What Type Of Animal Is Always Sad

Melissa cares for a variety of exotic animals and has completed a certificate in veterinary assisting and a available's caste in biological science.

Orangutan

"Aw, that polar looks and then sad. He doesn't like this cage". "Poor monkey, so bored with nothing to do".

Have you ever made a comment like this? Have you ever heard someone say this at a public zoo or petstore? The answer is probable to be yes. Despite unfamiliarity with the species in question, or even that animal every bit an individual, this is a common occurrence and a breathy instance of the conflict with anthropomorphism.

"Sorry" Deport

• Captive Animal Logic: Distressing Animals at BIG CAT RESCUE | Photo Tour!
  Funny pictures of Big True cat Rescue's (anti-zoo extremists) SAD feline residents.

Mistaking both 'sad' and 'happy' expressions

Most people who do not spend significant fourth dimension effectually not-domesticated animals oft lack the ability to detect an animal'due south mood. Even I, before finally adopting a canis familiaris, found the behavioral patterns of that species to be strange.

The more animals I became in accuse of caring for, the more I learned about them; things that books and fifty-fifty documentaries failed to do. This experience is simply irreplaceable. Withal to different extents, 'wild' animal behavior will vary significantly with animals raised by or around humans, but in caring for animals you will come to understand the species' capabilities (and limitations).

Canines expect pitiful when their head touches the ground

My "lamentable" dog

I'm sure my canis familiaris is non driveling.

Melissa S

Is this what people desire to see?

Some animals, such equally chimps, "grin" when they are afraid or excited. (A macaque is pictured)

Tim Simpson CC Past 2.0 Via Flickr

There have been many times that my mother would perceive that my spotted genet was "at-home" and try to pet him, merely I would quickly intervene because I saw a nervous animal preparing to seize with teeth.

People often misunderstand both sadness, aggression, and even happiness in animals. Animal rights movements often speak of the 'fake dolphin smile' that will be glued on the faces of bottlenose dolphins even as they attack helpless porpoises in the wild. When many animals such as dolphins, dogs, and even snakes open their mouths, they appear to have this item expression --> :D

• Smiling Chimps?
  

Wild lion transformed to 'depressed zoo lion' with bars

Taken at Kruger National Park. Muzzle bars complete the 'sad' illusion.

David Berkowitz CC BY 2.0 Via Flickr

Zoo or the wild?

Challenge! Which animals are miserable because of their lack of freedom? The "deplorable" animals in the following pictures are either in the 'wild' or captivity, (some traditional zoos and others in spacious 'sanctuaries' that nearly people approve of). Guess which one is which. No cheating, if y'all're familiar with these animals, where they're located, or the beast which surrounds them to aid y'all guess, it doesn't count!

Gyre to Continue

Read More From Owlcation

Other animals naturally wait lamentable, and sometimes even downright depressed. Some animals demand not practice annihilation in item, but for most animals, the simple act of laying downwards with their head on the footing will give them the appearance of beingness miserable.

Therefore, any animate being that performs this typical resting posture may upset people wth pre-exsisting anti-captive animal sentiment. Add on seeing this through cage bars , and it is totally eye breaking.

1. A Colobus monkey, nearly to cry?

Some animals that ofttimes look pitiful.

Primates	Carnivores	Others
Orangutans	Dogs	Elephants
Gibbons	Lions	Giraffe
Capuchin monkeys	Bears	Seals
Colobus monkeys	cheetah	Chameleons

2. Lions

Cage bars

But what are cage bars to an animal? To a human in our society (and probably all others), cages confined are more than a bulwark. They represent loss of freedom, eternal solitude, lack of nobility, and criminality, among other things. This is why a cage can provide the same amount of space, only people will feel better nearly enclosures that lack confined and instead take moats or see-through glass. Animals do not possess our evolved, cultural aversion to cage bars. Most animals (or non-humans, for lack of a better term), perceive a bulwark merely practice non associate the same emotional intensity with these structures. Humans on the other hand project their emotions with cages (or tanks) to animals.

3. Savanna Baboon

Dave 2x CC BY-ND 2.0

On the flipside, the man's psychological country may even play a trick on humans into thinking likewise highly of an animal'south enclosure. The turquoise, clear h2o tanks that cetaceans are kept in may look inviting to us because they remind us of pools, tropical oceans and oasis, but recently this view has been challenged with more scrutiny past people who study their natural behavior.

