many times before. They also are the best option for captive-bred animals since that’s all they know and if you put them in the wild, they will most certainly die. And animals can be happy and healthy (which in many zoos actually are) if they are being properly taken care of and have a sizable living environment. Zoos can also be very educational for children and adults.
Of course there’s more that could be discussed but you shouldn’t take something and give it a black and white answer since that’s just not the reality. Zoos can be very bad and zoos can also be very good. It *depends*
@@okayum This video is extremely bias and by someone with no authority to be speaking about conservation. Do you really think that bringing back animals, such as the Guam rail and California Condor, from extinction in the wild isn't a good enough reason? Do you think bringing back hundreds of insects and herps came from extinction in the wild or from being critically endangered isn't good enough? Do you think having programs to teach farming to people in places where poaching is happening due to people needing to find a way to pay for food for their families isn't good enough? Do you think taking in animals that were raised in apartments or in bathtubs that could never be returned to the wild isn't good enough? Do you think taking in injured animals that wouldn't survive another day in their natural environments isn't good enough?
Every argument in this video was bias. I agree there are terrible zoos in the world and that it's important to target those zoos. However, bashing places that are making a difference hurts them. Zoos, even accredited ones, get little funding and all of it goes back to the animals, education programs, and conservation. We need visitors to make a difference! That is why there is money involved.
It's quite sad that you believe points made by an amateur with no credentials over the biologists, zoologists, and wildlife scientists that work in and with zoos.
@@ipurpleu1668 I've been thinking about this all day and yeah you're right, shouldn't have commented
@@okayum nah hes right.
very true
@@ipurpleu1668 Oh wow i agree with you a 100%
I get more and more depressive every year when i see how in generell animals suffer and especially elephants. I spend money every year to elephant organisations but it seems like even with all the years the organisations cant handle the decrease of elephant deaths. In the near future Elephants are the most in endangered animal on the plant. And the fact that these animals are so intelligent makes it even more hard because imagen you lost your family member or you are stuck in a mudwhole and you will die. And all the suffer because humans, i can understand people who hate other humans.
WilliamOscarGarvin:guess what Even if animals get depressed, but guess what One thing I don't realize is that there already been hunted out in the wild by the poachers, if it wasn't forther zoos.I guarantee if we don't see animals alive todayWell, guess what? Even if animals get depressed, but guess what? One thing I don't realize is that there already been hunted out in the wild by the poachers, if it wasn't for the zoo I guarantee we don't see animals alive today So is that the way we want that to happen and release them out back out of the wild.
William Oscar Garvin: plus animals will be extinct out the wild anyway, if it wasn't for people putting them in the zoo. So I guess that's the way we are going to go that way, allowing hunters to Hunt them if that's what you people argue about the zoo's being bad for the animals and what do You have to
Say about that people. What do you at think about that? What should we do about them hunters
The last time I was at the zoo is when I was in about 3rd grade. I never heard of anything called "zoochosia" then but I faintly remember some of the other animals were pacing around but of course I didn't understand then. Seeing videos like this is really an eye opener. It's like the animal version of a mental hospital/jail Saddening.
Zoos are horrific. My sister worked at one because she wanted to help animals and ended up quitting because she saw how much suffering it involved to the individuals she wanted to help
I used to love zoos. Hell, I used to work at The Bronx Zoo. But that was a long time ago. The truth is I worked at a fancy prison. I loved the animals. And I turned a blind eye. Thanks for telling the truth and exposing the hypocrisy. When we know better, we do better. You're my hero.
As someone who has been vegan for only a year now, your videos are so incredibly insightful also when it comes to topics beside consuming animal products. I really wasn't sure how I felt about zoos, as I had not really done research on it before. Never would I have thought that the condition these zoo animals live in were this dire; that so many are killed, are on psychiatric drugs and die so much earlier then their wilde life counterparts. Thank you for educating me!
I used to love going to zoos and never thought about how bored the animals must feel slowly going insane in captivity. I would like to see some economic solutions for how the money generated from zoos could be made elsewhere.
Animals in zoos are not bored. At least in accredited zoos. One of the main pillars of an accredited zoo is using enrichment, which keeps animals stimulated, both physically and mentally. There is also no evidence that shows animals, with proper enrichment in accredited zoos, 'going insane'. We need to stop anthropomorphizing animals. We see too many people see an animal laying down and claim they are "bored". No, animals just lay down sometimes. Most animals are pretty inactive, even in the wild. If they are not hunting or running for predators, they are usually resting or bonding with their group members. But people think they are more active because we only see the 'active' parts of their lives in documentaries because that's the interesting part. Many animals are also more active in the morning, when the zoos isn't even open yet or when no one is there because the zoo usually gets busy around noon, when most animals are already onto their mid-day naps.
The closest thing to 'happiness' we can objectively study is stress levels. And studies have shown that animals in accredited zoos have SIGNIFICANTLY lower stress levels than in the wild. Of course it is not ideal to keep animals in human care, but it's also the only choice. Even though people love to cry about 'putting them back in the wild', there is NO wild to put animals back into. Even all of the 'wild' people see in documentaries in Africa are wildlife reserves the majority of the time, which work with zoos to protect animals and their environments. You should trust science over a random person point-of-view.
perfect!! my daughter's teacher has a field trip to the zoo this year.. and i was looking for a video i could show him to change his mind. I"m hoping we can instead take the kids to an animal sanctuary. This is exactly what i was looking for! as always, the best speaker for the animals!! Thanks Ed!
Most modern zoo look after animals a lot better than they did ( in the UK anyway ) Private owners are worse than a well run zoo
Great reporting Ed! Yeah, indeed, horrible confined spaces for animals that need to roam FREE! But, I see the day coming where they all finally be closed and where the youth of tomorrow will see and learn about exotic animals through holograms, as this technology is rapidly improving. Costa Rica, a small nation in central America, has already banned animals to be in captivity, like zoos and circuses! So, a step in the right direction. And when it comes to conservation, we need to put our resources together to fund the protection of Earth's natural habitats, a more kind and natural way to preserve our beautiful creatures! Let's maintain HOPE!
Wow :) That is so cool about Costa Rica :)
Another efficient, visually stunning, and expertly put together edit. Learned a lot from this, and definitely want to check out that book. Thanks. 💚👏
Ikr, his videos are beyond professional. It feels a huge crew made this.
Not really it had a lot wrong that I already addressed As someone studying zoology, animal behavior, animal husbandry, and welfare you have either misrepresented or downright not given full information on most of the topics of concern you covered in this video. This is disappointing to say the least considering you have such a large platform and people looking to you for accurate perspective .
I and going to Andrews some of the topics of conversation brought up and address them in a full light so you as well as the audience can revaluate the conclusions you have drawn here
Starting with “zoochosis” which is not even a realistic term to describe stereotypical behaviors as they happen for wildly different positive and negative reasons for various animals it’s not just the same for every species and it’s not just “cause captivity”
Have you ever noticed that most animals seem doing these behaviors are in poorly designed or ill structured/outdated habitats, or belong to small for profit zoos that aren’t welfare accredited facilities. It’s because stress related stereotypical behaviors aren’t simply a issue of a animal not in its natural habitat but of poor habitat design. Their are many animals that live lives free of stereotypical behavior in properly designed habitats
But shockingly enough many stereotypical behaviors aren’t even necessarily negative. Many stereotypical behaviors are actually associated more with excitement or keepers interaction pacing or running is also behavior synonymous with keeper interaction and yes as I said excitement or even curiosity
As for reintroduction and conservation programs and contributions it’s not just the direct conservation programs and reintroduction programs zoos fund directly but the ones they co fund, supply research for, and supply specialist to assist with.
Also reintroduction that were either started or contributed by zoos are not rare in fact AZA zoos contribute or aid most of the larger integration conservation efforts the USA participates in
As far as education not only are they educating the public, but with education of specialist, and the education value of research they are doing and public resourced made available to larger conservation institutions.
As far as lifespans go I will agree not many facilities keep elephants or cetaceans well. In fact only a select few do it anywhere near properly.
However have you looked at the captive lifespans for animals such as lions, tigers, bears, primates, and ungulates? They are much higher than wild lifespans some are doubled even tripled.
Even with elephants and cetaceans not normally meeting Their wild lifespans in zoos their are many zoos and aquariums that have these same animals exceeding their lifespans under new care guidelines and standards.
“Elephants roam large distances in the wild” yes they do, but not as a physics need to exercise, elephants roam to follow seasonal food and water supplies. Areas that have dense food and water supplies have generations of elephants staying in the same smaller area without ever migrating.
Also it has been proven that enrichment programs are better for animals physically and mentally than just large spaces.
There are elephants in sanctuaries with insanely large areas to roam, and they show more stress related stereotypical behavior than elephants in zoological facilities because of poor enrichment programs.
The same goes with cetaceans in sea side sanctuaries and sea pens, many even die due to complication and self harm related to poor mental health due to a lack of enrichment programs.
“Elephants are taken from the wild”
They have been for zoological facility programs in the US it’s true, but the animals involved were problem males, males taken from games reserves, and females and caves that were seized from the animal illegal trade or separated from their herds.
They didn’t just fly in and take random wild elephants most of the animals they took would have died if left were they were
As far as inbreeding goes. I can’t speak of the EAZA but the AZA has a dna track and register for all animals they breed. Inbreeding hasn’t been a factor in decades.
