The main argument against zoos is the belief by some professionals that, even with the best intentions and conditions, a zoo cannot provide the perfect environment for every type of animal.
For example, it is extremely difficult for zoos to recreate the natural environment that an elephant is used to living in. This is because in the course of a day an elephant can walk anywhere up to 50 kilometres a day.
Elephants also travel in packs of thirty or forty in the wild.
In most zoos, elephants will usually have just several acres to walk around in and maybe a couple of other elephants if they are lucky.
Elephant_zoo_parc_de_beauval (1)
All zoos and safari parks have to adhere to guidelines laid down in the Animal Welfare Act.
While these guidelines are extremely strict, many anti-zoo campaigners believe it is rarely enforced and zoos tend to follow a relaxed version of the rules.
People against animals being kept in zoos are also unimpressed with the attempts to create an animal friendly habitat for each occupant.
They argue that these habitats, while attractive and a vast improvement on the past, are rarely big enough and do not prevent the animals from becoming depressed.
For example, animals such as giraffes and zebras were designed, and are built, to run across miles of terrain, something they cannot do in captivity.
Anti-zoo supporters also argue that by making animals live in artificial surroundings the zoo is messing with natural mating and hunting activities. According to scientists, this can cause something called zoochosis in the animal, which is similar to the human Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Another problem is privacy, because the animals are living in habitats that are often extremely smaller than they are used to, the animal cannot enjoy much needed privacy. This can cause depression and obsessive behavior in the animals.