4. Polar Acquit

So why practice I provide examples of the opposite effect? It is important for all of us, from coincidental observers to scientists who study animal behavior to purge our inherent want to encounter ourselves in the animals, both for the unfair criticism of zoos and well-being of all convict animals (non only zoo animals). Sometimes something as simple as the boney structure of an animal's jaw can arrive 'sad' or 'happy' to the human brain.

five. Gibbon

Lethargy

Another zoo visitors point out that an animal seems sad because it'due south non as lively or interesting equally the animals they've seen in the wild or in documentaries.

There are some possible logical explanations for this. Most documentaries tend to testify animals doing interesting things, being more than agile and doing things such as hunting or forging, playing, swimming, and other entertaining behaviors.

Most animals do non do this all 24-hour interval. If you meet an animal in the wild, it's probable that said animal is more alert having seen you or being in the state of affairs in which information technology will be out of its comfort zone, and thusly more than alert. In non as well many circumstances can yous approach an animal unhabituated to humans during its 'downward time', and at the zoo, y'all are seeing animals that are 100% acclimated to the constant stream of human visitors. And at times they may look, or may maybe even be 'bored'.

6. African Elephant

Colorlessness

Sometimes animals get bored. It volition probably happen less in the wild since about wild animals have the daily occupation of surviving. But in some circumstances, if they are bored in nature it isn't likely to occur in a human'south presence.

Regardless, beingness bored in captivity tin be an issue as well a luxury. Zoo animals have their essential needs taken intendance of and can afford to be 'bored' only similar you, your domestic dog or your true cat (perhaps your boredom led yous here). Too much boredom however, defined past a lack of stimulus, is a welfare upshot.

However, your minute-long visit of witnessing what you perceive as a 'bored' animate being does non necessarily mean the animal is e'er in this land. Y'all could be seeing an animate being resting, or a certain role of the solar day where it is only not as agile considering its been fed, or is in the portion of the solar day where keepers aren't dropping by. Accept into business relationship as well the natural history of an animal and the per centum of time it may spend not moving. Casting judgment on the animal welfare standards of a particular zoo by a short observation is hardly fair.

Answers to challenge

Photos from captivity

i Colobus monkey (Paignton Zoo)
ii Lions (Colorado Fauna Sanctuary) They have acres to roam!
5 Gibbon (Dierenrijk)

Photos from the wild

iii Savanna Baboon (Chobe, Botswana)

4 Polar comport (Churchill, Manitoba, Canada)

six Elephant (Pilanesberg game reserve)

Sometimes animals get distressing..

Just similar in your daily life, at that place are highs and lows for animals. It is possible that sometimes animals can exist 'lamentable' about something, or stressed due to some modify in their surround.

Animals practice have their ain lives exterior of your zoo visit, and many things may be going on that could effect in an creature(s) not being in the best mood while you're viewing it.

Happy snake?

Is it ever OK to estimate a zoo exhibit?

Yep, as long every bit you accept an informed arroyo. It is important for the public to discern right from wrong and object to poor brute welfare...Merely...the catchy part is fairly determining that this is taking place when yous aren't exactly an expert on how a specific animal should exist kept or its normal behavior.

Each species has unique needs, and animals are too individuals with unlike histories. For instance, stereotypical beliefs may occur in animals that were rescued from poor environments that will persist in their new location (occurrence of these behaviors are complicated, more on that later on). Delight refrain from taking a 'know-information technology-all' approach after taking a quick glimpse of the animal. Likewise, exercise not assume that an animal doesn't take access to more space other than what is visible earlier you. Ever mind attentively to the people who deal with this animal day after twenty-four hours, as they are likely to have far more insight. Don't profess to exist an animal heed reader, and exist objective. Beware of emotional project.

Grieving elephants

Questions & Answers

Question: Are the animals in zoos getting exercise?

Answer: Yep.

Husky-Wolf on March 01, 2020:

Yes, I concord that people tend to over-humanize animals. Animals do non think virtually "freedom", particularly if they've never known any meliorate. I accept to disagree with the comments beneath. Zoos aren't all black and white. There is a lot of grey areas. Are there bad zoos? Sure. That does non mean in that location aren't proficient ones too. If y'all respect the creature and treat it properly, then how are zoos bad? Zoos are used for multiple things. Didactics, breeding programs, or entertainment. Entertainment doesn't mean it'southward wrong. because if the animal is cared for, emotionally and physically, and so it's fine. When people hear the word "zoo" they like to bound to conclusions and think about animals behind bars or glass that were captured from Africa and little toddlers screaming at information technology.