Same goes to killing animals the AZA doesn’t do this they have locos relationships with sanctuaries when surplus animals are to be had, but normally breeding programs are highly regulated
Alter and only done when approved by a board of animal welfare specialist.
“Most animals in zoos aren’t endangered” true however many of not all have endangered and critically endangered populations that face local extinction
“1$ to a conservation is better than 1$ to a zoo”
Not necessarily true or entirely the entire story. When someone buys a AZA zoo ticket they aren’t just supporting conservation organizations the zoos donate to they are funding rescue vet programs, conservation, rescue, and rehab programs the zoo takes on as a independent facility, local research, local conservation, and the education and research he of student biologist, ecologist, vets, and animal behaviorist.
Also most of the footage shown here were from smaller or poorly ran facilities. I don’t want to believe this was intentionally manipulative imagery to assist your side of the debate, so I will say this it is on us to advocate for proper zoological and marine zoological gardens.
This means not only AZA/EAZA accredited, but welfare accredited facilities, that have open information regarding all rescue work, rehab work, donations to conservation/research, have their own educational programs, conservation programs, and public research, are constantly improving animal care standards as part of their stated mission, and ones who have a legitimate history in doing these things.
In short zoos are not what they used to be if you lion at zoos 60 years ago you will see abuse, and exploitation, but that isn’t what the necessarily are today and defiantly not what they hope to be in the future.
Be a advocate for improvement, change, and evolution zoos and aquariums are on a decent track and do a lot of good if we can push them to become something h even better and even more than they are now the possibilities are endless
Look up the wilds in Ohio they are a sister location of Cincinnati zoo they keep large mammals and carnivores in open sanctuary like conditions, look up Nashville zoo who has some of the best animal care standards for the species they keep in the us including all sanctuaries and zoos.
Give Tennessee Aquarium a look they have immense natural environments for even their smallest animals many of their local fish species are in a bio dome that is a Appalachian riverside that has a weather system and seasons, most of their larger animals are rescues, and many of the smaller ones are bred in house for research active programs
Great video, really summarised some things I already believed and opened my eyes to other things that I didn't.
Funny how using antidepressants and antipsychotic medication on animals is seen as cruel but if a human is unable to get it then its denial is seen as withholding of healthcare
This is one I feel split on. Here in Australia there have been many species reintroduced by zoos and they have, at least at my local zoo in Adelaide, stopped housing most of the larger species that would be most affected by zoocosis. Most of the savannah animals are housed on large tracts of rural land, while the city zoo focusses on smaller creatures. I think if they stopped housing animals that are the most impacted then zoos have a future as actual conservational refuges. I would need to see solid data to fully be sold on the idea of zoos being solely negative institutions, but as is I do believe reform is definitely in order.
In 2005 I took my grandson to London Zoo at Regents Park.
The only thing I really remember was when we were beside the thick glass barrier of the gorilla enclosure. We were surrounded by a large group of schoolchildren and some adults. On the other side of the glass was a gorilla sitting against a climbing structure no more than 3 metres away.
The gorilla was staring at a fixed point some 4 to 5 metres in front of him.
The thing that got me was the expression on his face. He was obviously severely depressed. I've never forgotten that!
I think the amount of money per visitor spent on conservation by zoos maybe isn't the best way of illustrating the effect that this does or does not have. It would've been more interesting to know how many percent of the zoos profits go towards conservation. I mean 80cents per visitor could be 5% or 90% of their profits, so it's hard to judge their actual efforts in that. I guess those numbers were probably hard to come by. Great Video as alway @Earthling Ed
It would be a very hard number to acquire. As a generalization, zoo admission is usually around $30, so if you're ignoring any merchandise, food, or premium ticket sales, it would be about 3% of income.
The AZA and the IUCN work together a lot so trying to use them as sources against each other doesn’t make sense to me. This video is honestly damaging for conservation at zoos. It literally does work for SOME species. Not all zoos are bad. This is really skewed. My partner worked at a really great zoo for years. They exist.
Zoos need to focus on small animals. Smaller territories, less need for larger spaces. Frogs are endangered as are many insect species.
beleive it or not, when i was 10 years old, and was at a zoo. I actually had seen hyenas, jackals, monkeys do the head swinging, bobbing thing ! now i know that those were signs of zoochosis !!! i will never support this cruel industry ever again 💔
I personally do not agree with this statement. As someone who has volunteered at my local zoo, zoos are beneficial for a lot of reasons. I cannot speak for every zoo but the people at my local zoo try their best to provide the best care for the animals that they have. Almost all the animals there are animals that were rescued or born in captivity and cannot be released. The three elephants they have at my zoo where rescues from the circus and are not fit to go back into the wild. At my zoo they provide the best possible care that they can for the animals. Despite the lack of funding, all the animals are happy, healthy, well-fed and they each have their own individual dietitians. Zoos are also very beneficial for breeding and reintroducing animals into the wild. For example, back to my local zoo, the eastern colored lizard, which is native to my state, has virtually gone extinct in my state due to habitat loss but my local zoo has been breeding and reintroducing eastern color lizards and just this year they have released 130 individuals back into the wild which is a win for the animal population in my state because it got down to 60 known individuals. There are other zoos around the world that conserve, breed, release, and introduce animals back into the wild. Not all zoos are perfect, but the ones that really do care are important to keep around and we should not make this assumption about all zoos. My local zoo is not government-funded either. It is funded by the people that visit so if everybody had the mindset that zoos are bad and they stopped visiting all the animals would not be able to receive proper care. My local zoo does have its flaws such as the higher ups, not caring about anything other than money but all the keepers try their best and really do care about what's best for the animals under their care. I will say my zoo does not do any shows with the animals. They mostly just let them live their life and they only shows you can go see or animal feedings which happen daily and while the keeper feeds the animals they talk about the diet they give them and you just get to watch them. Eat and learn a little bit about the animal themselves. (Also one of the elephants at my local zoo just turned 63 yesterday so they threw her a birthday party)
Yet another brilliant video Ed, well done to you and your team xxx
As a zookeeper, I agree with you, atleast like 75% of zoo animals are kept in wrong conditions. I do believe that there is a way to do it right, and there are definitely zoos that do it well. The reason for zoos in “conservation” is so there are species in captivity that can be used for conservation not bc they specifically do the conservation. Also you’ve definitely taken some things out of context, the killed chimps formed a huge threat to the people. Tho I do agree zoos HAVE to do better and we need less zoos in this world. But also, if u would close zoos now, where are the animals gonna go? You don’t want healthy animals killed, neither do I. That’s why I became a zookeeper to try to make a difference for animals kept in captivity, I wanna try to make them do better. Also some zoos have a completely different function, there are zoos that only keep captive born neglected animals, so they don’t buy their animals, they take them wrong the worst situation and they try to make it better for them. But then again the world of zoos has a LONG way to go.
How horrific close these hell holes down heartbreaking
The whole point is that these people are the only ones taking in domesticated wildlife which would otherwise die in the wild. Of course it is not ideal. Of course the zoo knows. Just as you did. Real bonds, real love, really crappy for the animals.
I've honestly always hated zoos...I used to be friends with this vegetarian girl (she eats meat now and we're no longer friends) and she dragged me to a zoo for her birthday. Miserable day... The elephant looked so sad..
83 suckers subscribed you because you have red hair. I’m sorry for them
As a welfare and environment conscious non-vegan, this is a cornerstone issue of conservation which I'm glad you've brought greater attention to
Why arnt u vegan? The animals Wana be free and not murdered. Why would u subject them to that when u can choose vegan alternatives?
would u rather be locked in prison for life for your own safety? No.
Would u rather live a long life locked in a prison cell, or a short life free? Most probably choose short free life.
I prefer they be free than be saved from extinction. Why do u care if they r extincted or not?, Especially if they r just going to sit in a zoo, they arnt benifiting the environment or ecology in a zoo.
If putting them in a zoo to protect them from poachers then your going to release them back into the wild, it's better to just protect the wild endangered animals from poachers and from people damageing the animals wild habitat they need to live in the first place.
Donate to wild life rangers who do that instead of supporting zoos.
Promote veganism cuz animal agriculture is a leading cause of animal endangerment and extinction by farmers taking over and damageing the animals wild habitat and killing endangered animals who may eat their livestock or crops.
Don't lock up the victim which is the animal. Lock up the criminal which is the poacher.
But many zoos have no intention of ever putting them back into the wild cuz they care about money cuz zoos are for entertainment, plus they sometimes make up excuses like the animal is to dumb or tame torward humans to put in the wild, but it can be trained to live in the wild, there r various cases of people training animals born in capitivity who were socialized to humans to go live in the wild successfully.
If you’re an environmentalist why aren’t you vegan? Animal agriculture is the biggest contributor to climate change. If you care about the environment, you’d go vegan
@@straberryshinigami15g97 what are we meant to do with all the deer and rabbits that desolate environments? Should we let animals become extinct just to stop the planet warming half a degree?
I was a kid and went to the zoo for day out as soon as I saw the monkeys behind bars I cried and cried I knew it was not right for them to be there it was horrible
Big cats doing nothing but walking back and forth is something Ive seen in probably every zoo. They must be quite bored since they dont get to hunt their food.
