When asked for their thoughts on zoos, most individuals gush over their love for the establishments. Zoos are commonly associated with feelings of joy and innocence, as outings to zoos bring families and friends together. In addition, zoos open up little children minds by introducing them to an array of exotic animals they would not see crawling through their backyards. For those reasons, more than 150 million a year visit zoos in the United States. But the blissful feelings commonly associated with zoos fail to reveal the entire picture.
Hundreds of millions worldwide, visit zoos each year only to take joy in watching the cruel treatment of penned up animals. The oppressive wardens of unhappy animals allow individuals to become more accustomed to the wild animals they would not have the chance prior to visiting a zoo. While members of society continue to flock towards the establishments in hopes of another for another form of entertainment, others tend to see the other side of the story.
The well known organization, PETA attempts to educate society on the consequences of using animals for their own entertainment. PETA, the acronym for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, used the slogan, “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way.” The largest animal rights organization in the world is supported by over 5 million people internationally. The organization focuses on preventing the suffering of animals in four areas: in the food industry, in the clothing trade, in the laboratories, and in the entertainment industry. Through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, protest campaigns etc. PETA attempts to put an end to animal cruelty. PETA makes an effort to cater to the special bond formed in the presence of animals.
While zoos may appear to be perfect oases set up to bring families and friends together, in the case of the animals, zoos only serve to rip apart animals from their counterparts. On one hand, zoos continue to personalize and widen the observers connection to nature. However, on the other hand, the establishments are inhumane and continue to trap animals who have done nothing deserving of such a cruel fate. The human race needs to stop searching for connections with oppressed creatures but rather connect to each other instead. Society must stop attempting to empathize with animals and instead interact with members of their own kind.