This is a very outdated point of view, many zoo animals are "tamed" --although not domesticated. *I know this post is kinda sometime just I promise the next person who stumbles into the comments department understands :P

betimes on July 15, 2019:

Zoos are awful. Animals are in cages so people tin gawk at them twenty-four hour period after day. They didn't decide to be there. They were CAPTURED in society to be there and have no say in the thing. Stop trying to carbohydrate coat it

Mr.io on April 04, 2019:

Zoos are horrible, some things shouldn't be washed by them )=

Max on Feb 16, 2019:

Yous are giving people who only value animals as amusement then much validation with this article.

juliana on August 06, 2018:

am at schoolhouse doing an stuff about animals and this assistance me to learn a lot its very deplorable

Dan on April 26, 2018:

I just call back as a species, were abit upward our own ass... what gives united states the right to capture and incaserate other creatures for our enjoyment?! As if our enjoyment is more important than an animals liberty?! Nosotros're certainly not the most intelligent species on the planet as we're doing a bully job so far at destroying and polluting our only home, and nosotros're fifty-fifty aware that were doing it!

Hannah on Apr 18, 2018:

I recently took my niece to the zoo .... and I will due south ya there are pros and cons for sure ... merely what I noticed was not the abi als "facial expression" merely the malnourished and some fifty-fifty panicked bc they were built-in nocturnal and were in hard lighting etc.... that being said .... this I realize is i zoo.... a zoo that fabricated me sad because the animals were in the wrong settings in the incorrect times. I'm hoping to get more people in my city to see what o saw and help this zoo get better caretakers who know simple things like when they sleep and when they swallow. Anyway I'm done ranting

Kenneth Avery from Hamilton, Alabama on February 25, 2017:

Melissa,

Absolutely terrific hub! Wonderful topic as well as writing. Cheers so much for sharing your wisdom on this topic.

Keep up the tremendous work.

I am HONORED to follow you.

Peace.

Kenneth

Valene from Missouri on September 16, 2016:

Very informative! I love zoos but sometimes I've been tempted to take this view of their captivity being cruel. This commodity points out a lot of important things to consider before making that judgement!

nawlins on February 11, 2016:

I think that when wild fauna are caged, they have been treated cruelly. Period. When wildlife are forced to alive in cages, to perform via inhumane 'training,' etc., they are abused and that should end. Are zoos good? Certainly, IF they mimic the animals' natural habitat so that the animals are free within their exhibits.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on January ten, 2016:

Glad I could assistance Juan.

Juan Garcia on January 09, 2016:

The little wild vs captivity challenge gave me an idea for a video. Cheers.

Jezalin on January 08, 2016:

Personally I think this article doesn't even show a point we all know that animals in zoos are totally distressing BECUASE they are used to living with packs hunting and or having a lot more free space, zoos can not give that to them they only teach them to exercise tricks by hitting them. And when the brute dies some zoos leave it there to rot

sujaya venkatesh on November xx, 2015:

a practiced insight

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on July thirty, 2015:

The guy'southward a cat whack that hates me considering nosotros've been arguing for years over outdoor true cat roaming on Amazon. I don't know if he believes the garbage that comes out of his oral fissure but he will say annihilation to set on me.

Frida Nyberg from Sweden on July xxx, 2015:

Mr C O Jones - Onetime annotate, but yet.

I have Asperger's, and I notice this insulting. Most of us have poor abilities to tell trunk language in HUMANS, just I for one have enhanced abilities to tell the body language of non-humans. (To me, about people are "autistic" in regards to animals.)

Akriti Mattu from Shimla, India on May sixteen, 2015:

This is an interesting take, although i personally feel that animals are always more happy in the wild. Still, adept post :)

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on November 11, 2014:

Thanks a lot Snakesmum!

Snakesmum on Nov xi, 2014:

Enjoyed your commodity - voted up.

Zoos are necessary. Without them, some animals would be extinct. An example is the helmeted honeyeater, here in Victoria, Australia, which is critically endangered. Without zoos, it would probably be extinct by now, but because of captive breeding, birds have been released into the wild, and the population is now a little larger.