I made a comment last month on a video of a tiger giving birth in a zoo and everyone was commenting on how beautiful it is and i got so manyyy people attacking me telling me to shut up! so many people are in favor of zoos... your video is very important and very much needed . I wish that people other than vegans watch it
Maybe tell them why would they think it's beautiful to see innocent animals locked in a little cell when they Wana be free?
I only ever went to a zoo once, I instantly saw it was a prison, I recognised their boredom, and understood they were in no way happy, I never went again, I have always been upset at the zoos existence ever since, it is with happiness that I feel we are starting to wake up to this, as well as farmed animals.
Hypocrite
@@Assassin99584 How?
@@Dan-dp8em because he supports sanctuaries yet is against all zoos when proper zoos and sanctuaries are exactly the same as each other
@@Assassin99584 Those sanctuaries are there to rescue abused animals about to be stabbed in the throat. They can't be reintroduced into nature. Vegans don't ask for animals to go to sanctuaries, it's simply do it so they don't die, not for entertainment, those animals wouldn't exist if people weren't eating them.
@@Dan-dp8em it’s exactly the same in zoos they have people pay to get in too support the animals and many sanctuaries also have you pay to get in
Arrgh this issue is so hard for me. Its hard to say to my 3 year old "no more zoos for you" and know that she could go on to not remembering having ever been to a zoo. On the other hand we tell her "we don't drink cows milk, it's for the baby cows", "we don't eat chicken because it's not nice to hurt chickens.". So we're doing the same thing with her food. Why is it so hard for me to reconsile never taking her to a zoo again? Thanks for educating us with this Ed, it's a really well done video :)
If you do enough research you could probably find a zoo that is not terrible for the animals and take her there. Some animals can deal with captivity better, and going to zoo's with animals from the area or at least climate you're in would help. Researching more about how much space the animals get and what the conditions are could end up finding a great zoo. Even if the vast majority of zoo's are terrible, especially in situations where they're trying to keep large tropical animals in small cold cages, you'll never know if you don't try and find out.
Much of this is misinformation. Roadside zoos may be bad, but large ones are meant for conservation, there are species that are only found in zoos right now, and have been saved from extinction by the work of quality institutions.
Just read your book "30 Non-Vegan Excuses and How to Respond to Them" and loved it! Please make it an audiobook!!!
Zoos are ethical, well some are. Some aren't this video talks about the bad ones, or Roadside zoos. And applies it to all zoos.
It's disgusting that people are ok r*ping & murdering Animals whether is zoo's or factory farms it's sick, psychotic. Leave Animals Alone! 😠
Nice buzzwords hypocrite
I only went to a zoo once (when I was little kid). Seeing how miserable the animals were made me very sad. I never went to a zoo since.
Because crop land takes up too much room when we all go vegan.Like the last 2 cow and chickens at the zoo.
AZA accredited Zoos in America are not like this. Not at all. And of the EAZA numbers mentioned, were those "human caused deaths" because of humane euthanasia for Quality of Life purposes? All of our animals are on birth control and are only bred with non-related partners brought in from other zoos, and only when their is a breeding recommendation from the AZA. Most animals in American zoos are confiscations from the illegal exotic animal trade, were injured/handicapped in the wild, or were born from animals who's parents were born in zoos. This makes their lines generations deep, out of living in the wild. Releasing a captive-born animal into the wild is unethical. The complex world of animal behaviors and social structures don't work like "Call of the Wild". Captive raised animals have little to no survival skills and are outsiders to wild social groups and they are likely to if die because of it, if released. Look up the "Free Willy" release story as an example.
You make a lot of good points, and I'm glad that you brought the issues of those specific European Zoos to light. I can only speak on the American zoos i have encountered, and we have very strict rules that must be followed, both by law and for accreditation standards. There should be a huge push for legislation in other countries to protect these beautiful animals and hold those in charge of those bad zoos accountable.
Just please dont lump all zoos worldwide together as bad.
Thank you again Ed for making this extremely comprehensive documentary about the zoo industry. I know that even amongst conservationists, they attempt to convince others that zoos are doing what they claim to be doing and give one example of that while ignoring the rest of the facts about the damage they are doing and the suffering those animals endure. One last thing well worth mentioning is their reason for supporting zoos and that is the funding they receive from zoos. The way I see it, if the NGO is has a partner that is a zoo, they are corrupt.
Anyone who wants to see African animal there are live cams right here on TH-cam from the reserves! no walls involved. And there are a few backyard cameras no twitch as well
Wow I had no idea about any of this. I haven't been to a zoo since I had a field trip to one in elementary school, but now I know for certain I'll never go again
Absolutely brilliant video! Been looking for something to share about zoos for years. Thanks Ed, loving that you are back doing these informative videos.
Why are you believing points made by an amateur with no credentials over the biologists, zoologists, and wildlife scientists that work in and with zoos?
@@ipurpleu1668 Hi there, thanks for asking - I am not going by Ed, I just happen to know he’s right - never assume things!! I only endorse what I have properly examined (both sides) Years of talking to such people and looking hard at the arguments. It’s a slam dunk no brainer - you only have to spend a few hours with an animal to see that cages and zoos are wrong. We have so many problems that conversationists zoos etc say they are helping to solve because of what humans have done to the earth, destroying the habitat of many animals for example. If you truly know animals and money isn’t involved it’s clear as day. Why don’t you do a quick google search find some peer reviewed studies and the like and see what you think. If you have already and believe zoos to be acceptable then we will have to respectfully agree to disagree :)
@@JM-ze2nh As a guest, you can’t understand anything about an animal. I have studied animal behavior for six years and worked with them for longer, and I still couldn’t claim to understand an animal I met “a couple hours ago”. I also fail to understand how you don’t believe in their conservation work. The Guam rail was literally put back into the wild and became the second bird taken off the extinct in the wild list thanks to zoos, same with the California Condor. Hundreds of insects, fish, and herps have been saved from extinction also because of zoos. It’s just because its not the “big cute” animals that people don’t care. If you cared about conservation, you would support AACREDITED zoos!
@@JM-ze2nh Maybe you have been to rodeside zoos
In AZA zoos animals have naturalistic huge areas. most animals are usually just sleeping.
also most leading animals exierts such as Jane Goodall Sir David Attenborough and Dian Fossey agree that zoos play an important role in conservation.
I don’t know why this doesn’t make sense to people. I’ve never liked zoos yet they were always there as suggested attractions. I’ve been to maybe 5 or so different zoos in my life and I’m ashamed for having indirectly or directly supported them by being there. The last one I went to was in 2013 and I’ve banned going to them ever since. This video confirms and gives face to my most feared horrors about the reason these institutions are a disgusting concept. Don’t go to zoos anymore! Don’t support them!
What about the good zoos?
I'm glad I watched this, I went to zoos a lot as a kid and still watch many documentories, I have seen several about the cruelty of marine parks with dolphins in and yet we don't turn our eyes to zoo's nearly enough. The old school zoo's yeah and the roadside ones. But this- I've always had a feeling that the enclosures they're so proud of showing off on TV fall dispairingly short of "enriching" I don't know how anyone can work in a zoo and feel proud I feel sickened. I didn't know about the life expectancy or the mental health issues suffered but it should have been obvious, wild animals are not meant to be kept locked up- I hate knowing that these zoo's will likely never shut down and knowing how much money they make off of mysery... but that just seems to be a reoccuring theme with humans, we do it to our own species so we think so little of it when it comes to others.
Polar bears in zoos are of course kept in an environment that's too warm for them. There's no real snow, it's all about the look, for the visitors 😭
Remember a chimpanzee I saw in a (very small) zoo back when I was a child. I remember playing with him. The chimp would follow me, climbing in his cage. I was smiling and cheerful, I started to feel some form of connexion.
But at some point the chimp frantically jumped around and started banging on the door at the back of the cage. It was surprising but hey, animals are wild and uncivilised, after all, aren't they. The chimp also frantically pointed at his genitals. Well, it's a animal. Nothing to be worried about, right?
After a few minutes though, he repeated the exact same jumps and gestures. Jump on the door. Bang three time. Jump on the cage. Point at genitals. Again. And Again. And Again. And Again.
I sensed something was wrong, I probably knew it. But I shove it all aways - turned it off. Nothing to be worried about. Nothing to be worried about. Nothing at all.
A cousin of mine works as a psychiatrist in a high security prison. Her work is hard. She once met a guy who was sentenced to prison for life when he was 13, now in his 80 something. She feels horrible about it. She couldn't set him free. He'd die outside. But in prison he grew depressed and suicidal. She had to stop him many times. What for, though ?
Once, I went to Poland. I was afraid and shy, it was the first time I travelled in a country where part of the population didn't speak English. It was hard to find my room in the right student house. I was alone. I didn't dear to go out. My phone had no battery and I had lost my charger. I had only a handful of zlotys. I didn't know what to do and were extremely anxious. I started engaging in repetitive behavior in my room.
Sometimes it takes someone else to connect the dots for you... Thanks. I weirdly knew all this but somewhat didn't want to think about it...
Apes, monkeys, and almost all animals see showing teeth as a sign of aggression. That chimp was challenging you cause it thought you were being aggressive. Humans are the only species that smile at each other to show passivity.