I visit the three zoos in Victoria quite often, and at that place are very rarely bored looking animals almost - the keepers to the nifty lengths to enrich their environments. Sometimes I think the animals are just equally interested in watching the people as the people are in watching the animals.

I guess nosotros all tend to anthropomorphise on occasions though, and some animals naturally expect distressing, while others look happy. My snakes don't really have much change of expression, merely they are well fed, and I imagine they are content! They couldn't survive in the wild, that'southward for sure.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on October 24, 2014:

ArtDiva-- Thanks...if they could talk, they wouldn't exist animals. Captivity basically gives animals exactly what they want, simply many are probable not aware of the good deal they're getting.

ArtDiva on October 24, 2014:

Well written and informative article.

Personally, I would love to come across animals running complimentary in the wild. If they could talk, practise you lot wonder how the conversation would get?

Warhead77777 on May 05, 2014:

Cheers again, this makes information technology a lot easier to sympathise my pet Rabbit and our local Phx Zoo.

Cristina on December 23, 2013:

Oh trust me, I am aware. I was merely addressing the argument that many people make against animals being in captivity equally a space issue. Enrichment goes a long mode in terms of keeping an animal mentally and physically stimulated, every bit well as husbandry training programs where they are applicative. Information technology's really slap-up that more than and more zoos are taking steps towards better their animals lives through unlike types of enrichment.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Dec 22, 2013:

Hello Cristina, give thanks you for your annotate. I as well don't retrieve that most migrating animals 'need' to travel the distances they do in the wild, yet you may be facing some issues regarding their physical well-being if they are under exercised (one example, obesity and foot disease in captive elephants). As well animals need something to do if they aren't being 'stimulated' by trying to survive. Their routine must accept replacement enrichment, which of course is the reason many zoos are attempting to provide this. So information technology depends on the animal. I think a decent amount of acres tin please a free-ranging animal (too bad killer whales can't be provided this). Information technology'due south not most giving them a replica of their environment in the wild (every endeavour would be an obvious failure), but giving them what they 'need'. Animals suit but like nosotros do, and some may really prefer the ease of captivity living just as we prefer modern convenience over hunting and growing everything that nosotros eat. Loss of one freedom yields some other (animals in the wild do non have freedom from beingness guaranteed to always have plentiful food and water, like they typically do in zoos)

Cristina on December 22, 2013:

I used to think the size of an enclosure was an result many convict animals faced (and I'm not talking about plainly pocket-size enclosures, I'thousand referring to enclosures that encounter AZA standards for that species). And and so I read an commodity in the volume "Animal Preparation" past Ken Ramirez that made a great point: Animals that travel great distances in the wild and that maintain large territories are for the nigh office only doing and so for the sake of hunting and finding prey. And so for a captive animal that is fed all the food it tin can possibly want to swallow, is the need for an enclosure that is mayhap miles wide and long really necessary? It definitely changed my viewpoint on the thing.

Anyway, this is a great commodity and I will surely be passing this along to others who may have the stereotypical viewpoint of convict animals

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 20, 2013:

Thanks John, I was surprised that Hubpages chose this controversial subject as hub of the day, but that wasn't my determination!

John on December 20, 2013:

I feel like half the people who commented on here are just miserable griefers who desire zoos closed because, in their almighty opinions, the animals are sad and unhappy. As a bird keeper, if I held birds to the aforementioned behavioral standards I hold humans to, i would probably recollect they were all deranged too. But since I'm a rational and sane person, I understand that animals are non people and have different needs, desires, and ways of expressing themselves. Continue up the fantastic piece of work, Melissa. Your Blackfish article was stupendous. You freaking get it.

To some of the others that accept commented: on December 05, 2013:

An open up letter to some of those who take already commented:

Guys... animals that are in Zoos and Aquariums Practice NOT belong in the wild. Not anymore. They take grown up in this setting, and exercise not know how to survive the harsh reality of the wild. Almost animals these days, especially in the United states, were born there... their parents were born in that location... etc. So... they actually vest in the Zoo/Aquarium now. Just similar how YOU vest in a city, with your grocery store, with your air conditioned business firm. What if someone one solar day decided that y'all weren't "free" and threw yous out into the wood to exist a hunter-gatherer? Life in a facility (if it's a good one) is great, and I've often envied the pampered lifestyle of those animals.

And I remember many of you missed the bespeak of this article nearly Not projecting your thoughts and emotions onto those animals.

Seriously... how is going to a Zoo a deplorable experience? Because yous're making up emotions for the animals instead of looking considerately at what's actually going on. And then... stop. Go talk to the people that actually work with them.

Sincerely, me.

P.South. This post is brilliant. Cracking piece of work.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 03, 2013:

I continue seeing people throw that give-and-take effectually to try and discredit someone else from having an opinion that is not inline with their beast rights behavior. Yes information technology does make me 'feel better' to know the truth, that invalid emotional projection is the reason for most people exclaiming that animals are 'sad' in zoos. I would as well not be very 'happy' to be a gazelle in the wild who would inevitably be killed by a predator. If you lot're going to aspect my mental experience to animals, that furthers the statement that they should be removed from nature, as I desire no office of it.

nightpaws on December 03, 2013:

Some cerebral dissonance going on here. Makes you feel better about keeping exotic animals captive, huh?

Stay in your room for your entire life see how "happy" you lot are.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Nov 12, 2013:

She was expressing a polarized opinion from my attempted defense of a commonly bashed field of study with typical footling substance, and then she shouldn't have expected a cheery response. I'm completely aware of people with her sentiments.

Get a clue on Nov 12, 2013:

Melissa A Smith 2 months ago from New York Hub Author

"Yep, LadyFae, I'1000 sure you're the only person who has seen animals in the wild. "

Kind of a douchey thing to say to somebody, yeah? She was just voicing her opinion in a comments section.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September 23, 2013:

Cheers Kate, dolphin keepers get a lot of criticism. I can simply imagine.

Kate on September 23, 2013:

WOW. Thank you then much. This is groovy. As an animal keeper, it's incredibly frustrating when people assume my animals are abused or sad, when they really don't realize annihilation. Why are those dolphins staring through the gated hole in the dorsum? Because they're nosy, and watching the others. They'd rather be in the back, which is tiny and shallow compared to their viewing pool, because they feel safer that mode.

I'm bookmarking this!!

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September 19, 2013:

Thanks Audrey! Your link is insightful as well.

Audrey on September 19, 2013:

Great post! Anthropomorphizing animals helps us connect with them in a way, but understanding how they really behave connects usa on a better level. It's too bad some are commenting in back up of the "zoo animals" are distressing mantra; information technology's obvious they did not thoroughly read your insightful post. Forth your same lines, this had been doing the rounds: http://audreysnaturequestphotography.wordpress.com...

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September 14, 2013:

Thank you Amy

Amy on September xiv, 2013:

Great article!!! I completely agree with all of it. Like it has been said at that place are those few zoos that may not be the greatest but I think for the well-nigh part zoos take nifty intendance of their animals. And almost all endeavor and practice some kind of enrichment for them. I am actually going to school to be a zoo keeper so I practise understand a lot of what yous are maxim. And thank you for proverb it!!!

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on September 14, 2013:

"I have to say that I would love to run into a 24-hour interval when zoos were all closed downwardly."

Well thanks for the compliments, only I don't sympathise this at all. Like you lot said, your snakes aren't 'suffering' from existence in a cage, they just don't lead active lifestyles. If zoos were closed downwardly than many people would be out of their jobs and millions of people will no longer be able to see the animals, and for what? Considering people insist an beast can't exist happy in captivity? Well I call back they're wrong, or I wouldn't have written this. Some animals don't do and so well in captivity but that doesn't negate the hundreds that practice.

Kristen on September 14, 2013:

Great article!

I am a zookeeper working with parrots and reptiles.

I have to say that I would honey to see a day when zoos were all closed downwards. Just the reality is that, that is not possible, many animals have petty to no natural habitat left or at farthermost gamble for poaching for bushmeat/medicine. Without the convenance programs that take place in reputable zoos many of these species would accept no chance. Fifty-fifty if a piece of country is secured in gild to release animals dorsum into their natural habitat zoo animal breeding programs are required to ensure genetic variety. Take the Rhino for example, some of those animals had to exist removed from the wild and placed in zoos because they were being slaughtered to extinction.

Zoos also play a large role in education, you can't convince people to aid wild animals if they have never had an experience with animals, and have never seen some of these exotic animals up close.

My question to those people that don't go to zoos and don't support them. Practice yous support conservation organizations that are actively trying to help wild animals? Do yous accept an exotic pet (bird, reptile, rodent)?