I think this video is true for some zoos not all of them are bad. For example the San deigo safari park has large ranges that replicates the natural habitats very well.
If u just Wana lock up endangered animals to keep them safe, what's the point? There not benifiting the env or ecology in a zoo. Shouldn't the goal be for them to be free without being poached or having their env taken over or damaged to the point where they can not live in proper numbers?
So the way to do that is donate to anti poaching wild life rangers and promote Veganism cuz animal agriculture is a leading cause of endangerment by taking over and damageing the animals wild habitat and sometimes killing Threatened Animals that might eat crops or livestock.
Lock up the criminal poacher not the animal victim.
This is why I don’t go to zoos or aquariums anymore. And if I do want to see these animals in the wild I would spend the money to go to Africa with a TRUSTED and known good tour org.
Zoo here in Nepal is miserable as well. It's sad to see wild animals confined in small spaces. Zoo is not educational. People visit zoo only to have fun, mock animals and make their children happy.
If humans were really concerned about preserving habitat and species, we would all be vegan. Since it’s the meat industry that is responsible for habitat destruction. We’d also try and control our overbreeding as well.
What’s interesting is, if zoos were good at what they claim they do, why have 70 percent (or more) of the wild animal populations have been wiped out these last 50 years?
Zoos have failed, miserably, in their stated goal (even though we know it’s a lie) so why continue?
Zoos are havens for knuckledraggers and their spawn to gawk at prisoners as part of a day of entertainment for these simps.
Agriculture also destroys an animals habitat so it’s a double edge sword. Second thing good and reliable Zoos ( I’m not saying all zoos I’m just talking about some of the bigger names that actually give them animals what they need) can only do so much. Plus don’t forget about the bald eagle,peregrine falcon,California condor,spix macaw, red wolf, and black footed ferret who are just some of the animals either being saved by good zoos or they have already been saved with the support of them. You can’t just say all zoos are bad (like how you can’t just say everything in the world is bad even though there are some genuinely good things happening now). To be fair I do think sanctuaries and such are better but like I said not all zoos are bad.
This is absolutely terrible, sad thing is we are living in a prison ourselves, more and more
The giraffe situation and lion situation with murdering them is disgusting, I heard about it a few years ago and I was mortified, like how it that not illegal humans are insane. That zoo should be shut down and those animals should be placed a good zoo. Not all zoos are bad. But those ones are… very bad zoos.
Tragic but fantastic video! If you like animals enough that visiting them seems like a good day out you should really have enough respect to see that zoos are not a fair solution. It's absolutely not worth it.
The timing of this video is great. Just had a discussion with my grandmother about how zoos exist as a means of profit from entertainment and animals get exploited in the process. I never feel like I can accurately describe how I really feel about zoos and Earthling Ed is just the person I need to help with that lol
This video has a lot wrong and fails to mention most larger zoos are run as non profits
I made a list as a zoologist to explain
As someone studying zoology, animal behavior, animal husbandry, and welfare you have either misrepresented or downright not given full information on most of the topics of concern you covered in this video. This is disappointing to say the least considering you have such a large platform and people looking to you for accurate perspective .
I and going to Andrews some of the topics of conversation brought up and address them in a full light so you as well as the audience can revaluate the conclusions you have drawn here
Starting with “zoochosis” which is not even a realistic term to describe stereotypical behaviors as they happen for wildly different positive and negative reasons for various animals it’s not just the same for every species and it’s not just “cause captivity”
Have you ever noticed that most animals seem doing these behaviors are in poorly designed or ill structured/outdated habitats, or belong to small for profit zoos that aren’t welfare accredited facilities. It’s because stress related stereotypical behaviors aren’t simply a issue of a animal not in its natural habitat but of poor habitat design. Their are many animals that live lives free of stereotypical behavior in properly designed habitats
But shockingly enough many stereotypical behaviors aren’t even necessarily negative. Many stereotypical behaviors are actually associated more with excitement or keepers interaction pacing or running is also behavior synonymous with keeper interaction and yes as I said excitement or even curiosity
As for reintroduction and conservation programs and contributions it’s not just the direct conservation programs and reintroduction programs zoos fund directly but the ones they co fund, supply research for, and supply specialist to assist with.
Also reintroduction that were either started or contributed by zoos are not rare in fact AZA zoos contribute or aid most of the larger integration conservation efforts the USA participates in
As far as education not only are they educating the public, but with education of specialist, and the education value of research they are doing and public resourced made available to larger conservation institutions.
As far as lifespans go I will agree not many facilities keep elephants or cetaceans well. In fact only a select few do it anywhere near properly.
However have you looked at the captive lifespans for animals such as lions, tigers, bears, primates, and ungulates? They are much higher than wild lifespans some are doubled even tripled.
Even with elephants and cetaceans not normally meeting Their wild lifespans in zoos their are many zoos and aquariums that have these same animals exceeding their lifespans under new care guidelines and standards.
“Elephants roam large distances in the wild” yes they do, but not as a physics need to exercise, elephants roam to follow seasonal food and water supplies. Areas that have dense food and water supplies have generations of elephants staying in the same smaller area without ever migrating.
Also it has been proven that enrichment programs are better for animals physically and mentally than just large spaces.
There are elephants in sanctuaries with insanely large areas to roam, and they show more stress related stereotypical behavior than elephants in zoological facilities because of poor enrichment programs.
The same goes with cetaceans in sea side sanctuaries and sea pens, many even die due to complication and self harm related to poor mental health due to a lack of enrichment programs.
“Elephants are taken from the wild”
They have been for zoological facility programs in the US it’s true, but the animals involved were problem males, males taken from games reserves, and females and caves that were seized from the animal illegal trade or separated from their herds.
They didn’t just fly in and take random wild elephants most of the animals they took would have died if left were they were
As far as inbreeding goes. I can’t speak of the EAZA but the AZA has a dna track and register for all animals they breed. Inbreeding hasn’t been a factor in decades.
Same goes to killing animals the AZA doesn’t do this they have locos relationships with sanctuaries when surplus animals are to be had, but normally breeding programs are highly regulated
Alter and only done when approved by a board of animal welfare specialist.
“Most animals in zoos aren’t endangered” true however many of not all have endangered and critically endangered populations that face local extinction
“1$ to a conservation is better than 1$ to a zoo”
Not necessarily true or entirely the entire story. When someone buys a AZA zoo ticket they aren’t just supporting conservation organizations the zoos donate to they are funding rescue vet programs, conservation, rescue, and rehab programs the zoo takes on as a independent facility, local research, local conservation, and the education and research he of student biologist, ecologist, vets, and animal behaviorist.
Also most of the footage shown here were from smaller or poorly ran facilities. I don’t want to believe this was intentionally manipulative imagery to assist your side of the debate, so I will say this it is on us to advocate for proper zoological and marine zoological gardens.
This means not only AZA/EAZA accredited, but welfare accredited facilities, that have open information regarding all rescue work, rehab work, donations to conservation/research, have their own educational programs, conservation programs, and public research, are constantly improving animal care standards as part of their stated mission, and ones who have a legitimate history in doing these things.
In short zoos are not what they used to be if you lion at zoos 60 years ago you will see abuse, and exploitation, but that isn’t what the necessarily are today and defiantly not what they hope to be in the future.
Be a advocate for improvement, change, and evolution zoos and aquariums are on a decent track and do a lot of good if we can push them to become something h even better and even more than they are now the possibilities are endless
Look up the wilds in Ohio they are a sister location of Cincinnati zoo they keep large mammals and carnivores in open sanctuary like conditions, look up Nashville zoo who has some of the best animal care standards for the species they keep in the us including all sanctuaries and zoos.
Give Tennessee Aquarium a look they have immense natural environments for even their smallest animals many of their local fish species are in a bio dome that is a Appalachian riverside that has a weather system and seasons, most of their larger animals are rescues, and many of the smaller ones are bred in house for research active programs
@@themotions5967 Locking animals in cages to be displayed for the entertainment of humans IS SLAVERY. It doesn't matter if the zoos claim to the non-profit. They exist to make profit in one way or the other.
If people really cared about the preservation of these animals, they would simply donate money to sanctuaries or government run operations that are actually doing the work instead of paying for zoos where they know they can expect entertainment for their money.
Your wall of text doesn't negate any of this.
@@DiahRhiaJones Am I just crazy or do zoos not use cages anymore? I’ve never seen a zoo that uses cages, so I wouldn’t say that’s a good argument to use against the zoologist.
@@crispyshallots668 What the fuck do you mean you've never seen a zoo use a cage? What the fuck are you thinking constitutes a cage?
@@DiahRhiaJones I'm thinking square, metal thing. The zoos I've gone to use nets, fences, glass or pits in the ground for anything bigger than a bird. I've heard some zoos are even using moats nowadays.
Meta moment; what about the African safari?
They’re not a bad idea right?
If people will stop killing and destroying their homes then we wouldn’t have these problems. We need breeding programs and zoos are the next best thing. It’s sad but there isn’t many private breeding programs
Prison for no crime 🤯
Thank you so much for the information and continuing to educate everyone. You have greatly inspired me.
This is the 5th time i have to tel someone this video is inaccurate.
thanks for fighting for the animals 🌱 💚 love your work! hope this comment helps the algorithm so more people see this
Meet the real enemy: The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖
Share far and wide!