Melissa this is a great article and I hope people read it and so think the next fourth dimension they visit a zoo.

I know I have had people tell me my snakes are depressed and aren't doing anything. I then try to tell them that pythons are ambush predators and even in the wild they don't do annihilation but sit effectually waiting for nutrient to come up shut. These snakes are well fed and so they are doing what snakes exercise all-time . . . zippo!

If you desire a real life instance of a zoo helping wild fauna check out the Toronto Zoo's piece of work with Black-footed Ferrets

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September 13, 2013:

Thanks for the comment Kiki! I would call back people would be happy to hear that animals may not exist pitiful in zoos. It's equally though they wish for them not to be because it doesn't attach to their idealized vision of how things should be.

Kiki on September thirteen, 2013:

Brilliant hub Melissa. I am a qualified animal behaviourist and mammal / ape keeper and I fully back information technology. I'm afraid that the posts by many on here merely show their lack if understanding and education on the thing and I would not take information technology to heart. Reading your well put article shows yous do know what you're talking about and if just i person goes abroad having learnt, then fab! And to the anti-zoo brigade, zoos aren't most having animals entertain you anymore, please don't think and then highly of yourselves, zoos are a breeding network creating a back up equally united states humans are destroying the wild. Just call up if the merely place these animals existed was the wild, and so a hell of a lot more than species would exist extinct!! Rant over!

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on September 01, 2013:

It means that while I have a decent understanding of creature beliefs, the only way to Really get to know an beast is by caring for it or being around information technology all the time. I am not an 'practiced'.

Mr C O Jones on September 01, 2013:

My pleasure Melissa, always happy to help, but I still don't get what y'all meant by that sentence 'Even I, before finally adopting a dog, found the behavioral patterns of that species was strange (I'k isolated socially, and to this mean solar day have never held a cat)'

Does that 'fifty-fifty I' imply that even you lot, this keen, knowledgeable skilful on animals couldn't fathom out domestic dog behaviour, so how can the rest of us hope to? Or does it imply that even I, this 'unproblematic' and 'socially isolated person' found dogs a mystery, so how can the rest of us promise to?

Please clarify.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Baronial 31, 2013:

Thank you Mr C O Jones (have we met?) that sentence was effed up, I needed to remove that 'was', sigh. I don't think I have Asperger's Syndrome, if I did I think I may have defenseless that, they're pretty good with grammar. Then again, information technology's not actually proper to judge someone on such a diagnoses, as they vary tremendously. Different humans, nigh animals do Not communicate with their face like we practice, or they have entirely different meanings.

Mr C O Jones on August 31, 2013:

This commodity reads similar it was written past someone with Asperger's Syndrome. Doesn't the opening comment that 'Even I, before finally adopting a dog, found the behavioral patterns of that species was foreign (I'm isolated socially, and to this twenty-four hour period have never held a true cat).' prepare any alarm bells ringing with all you lot gullible fools? You come across, Melissa wouldn't know whether an beast looks bored or not, because she cannot interpret facial expressions in humans.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Baronial 29, 2013:

Thanks Better Yourself, glad you lot appreciated it.

Improve Yourself from N Carolina on August 29, 2013:

Wonderful Hub, well done! I'm a huge animal lover and this is a great, new perspective on animals in zoos that I take not seen addressed earlier. We are limited to our experience of just walking through the zoo, which can create a judgement on how the animals are beingness treated and their living atmospheric condition. While in that location are people who practice abuse and neglect animals, and strength them into less than adequate living conditions it isn't e'er the case and the amount of time, energy and coin some zoos put into creating environments for the animals I notice it hard to believe that we should be so quick to approximate. Congrats on HOTD!

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on Baronial 28, 2013:

Hullo Relationshipc, I responded that way because LadyFae wrote "Zoos should be closed downwards". Since you agree with her, you lot probably failed to recognize that this was also 'rude'.

And also the reason given, because she has seen wild animals, was insubstantial. I would exist happy to hear her extrapolate that judgement, instead of imploring me, a person who obviously cares strongly most zoos, that I'k wrong considering of some unspecified experience she had.

Hub pages has no control over my responses. I imagine that if this Hub was what you expected it to be (some other article deriding zoos and showing sad pictures to brand its point) you'd detect it to be just bully.

Kari on Baronial 28, 2013:

Melissa yous seem very sure of yourself merely unwilling to let in anyone elses opinion or experience. Yous even mention in the article that you want people to refrain from taking a "know-it-all approach", only that is the but approach Y'all are taking.

LadyFae never said she is the merely person who has seen animals in the wild...what a rude and immature matter for yous to say. In fact, a lot of your comments take been full of arrogance.

Your approach on such as sensitive effect is very annoying and not-factual. The more than I think about it, the more than respect I lose for whoever picks these hubs.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on August 28, 2013:

Aye, LadyFae, I'm sure yous're the only person who has seen animals in the wild. Equally for lived with, well unless these animals were pets which I'one thousand sure y'all disagree with you must be referring to animals that laissez passer by your presence/territory and this article address that also.

LadyFae from Nether the Stars on August 28, 2013:

Melissa, I read your hub and stick to my statement because I have really seen and lived with some of those animals in the wild.

Zoos should exist closed down.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Baronial 26, 2013:

Thanks rose!

rose-the planner from Toronto, Ontario-Canada on August 26, 2013:

Congratulations on HOTD, well deserved! This is a brilliant commodity filled with interesting data. Give thanks you for sharing. (Voted Upward) -Rose

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on August 26, 2013:

Hi DzyMsLizzy, it is true that captive animals are almost always confined to less room than in their wild environments, however nigh animals navigate such room out of necessity. Take yous considered that if there was a small area filled with endless water and variable food items, that many animals would non roam as far? Longevity is important to consider, considering many animals that fare poorly in captivity do not live long, as stress hampers the immune system considerably. Some animals, such as meerkats which I've just written nearly, can double their lifespan in captivity. Their wild lives consists of always being terrified most inevitable awaiting decease.

I posted the elephant to bear witness an acknowledgement of 'animal emotion'. Elephants have much higher cognition over something like say, a squirrel. I would be very, very skeptical about the example you provided, espcially the 'scolding' of the cars aspect of it. For an brute to possess such awareness, I wonder why they wouldn't have enough to start learning to avert passing cars. Also, that was not a cattle prong, only a bullhook, also called the ankus, Peter Dickinson has a good hub most this item, wait up 'ankus' on this site.

Liz Elias from Oakley, CA on August 26, 2013:

Yous make some valid points, and it'due south true that anthropomorphism plays a function in peoples' perceptions. A case in bespeak is the electric current "viral" phenomenon of "Grumpy True cat," who shows up all over Face Book with contrasted cranky captions of beingness in a bad mood, when in betoken of fact, the kitty is very sweet and social, but her facial expression is caused past a form of feline dwarfism.

That said, I'thousand nonetheless not a fan of zoos and keeping in captivity animals who should be wild such as lions, elephants, and the like. Regardless of the quality of care they may receive, or the type of exhibit, they are notwithstanding bars to a much, much smaller area than they would inhabit in their natural surroundings, and I practice not believe this is healthy for them in the long run. You must call back--at that place is more to life than simple longevity--quality of life must also come up into account.

To accept the view that animals 'don't care,' or 'don't experience feelings or emotions' is but a convenient affair to believe for those who would confine these magnificent beasts. Animals practice, indeed, possess feelings and emotions--that tin can exist seen in the elephant video yous've provided; (and I don't approve of i of the keepers having a cattle prod at the ready...), information technology can also be seen in another video I've seen, of a squirrel standing over the torso of a dead mate (or offspring or friend), scolding all the passing cars considering ane of them was the crusade of the companion'southward demise.....

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August 26, 2013:

Hi Barbara Kay, male gorillas certainly seem to enjoy 'hamming it up' for visitors. I'm not sure if this is a display of territoriality. The dominant male person at the Bronx Zoo is a great case of this.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August 26, 2013:

If yous read the hub LadyFae, you'd meet I also included a fiddling tidbit nigh alleged 'energy' from animals which I will repeat. Animals that are habituated to the presence of humans will certainly not be every bit alarm and agile equally those you lot may see in the wild. Believe it or non, animals in the wild have their 'down times' and this happens when strange primates are not in their presence.

Barbara Badder from United states on August 26, 2013:

This is an interesting commodity. I really enjoyed it. Some animals are happy in a contained area. A proficient example are our dogs. A fenced in surface area makes them experience more secure.

Nosotros watched what I think were gorillas at a zoo. The male enjoyed picking his nose and the attending he got when everyone thought it was gross. The females had babies and it was obvious the people made them nervous. Without the babies maybe they would have enjoyed the attention besides.