@@VeganSemihCyprus33 is that on TH-cam? If so can you tag me with the link please?
Thank-you, Ed, for this great info.
I definitely agree with a lot with what you pointed out in the video. Although there are some exceptions I've seen, like at Toronto Zoo in Canada. They often take animals that we're injured or orphaned and they help build them back up so that they can release them back into the wild.
What about conservation centers where they allow visitors to go so the conservation center can have enough money to maintain the animals properly?
Some people argue zoos are privileged spas for animals where they get treated like royalty, fed like in a hotel, protected from predators and allowed to develop bonds with humans like pets. Could any or some of that be true?
It could not. People seemingly do not understand how unbelievably amazing domestication is. Domestication has not only made several species incredibly useful to us but have made them as depended on us as we are on them. Cats and dogs do horribly without humans both physically as well as mentally, as do we without them. We are quite literally made for each other.
Wild animals have absolutely no need or want for humans, they are generally very stressed out by our presence. A wolf does not benefit from human contact. It could just as well be a group of chimps standing outside of its enclosure every day, or an elephant petting it with its trunk. If the elephant bottle feeds the wolf of course the wolf will become used to it but it wouldn't really be a meaningful connection as it is within a wolf family. The bond between a wild animal and the staff at zoos is basically just the zookeepers being associated with food and break from the constant stress and boredom caused by the zoo visitors and the lack of things to do.
There's also the trouble with the sleep cycle and territorial needs. A lot of wild animals are nocturnal, active at night, or crepuscular, meaning they are active during dusk and dawn. When the zoo doesn't have visitors. Which means that the time when they would mostly rest and sleep gets interrupted by people coming very close to their home. Gorillas are diurnal (active during the day) *but* they are also territorial just like we are. Being in a zoo for a gorilla would be like strangers standing right outside your opened window and making sounds as you and your family try to eat lunch. It wouldn't really matter if the food was free. There is absolutely no benefit for wild animals to be in captivity.
@@FuzzyKittenBoots thank you for taking the time to explain this. Very interesting points for me to consider! 👍 🤔
This is the best zoo video I have ever seen! Thank you for putting this together. It is the perfect thing for me to share with those who question me on my zoo stance.
It was full of poorly drawn outdated statistics and cherry picked what few relevant statistics it showed.
I addressed this as seen here
As someone studying zoology, animal behavior, animal husbandry, and welfare you have either misrepresented or downright not given full information on most of the topics of concern you covered in this video. This is disappointing to say the least considering you have such a large platform and people looking to you for accurate perspective .
I and going to Andrews some of the topics of conversation brought up and address them in a full light so you as well as the audience can revaluate the conclusions you have drawn here
Starting with “zoochosis” which is not even a realistic term to describe stereotypical behaviors as they happen for wildly different positive and negative reasons for various animals it’s not just the same for every species and it’s not just “cause captivity”
Have you ever noticed that most animals seem doing these behaviors are in poorly designed or ill structured/outdated habitats, or belong to small for profit zoos that aren’t welfare accredited facilities. It’s because stress related stereotypical behaviors aren’t simply a issue of a animal not in its natural habitat but of poor habitat design. Their are many animals that live lives free of stereotypical behavior in properly designed habitats
But shockingly enough many stereotypical behaviors aren’t even necessarily negative. Many stereotypical behaviors are actually associated more with excitement or keepers interaction pacing or running is also behavior synonymous with keeper interaction and yes as I said excitement or even curiosity
As for reintroduction and conservation programs and contributions it’s not just the direct conservation programs and reintroduction programs zoos fund directly but the ones they co fund, supply research for, and supply specialist to assist with.
Also reintroduction that were either started or contributed by zoos are not rare in fact AZA zoos contribute or aid most of the larger integration conservation efforts the USA participates in
As far as education not only are they educating the public, but with education of specialist, and the education value of research they are doing and public resourced made available to larger conservation institutions.
As far as lifespans go I will agree not many facilities keep elephants or cetaceans well. In fact only a select few do it anywhere near properly.
However have you looked at the captive lifespans for animals such as lions, tigers, bears, primates, and ungulates? They are much higher than wild lifespans some are doubled even tripled.
Even with elephants and cetaceans not normally meeting Their wild lifespans in zoos their are many zoos and aquariums that have these same animals exceeding their lifespans under new care guidelines and standards.
“Elephants roam large distances in the wild” yes they do, but not as a physics need to exercise, elephants roam to follow seasonal food and water supplies. Areas that have dense food and water supplies have generations of elephants staying in the same smaller area without ever migrating.
Also it has been proven that enrichment programs are better for animals physically and mentally than just large spaces.
There are elephants in sanctuaries with insanely large areas to roam, and they show more stress related stereotypical behavior than elephants in zoological facilities because of poor enrichment programs.
The same goes with cetaceans in sea side sanctuaries and sea pens, many even die due to complication and self harm related to poor mental health due to a lack of enrichment programs.
“Elephants are taken from the wild”
They have been for zoological facility programs in the US it’s true, but the animals involved were problem males, males taken from games reserves, and females and caves that were seized from the animal illegal trade or separated from their herds.
They didn’t just fly in and take random wild elephants most of the animals they took would have died if left were they were
As far as inbreeding goes. I can’t speak of the EAZA but the AZA has a dna track and register for all animals they breed. Inbreeding hasn’t been a factor in decades.
Same goes to killing animals the AZA doesn’t do this they have locos relationships with sanctuaries when surplus animals are to be had, but normally breeding programs are highly regulated
Alter and only done when approved by a board of animal welfare specialist.
“Most animals in zoos aren’t endangered” true however many of not all have endangered and critically endangered populations that face local extinction
“1$ to a conservation is better than 1$ to a zoo”
Not necessarily true or entirely the entire story. When someone buys a AZA zoo ticket they aren’t just supporting conservation organizations the zoos donate to they are funding rescue vet programs, conservation, rescue, and rehab programs the zoo takes on as a independent facility, local research, local conservation, and the education and research he of student biologist, ecologist, vets, and animal behaviorist.
Also most of the footage shown here were from smaller or poorly ran facilities. I don’t want to believe this was intentionally manipulative imagery to assist your side of the debate, so I will say this it is on us to advocate for proper zoological and marine zoological gardens.
This means not only AZA/EAZA accredited, but welfare accredited facilities, that have open information regarding all rescue work, rehab work, donations to conservation/research, have their own educational programs, conservation programs, and public research, are constantly improving animal care standards as part of their stated mission, and ones who have a legitimate history in doing these things.
In short zoos are not what they used to be if you lion at zoos 60 years ago you will see abuse, and exploitation, but that isn’t what the necessarily are today and defiantly not what they hope to be in the future.
Be a advocate for improvement, change, and evolution zoos and aquariums are on a decent track and do a lot of good if we can push them to become something h even better and even more than they are now the possibilities are endless
Look up the wilds in Ohio they are a sister location of Cincinnati zoo they keep large mammals and carnivores in open sanctuary like conditions, look up Nashville zoo who has some of the best animal care standards for the species they keep in the us including all sanctuaries and zoos.
Give Tennessee Aquarium a look they have immense natural environments for even their smallest animals many of their local fish species are in a bio dome that is a Appalachian riverside that has a weather system and seasons, most of their larger animals are rescues, and many of the smaller ones are bred in house for research active programs
Why are you believing points made by an amateur with no credentials over the biologists, zoologists, and wildlife scientists that work in and with zoos?
@@ipurpleu1668 There are people who work with animals and don't support zoos. It's never one-sided. And I believe a man who always supports his points with evidence. I also trust myself to research issues important to me, and have done so. Thanks.
@@Shoot4AlarmFire Exotics? Please tell me where you work then or what you work for. If you work with exotics outside of accredited zoos, you are a part of the problem. Unless you work for a government regulated rehabilitation/wildlife center.
@@ipurpleu1668 You misread my comment. I did not say I work with animals.
That one girl probably didn't want to mate because she knew having a baby in a zoo would be bad :c
Given how smart elephants are, the infanticide is much more disturbing. Perhaps they realize the life of captivity that their newborn faces and instead chooses to end it right away?
Just like in the slave days...
@@jessievans2405 lmao there is still slaves today, something tells me your thinking about one specific small example.
You really might be onto something
@@servesyourightformuscat1219 yes, I was referring to that time of TransAtlantic slave trade. And for the human trafficking that goes on today, at least they have the decency to hide it. And at least, our governments evolved just enough to abolish and illegalize it.
Infanticide in elephants would more likely be due to post traumatic stress disorder which elephants have been know to display. Personally I don't feel like elephant's should be in captivity because of how problematic they are in captivity. The only reasoning I could argue is that they would be useful to study stress behaviour and see if any of the research could be applied to wild elephants that experience stress from poaching
One would've thought that, after several lockdowns worldwide, the public in general would have a slightly better grasp of how it feels to be caged. Great video as always, Ed!
There are MANY lessons people should have learned from COVID that didn't. It's very disappointing.
So did I!
You overestimate people...
I think we should be very careful about comparing spending quality time in our beautiful homes with the horrific experience of being caged for your whole life.
@@expertphotoart9308 very true- I just hoped that maybe people would make the connection. Sadly not
As a kid I went to a zoo and saw a "dancing" elephant and thought it was cute. As you might guess, it was not a dance, it was a display of a mental disorder. Knowing what I do now, my memories of the few times I visited a zoo are traumatising and sickening rather than heartwarming.
And oh boy, don't get me started on the wild bird rescue centres in my country...
i have a similar memory of the elephants. i thought it was hilarious at the time- i was with my aunt who is super judgmental and germaphobic as hell, and she always treated me like i was repulsive. so we're eating dipping dots next to the elephant exhibit, and all of a sudden they start throwing poop at each other- picking it up with their trunks and hurling it in the other's direction. my aunt had a complete meltdown because of the smell, but me and my cousin were cracking up.
i still think its funny that my aunt didnt get to eat her dipping dots, especially now that im vegan. but all those happy memories are tainted by the fact that the animals were showing clear signs of distress and suffering, and my oblivious ass was having the best days of my life. i dont blame myself, i didnt even know "vegan" was a word at that point. but its so horrific to think about it that way. every time my family tries to talk me into going to the zoo, its all i can think about
What's the problem with bird rescue centres ?
@@debbied.9763 It probably depends on the country entirely. I visited a local one recently and all the birds were thriving there.
@@debbied.9763 Maybe wild birds in small enclosures? Not being with a flock? Idk
when i was little, i saw a travelling elephant, that soon after became the last circus elephant as the nz government made it illegal. she was taken and sent to a zoo a few months after i saw her. just a few years later, at the zoo she was sent to because of the ban, she crushed a worker to death in her trunk. she was surrounded by an electric fence in that zoo, and it is theorised that she got shocked, then out of panic tried to protect the worker (who entered to calm her down when she shouldn't have, but was fatigued from overwork) but accidentally crushed her chest by grabbing her, then rolling her head on the ground with the worker in her trunk, the weight suffocated the woman.
it turns out that the elephant had ptsd and constant panic attacks. shows the pure cruelty that led to the tragedy. luckily, the zoo saw the elephant as not responsible, and she wasn't killed. just 4 years after that attack, she died in san diego zoo, which is where she was sent after the attack. a sad life, and sad death due to human cruelty.
Ed probably is the BEST vegan activist who can explain the truth well and discusses the situation with good knowledge and arguments.
All love Ed
His videos are top notch in every aspect it's wild
Yeah not like the extremes
When you’re extreme
You make everyone in your group and your cause a joke.
Alan’s he does all this and still manages to be a hypocrite.
@@peterbigo9951 how? You can't make such a claim and then just leave without evidence.
Zoo's are the only prisons where all the prisoners are innocent. When I was a child I used to go to zoo's because I loved animals now I avoid zoo's because I love animals
definitely gonna steal that last sentence. powerful
@@cherch4625 feel free to " steal " it 😂. Yes Its powerful because at one time you were lied to and after that you have awakened and can see the truth
Well, couldn’t confinements of farm animals also be considered such prisons? Except I guess that all prisoners there are abused even more and are on a death row…
@@makarios5946 not really since In animal agriculture animals are enslaved for short period of time and the purpose is different than a prison. But all these innocent beings as you said are on death row without doing anything wrong
Well said. I feel the exact same!
Basically:
-The confined animals in zoos go mentally insane, only for our entertainment (is it worth it?)
-Donating to direct Wildlife conservation orgs is more effective than donating to zoos, cause zoos profit from exploitation
-If you want to learn about wild animals, you can also watch a nature documentary
Good summation
Wildlife conservation groups are mostly comprised of HUNTERS.
A university in my country is starting a zoo in the kampus. I hate it. We are campaigning against it bit who know what will happen
A good summarization of the cherry picked lies that this guy is feeding y’all lol
@@harveyplantharvester1502 Yeah, and I’d argue hunters care more about the natural world than anybody else lol. Not to be confused with poachers which is entirely different xoxo
My mom just asked me if I wanted to go to the zoo with the family tomorrow. I said no and showed her this video. Her response was “well their enclosures have actually gotten a lot bigger.” You just can’t win.
Then she goes, “propaganda “
Yeah. My mom had me go to a rodeo with here I think about 1 year, and a half ago. I thought it would be an opportunity to educate her, and then she refused to believe taking a calf by the horns, and throwing it to the ground with full body strength, and then tying it’s legs together with some rope was painful. It’s really quite sad that people just don’t care for others. We have been in this state of apathy for far too long. We really need to start putting ourselves in other people’s(animals are people, too) shoes.
@@AxelBertilDahlstrom That sucks, no empathy. Btw, do you know if Safari Parks are also bad?
@@atti_odyssey Some safaris are like sanctuaries, and others allow hunting, and abuse. They are better than zoos, and aquariums to an extent. Also the animals become to the point where they cannot survive the wild as well. They also risk disease transferred from people.
@@AxelBertilDahlstrom hmmm, thanks
When I was younger I went to the zoo because I loved animals, now as an adult I won't visit a zoo because I love animals. What is a zoo but a prison for those who have done nothing wrong.🌱 Informative video, I remember on a school trip seeing a Polar bear in Dublin zoo that had gone mad in captivity, was heart breaking.☘
The year before I went vegan I visited the local (very small) zoo in my new city, and was heartbroken seeing the seal exhibit with three of them in a pool smaller than the swimming pool I grew up with. One was going in circles and another was just staring at a concrete wall floating in place. That's when I knew I was done.
@@vegronica9006 Never nice to see, fair play for going Vegan and aligning your ethics to actions!☘💚
😭
maybe because they fed the bear a vegan diet..
I hope the guy that shot and dismembered the giraffe gets kidnapped.
They should show this video in all schools
Yes and then let the children out to be free too. 🙏
they should show all of Ed's videos in schools! they're so good.
Absolutely
They should put it in front of zoos while pople are coming in the zoos.
It’s too bad one of the first field trips they take school children is to a zoo... either that or a supermarket
We see this in humans too. Self soothing actions like rocking, swaying, shaking. It’s amazing how many qualities we share, and how we blatantly, purposefully ignore these similarities so that we can go on enjoying our outings and our burgers.
They do be tasty tho
Yes. We're meant to be in much more tribal conditions
I work at a bird of prey centre, everything done at said centre is for the animals. We have a small gift shop, all the money made in there goes directly back to the animals. The birds are flown regularly and cleaned out every day. We educate people on vultures and endangered birds.
without fail after every vulture talk we do someone tell us that they never knew about vultures, and want to donate to save them. We all put our whole heart in to the centre. For many zoo keepers their work is their entire life. Not all zoo's are bad
💖💖💖 represent
Sure, but I think the birds would rather fly miles free anytime THEY want. Just watch a documentary, no need to lock up the animals unless they can't be released.
@@wolfiemix if a person never works with a bird of prey that is kept for education, how will they know how to help a wild bird of prey that’s injured? Having hands on experience with an educational raptor could help someone get trained to be able to help raptors that need rehab.
@@wolfiemix most raptor centers only keep injured birds (limbs/wings that are amputated, eye problems, neuro problems) or have been imprinted (where they bond to humans and can never be released). These birds can’t live in the wild, they will die.
@@wolfiemix They will be dead if they are released since most of them are bred in captivity and has no experience of surviving in the wild , that’s why training is needed before releasing
Horses also exhibit zoochosis in barnyards and stalls. We don't talk about horse riding enough as vegans. Some vegans even think horse riding is fine and ok
its definitely not
Then they’re not vegan.
This makes me feel impatient, deeply sad ,and helpless. And I know part of what Ed knows via his videos. I can't imagine how you manage your mental state as you read and research for these videos, Ed. Much Respect!
The more I realize how many people don't care, the more depressed and hopeless I feel. It is encouraging though to know how fast veganism is growing🌱💕😘
@@Adelicows Same here...
My thoughts and feelings precisely.
His whole channel is built upon this "coming of end" idea that many of us are very sensitive to.
It is your everyday sensationalism as we see, say, with Greta Th. and so on. Pick something, make a one-sided end of day report on it and get views.
That being said, I am not dismissing his infos completely but I also don't agree with much of what he has to say, just from a common sense point of view or as someone who just happens to know about the other side of the coin.
Oh well… in a 100 years climate change has us all killed. Just 100 years and animals have to suffer no more. The sad part is, they will die due to climate change as well.
NOT ALL ZOOS ARE BAD. I think it all depends on what country you are from. If you are from somewhere where the general state of most of their zoos are very unacceptable, then I can understand why you might have this view on them especially if that is all you have seen of them. But a hell of a lot of them, especially in Britain and Ireland, are for conservation purposes, like donkey sanctuaries & monkey world in England, and Belfast zoo in Northern Ireland where I’m from, they are literally all rescue animals from neglected backgrounds & circuses and laboratories. Would you have the same views about them?
Not all animals in zoos go ‘mad’ or ‘insane.’ Most of them are there for people to be educated about the animals & to help people that see them in person, especially young kids understand the importance of being kind to all animals & nature. It’s not a bad thing to have animals in zoos, but it all depends on how the zoo is run. If they are kept well fed, and they are stimulated with toys and play, and they are seen by vets on a regular basis, and they are treated like actual animals then I see no problem with zoos. There I’ve said it.
Is keeping an animal in a cage justified because you can be educated about them?
Would you want to be in a cage?
@@straberryshinigami15g97 did you lit not read anything I just said? The first paragraph: they are RESCUED animals from people’s homes & so-called ‘acceptable’ zoos where they’re treated poorly & have tiny enclosures with poor quality nutrition and no stimulus. obviously you need to do your research better. There are thousands of monkeys in monkey world in England where they were rescued from being beach photographer’s assistants & made to take pics with tourists & wear stupid clothes & treated like crap, then they are rescued & go to the sanctuary where they are basically in a smaller version of their natural habitat & they’re properly cared for by people who acc love animals
I used to work at a well known, accredited AZA zoo in a quarantine department with critically endangered toads. One year we had an unplanned mating and we began to raise up the tadpoles into toadlets to release back into the wild. But the vet decided that they werent wanted because they hadn't planned that pairing and there just wasn't the funds to raise them up over a month( would have only cost a few bucks) so the toadlets were dumped en masse into a cup filled with toxins...they were dead within a minute. A critically endangered species that we claimed to be trying to help, killed because they took nature into their own hands in a department so poorly funded and out of the public eye that we couldn't get a replacement squeegee, but it's okay the zoo found money to get all the chimps new ipads
The same people who won't accept that zoos aren't good for animals are the same people who get pissed off when you tell them that you shouldn't feed ducks bread.
At least the ducks are free.
Today's people are like zombies, they don't know who they are, Who is their Supreme Father, what they do here, where will they go soon, no any important thing of life they know, they threw that piece of bread to the swans and ducks and instantly, they forgot that they threw it.. Poor they...
And probs the same people who got sick of being stuck at home. That was all of us
Weird equivalence. Anytime I've told someone not to feed ducks bread they thank me for the information.
Just because it’s not very nutritious for them doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feed them, we all eat stuff we shouldn’t. What’s the difference.
I am so ashamed with my earlier pictures with dolphins in captivity (((😥
Excellent video, very informative. Ed is the gift to humanity!
Don’t beat yourself up. When you know better, you do better. 😊
Most of the videos you put of the animals swaying and pacing are from roadside zoos and not from rehabilitation zoos. There is a massive difference, you're spreading misinformation and falsely accusing ALL zoos. The zoos near me have enclosures full of enrichment and activities, they have many places to roam and hide away from the visitors, they have regular check ups and are constantly giving them different surroundings (different substrates, toys, smells, a very wide range of food and even sounds via a speaker on the side of the cage imitating wildlife). They do not force their animals to do anything and have a huge amount of respect, they've put signs on the enclosures telling ppl what not to do (tap on glass, smile at monkeys (sign of aggression), make loud noises, no camera flashes, etc.) And will even walk about the zoo looking out for ppl not following those rules and telling them off. This isnt to say "ignore the bad ones! Look at the good ones, ThEy'Re NoT aLl LiKe ThAt" bc it's very important to bring awareness, but if you're gonna talk about it then use the correct information and stop bullshitting. You're making it seem like zoos are the worst for animals, the majority do more than you ever will with these videos.
Also, when you mentioned animals not being able to be released, you failed to mention that some are injured, taken to a zoo and looked over, and then failed the "wildlife test" where it determines whether or not the animal can survive on it's own. Some are even rescued from roadside zoos by rehabilitation zoos and then transported to another zoo where they live the rest of their lives peacefully as they dont KNOW how to survive in the wild bc of the roadside zoos. It all stems from roadside zoos and the pet trade, instead of making it seem like its ALL zoos, talk about that.
And some of the videos you showed of the animals being happy WERE FROM GOOD ZOOS, I really really really really really dont understand your point in this video, pack it up.
This is such important knowledge. Zoos are not happy places and I can't believe people still view them as such. But that's why information like this must be spread far and wide. Thanks for making this.
You really are delusional, educate yourself on zoos and facilities before making dumb statements
Loved the zoo as a child but once I became a teenager I could see how depressed these animals were and how unnatural it was and it pissed me off that people were making a profit from it. Haven’t been to a zoo since. Wonderful video as always Ed 💜
in well managed zoos animals have huge naturalistic areas and do pretty well.
There have different type of zoos in the world. I have seen several bad zoos in my travel. They can fall into two camps. Some zoos are bad though commercial ‘penny pinching’ and some are bad though ignorance (Dickinson, 2022). Fortunately, These zoo are changing and fewer and fewer exist nowadays. Closing zoos or not going to zoos may not be the best solution. The main solution is education. Zoos and aquariums have the opportunity to educate the public and inform them the plight of the animals in their original habitat and instill wildlife appreciation sense.
We can not deny that zoos have do a lot of animal conservation.The animals can be ‘parked’ at the conservation zoos until they have ability to return back to the wild or have a chance survive in the natural environment (Science Daily, 2011).Every year the World Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s members have spend roughly US$350 million on conservation projects on the wild (Wild Welfare, n.d.). Additionally, Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Zoo have strengthen endangered California condor population after 10 years working (Dickinson, 2022). Beside, to ensure survival for many threatened and endangered species in the planet, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) participate in Species Survival programs. For example, reintroduction programs, captive breeding, public education etc (Bove, 2021).
So, you're pissed that conservationists are making money?
William Oscar Garvin: the problem is the animals don't have freedom because of the hunters killing them. That's why now people are keeping them in zoos to keep them safe from the hunters And if we didn't , I guarantee we We'll never get the chance to see the animals which I think that will happen And what do you have to say about that And what do you think about that.
I'm a Zoo Keeper and the Zoo I work at falls under ZSEA which is literally a charity branch. Look it up, there are pledges and objectives in saving a number of species in a specific period of time.
I've always liked Ed's videos but a colossal amount of this video sounds correct to the average person who has not spent years behind the scenes at zoos and actually understands animal behaviour, so allow me to explain a tiny portion of this video in a wall of text. I'm pretty passionate about what we achieve at the zoo and so is everybody but I can't be bothered to list point by point all the incorrect statements in this video. Using phrases like "cages" and "wild animals in confined spaces" is understandably convincing but one of the main points I will mention is how a bear does not travel tens of miles a day because he enjoys a hike across the beautiful mountains, he does it because he has to. The majority of animals in zoos are born in captivity meaning they do not have the slightest inkling of what it means to be in the wild, the headshaking and pacing that Ed loves to display in videos which most of is footage from decades ago as you can tell by the camera isn't something an animal is going to do all day, it can merely just be anticipation for food which is why zoos now in this day and age try to randomise the times in which an animal is fed so that they are unable to stress and anticipate about a meal incoming at a specific time of the day. On average in the US people spend a whopping *5 seconds* per viewing of an animal and will say that this animal has gone mad. Keepers spend all day working with a set of animals, any unnatural stress induced behaviours will be noted on "ZIMS" (a global diary of animal events/injuries/behaviours), records of that animal will be kept and tracked but guess what, give that animal a form of enrichment and make it difficult for them to get hold of their meal and it'll keep them busy in the same way you like to keep busy with a hobby to not feel shit. It's about allowing an animal to behave naturally so all you have to do is google "the five animal freedoms", as long as your zoo is correctly ticking those boxes the animal isn't going to become depressed. I look at it at the same way for humans; socialise, have a hobby, exercise, eat healthy and you won't be depressed (I acknowledge every form of mental health issues obviously but the point still stands in feeling better especially if you are not clinically depressed.) Also I've never heard of this animals being given human mental health meds deal but if that is the case it's pretty fucked. Even humans shouldn't be given anti-depressants they mess you up permanently. Feeling numb might feel better but it would wouldn't it. You become dependant on them.
The blue whale point about education not actually being achieved I felt was really grasping at straws. People who go to zoos and actually have animal experiences or are given animal talks are going to go home feeling they had a good day alongside an increased passion for animal charity, *especially* children. Sound's naive but most kids aren't going to have a clue about blue whales or any opinion on them but a day at the zoo their brains are going to sponge a lot which in the long run with the next generation is going to contribute to how much people care about conservation. Just sitting down and watching a 45 minute documentary sounds like the most absurd point to me. Even the debatably best nature documentary "Our Plant" by David Attenborough has barely stuck in any of your heads I'm willing to bet.
If I'm not mistaken it is being discussed about discontinuing keeping elephants in captivity, I've never worked with elephants but I know someone who does and I can assure you that his elephants are incredibly happily via enrichment and social interaction. Nothing like an elephant snap or insta story 😊If this new rule goes through then Ed's video would be missing like 80% of it's footage, elephants have a lot of emotions and you have no idea what's caused an elephant to sway it's head in a stressed manor. So for people who have no idea what elephant behaviour is actually like to just diagnose an elephant as depressed 24/7 due to not being out in the wild from viewing a video for 1 minute is absolutely bonkers. If an elephant had lost a member of it's family it would show that behaviour, heck if a keeper it worked with everyday for years stopped showing up for a week it'd show signs of this behaviour. To diagnose it with depression purely because of being in captivity (assuming the exhibit is of a fully generous size) when that animal more has no understanding of what it means to be in the wild is ludicrous.
Like I say there are so many points in this video that I'd end up writing a book but *I am infinitely happy to answer anyone's genuine questions about Ed's points or their own concerns.*
I've been to a lot of zoos, here in the Netherlands mostly, and most of them are nothing like the images he showed. Cherry picking.
@@-gemberkoekje-5547 Yeah the argument of it not mattering how big and beautiful an enclosure looks only stands if the animals in it aren’t being enriched.
Antidepressants save lives just like any other cures for illnesses.
@@jus4795 Believe me anti-depressants do not "cure". They're suppressors of your brain receptors essentially numbing your feelings as well as the rest of you. Sure it'll make you want to kill yourself less but you become a hollow shell of what you once were as well being dependant on them. Psilocybin therapy on the other hand is proven to almost literally cure depression, but allowing that to be a form of treatment cancels out an infinite income of money because it's just a one time treatment, better off numbing people and making money of it for the rest of their life. Genuinely all real stuff
@@LavaTF2 I took antidepressants for about a year and I didn’t become a hollow shell of what i was before. And it didn’t make me be dependant on it. It just helped manage my emotions and therefore focus more on stuff I wanted to achieve.
« Oh hey, let'z go having fun watching depressed individuals in prisons and then let's have dinner eating other individuals while having so much fun! :D »
This is the logic of the majority of people... and most of them don't even realise it. I'm so done with life...
I feel you. :c
As someone studying zoology, animal behavior, animal husbandry, and welfare you have either misrepresented or downright not given full information on most of the topics of concern you covered in this video. This is disappointing to say the least considering you have such a large platform and people looking to you for accurate perspective .
I and going to Andrews some of the topics of conversation brought up and address them in a full light so you as well as the audience can revaluate the conclusions you have drawn here
Starting with “zoochosis” which is not even a realistic term to describe stereotypical behaviors as they happen for wildly different positive and negative reasons for various animals it’s not just the same for every species and it’s not just “cause captivity”
Have you ever noticed that most animals seem doing these behaviors are in poorly designed or ill structured/outdated habitats, or belong to small for profit zoos that aren’t welfare accredited facilities. It’s because stress related stereotypical behaviors aren’t simply a issue of a animal not in its natural habitat but of poor habitat design. Their are many animals that live lives free of stereotypical behavior in properly designed habitats
But shockingly enough many stereotypical behaviors aren’t even necessarily negative. Many stereotypical behaviors are actually associated more with excitement or keepers interaction pacing or running is also behavior synonymous with keeper interaction and yes as I said excitement or even curiosity
As for reintroduction and conservation programs and contributions it’s not just the direct conservation programs and reintroduction programs zoos fund directly but the ones they co fund, supply research for, and supply specialist to assist with.
Also reintroduction that were either started or contributed by zoos are not rare in fact AZA zoos contribute or aid most of the larger integration conservation efforts the USA participates in
As far as education not only are they educating the public, but with education of specialist, and the education value of research they are doing and public resourced made available to larger conservation institutions.
As far as lifespans go I will agree not many facilities keep elephants or cetaceans well. In fact only a select few do it anywhere near properly.
However have you looked at the captive lifespans for animals such as lions, tigers, bears, primates, and ungulates? They are much higher than wild lifespans some are doubled even tripled.
Even with elephants and cetaceans not normally meeting Their wild lifespans in zoos their are many zoos and aquariums that have these same animals exceeding their lifespans under new care guidelines and standards.
“Elephants roam large distances in the wild” yes they do, but not as a physics need to exercise, elephants roam to follow seasonal food and water supplies. Areas that have dense food and water supplies have generations of elephants staying in the same smaller area without ever migrating.
Also it has been proven that enrichment programs are better for animals physically and mentally than just large spaces.
There are elephants in sanctuaries with insanely large areas to roam, and they show more stress related stereotypical behavior than elephants in zoological facilities because of poor enrichment programs.
The same goes with cetaceans in sea side sanctuaries and sea pens, many even die due to complication and self harm related to poor mental health due to a lack of enrichment programs.
“Elephants are taken from the wild”
They have been for zoological facility programs in the US it’s true, but the animals involved were problem males, males taken from games reserves, and females and caves that were seized from the animal illegal trade or separated from their herds.
They didn’t just fly in and take random wild elephants most of the animals they took would have died if left were they were
As far as inbreeding goes. I can’t speak of the EAZA but the AZA has a dna track and register for all animals they breed. Inbreeding hasn’t been a factor in decades.
Same goes to killing animals the AZA doesn’t do this they have locos relationships with sanctuaries when surplus animals are to be had, but normally breeding programs are highly regulated
Alter and only done when approved by a board of animal welfare specialist.
“Most animals in zoos aren’t endangered” true however many of not all have endangered and critically endangered populations that face local extinction
“1$ to a conservation is better than 1$ to a zoo”
Not necessarily true or entirely the entire story. When someone buys a AZA zoo ticket they aren’t just supporting conservation organizations the zoos donate to they are funding rescue vet programs, conservation, rescue, and rehab programs the zoo takes on as a independent facility, local research, local conservation, and the education and research he of student biologist, ecologist, vets, and animal behaviorist.
Also most of the footage shown here were from smaller or poorly ran facilities. I don’t want to believe this was intentionally manipulative imagery to assist your side of the debate, so I will say this it is on us to advocate for proper zoological and marine zoological gardens.
This means not only AZA/EAZA accredited, but welfare accredited facilities, that have open information regarding all rescue work, rehab work, donations to conservation/research, have their own educational programs, conservation programs, and public research, are constantly improving animal care standards as part of their stated mission, and ones who have a legitimate history in doing these things.
In short zoos are not what they used to be if you lion at zoos 60 years ago you will see abuse, and exploitation, but that isn’t what the necessarily are today and defiantly not what they hope to be in the future.
Be a advocate for improvement, change, and evolution zoos and aquariums are on a decent track and do a lot of good if we can push them to become something h even better and even more than they are now the possibilities are endless
Look up the wilds in Ohio they are a sister location of Cincinnati zoo they keep large mammals and carnivores in open sanctuary like conditions, look up Nashville zoo who has some of the best animal care standards for the species they keep in the us including all sanctuaries and zoos.
Give Tennessee Aquarium a look they have immense natural environments for even their smallest animals many of their local fish species are in a bio dome that is a Appalachian riverside that has a weather system and seasons, most of their larger animals are rescues, and many of the smaller ones are bred in house for research active programs
Thank you for this comment. It's so sad to see people talk down on zoos. We are trying so hard to make a difference and people just hate without really knowing what is going on. While this line of work can be rewarding, it can be very difficult too.
sadly you cant argue with his brainwashed cult members.Guru Ed has a habit of twisting things his way.
thank you! at least someone knows what they are talking about
Great video as usual Ed. Animal exploitation and cruelty in zoos is often ignored.
The human being is the craziest animal that ever was and will be on Earth
I'd be so happy if Ed got a Netflix deal or sth similar to further the reach of these important messages!
Zoos are such a sad place. Why do humans have to be so selfish.
Hypocrite
@Anon Anon that’s about as intelligent as it gets from the vegan cult
@Anon Anon 😂
As a vegan of over 3 years I've always had my doubts about zoos. I've never paid admittance for one since turning vegan, but shamefully I have allowed others to pay for me to visit as part of a family outing.
I've always struggled to explain why as a vegan visiting zoos is against our beliefs. The issue I have is that when you visit the likes of Longleat here in the UK, they're very heavy on the whole 'conservation' idea and when you arrive everyone else does the whole "look, they're a friendly, honest zoo". It's hard to argue, when you compare to the likes you'd find in poorer parts of the world, where conditions are much worse for the animals. However, this video has completely convinced me not to accept any excuse for what goes on behind the scenes.
People don't see past the beauty of the creatures in front of them. They take a photo and move on, not considering how the animal feels about being confined for life.
An excellent video, as always.
🌿
the examples used in this video are cherry picked to show you the worst examples from the shittiest zoos lmao, go to an aza zoo and see how happy the animals are there, how well they’re cared for. don’t let this poison dilute your mind lol
What’s the alternative to zoo’s, there’s no mention in this video. Just pointing out the obvious with no solutions. Dumb video.
@@LeafProductions triggered.
@@peterbigo9951 Sanctuaries?
@@peterbigo9951 Is having an alternative to enjoying looking at animals, really more important to you than the cruelty that happens to them for it? That's extremely selfish and harmful. These individuals deserve to not be exploited just for entertainment, whether there's an alternative or not. The solution is to stop funding them so they shut down.
Can't humans just leave animals alone? Just STOP FUCKING WITH THEM.......
How the fuck did I get this in my recommendations. As a person who has interned at zoos and who's career goal is a zoo educator, I am very upset for the misinformation you have put out. You really just pick and choose what will make your argument stronger, completely ignoring the importance zoos have in animal conservation, research, and the education of the public. Yes, do not get me wrong, some zoos can be problematic (which is where we can see unhappy animals) and they simply shouldn't be zoos, but those few do not represent the majority that take pride in what they do. Also, the people who work in zoos do deeply care for the animals and their well being, I can give you stories of how keepers did all they could to make sure the animals were healthy and happy and how distraught they were when they passed away, even though it is inevitable for any living creature.
Honestly once I heard your voice I should have known it was going to be a biased reporting on zoos. But just so you know, even if you can turn millions of people to your cause their will people like me who know and understand the importance of zoos and will never change from their belief.
I was literally typing the same comment while wondering why every top comment was "oh thank you, I hate zoos too now". At least after posting my comment there are at least people with common sense that can look thriugh this fassade of a video.