LadyFae from Under the Stars on August 26, 2013:

Adept hub but those animals should not live in a zoo, they should be living in the wild. That's where they belong and they should not be locked up so that humans tin be entertained. How would y'all experience if you were put in a cage and people would be looking at your every move?

I never go to a zoo and don't have my children in that location either, way to heartbreaking. I've seen most of the animals that are being kept in zoos in the wild and and then to come across them in a confined space such as a zoo totally blows my mind. Horrible!!!

And of class their faces don't evidence whether they're distressing or happy but you tin can sense their energy. And their energy is not the manner it should be.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August 26, 2013:

WhiteMuse, what about the Bronx Zoo? I think they are very expert. The gorillas there practise not evidence any signs of distress from my observation.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on August 26, 2013:

Cheers Stephanie, I exercise acknowledge that creature boredom/distress happens in some zoos. Unfortunately the resolvability of this situation will depend on the expertise of the keeper.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on Baronial 26, 2013:

Thanks Deb Welch. I remember 'brute boredom' is pretty hard to determine without scientific analysis.

WhiteMuse on August 26, 2013:

I think the monkeys can be quite entertained by humans. Some of them are supposed to throw things as many of them do.

It is partly true what you are saying I call up. It does depend on the zoo. Some are terrible I retrieve. I call back the one with the apes in the Bronx zoo.

Stephanie Bradberry from New Bailiwick of jersey on August 26, 2013:

Congratulations on your Hub of the Day.

I love the counterbalanced and unbiased approach you lot take here. Every bit you say, it can be quite easy to judge the state of a being if y'all are not familiar with all the possible variations of behavior, expression, etc.

Deb Welch on August 26, 2013:

Good Article - True. However many Zoos are totally fantastic with acres and acres of land for a natural habitat ane is the Toronto Zoo, and then of course in that location are the Zoos not giving the animals the right kind of being. Our local zoo doesn't have the proper space for bison, elephants or giraffe and I believe they are bored. At least they have each other and they must get used to the daily routine just like humans. Useful and Interesting - Up - Cheers.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Baronial 26, 2013:

It's not something that I can actually 'research' Relationshipc. It makes sense to me given the psychology and natural history of animals.

Humans have many negative associations with cages that are more substantial than inhibition of movement because of our unparallelled awareness. My dog seemingly protests to going into the kennel, only what'south really going on is that she's focused on the pregnant of being told to go in--it ways that we're leaving the house. All I meant with that statement is that animals are non 'thinking' about their confined lives in the same perspective of a human which makes it so adverse to us.

They may desire to get out if they are afraid (such as when they are newly introduced or the environment is suboptimal) or want something on the outside, such as in my dog's case, to effort to leave with us. Animals think 'in the now'. When does your dog get put in a crate? Yous are probably either leaving or preventing him from doing something undesirable.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on Baronial 26, 2013:

Great comment JoyLevine. I concur. Even I can sometimes be guilty of judging enclosure or settings that are not permanent.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August 26, 2013:

thoughtfulgirl2, thank you for really reading the hub :)

Knightheart from MIssouri, Us on August 26, 2013:

Hullo,

I agree that almost animals in a zoo pb miserable lives, devoid of stimulation. To encounter the big cats and primates confined to tiny areas is heartbreaking, although I believe all animals caged is a terrible thing. Animals exercise get depressed and not only zoo animals. I worked in an animate being shelter for years and saw the effects of caged adult dogs and cats daily. It was very sad to see these animals live for long periods of time confined and isolated. The dogs, social animals by nature, are never together in a cage...but isolated. Some animals get 'muzzle disease' or something like that, when confined for long periods of time. They become frustrated and savage and and so take to euthanized since they cannot be adopted. I have seen this with cats frequently and information technology but breaks my heart. Every bit to anyone that says animals do not feel emotions or understand confinement is full of it!

Animals are God's creations, and they were non created to sit in a zoo or in captivity for our pleasure! Human brutality has wiped out many species, and more than are on the endangered list because we proceed taking their natural habitats away. I dearest animals and even though nosotros are a 'higher course' of life, animals are not belongings, objects, or toys. They are living beings that feel hurting, sadness, and depression. Animals practise mourn the death of their own or other living things. Information technology is a documented fact, so those that say animals don't understand is wrong!

KH

Kari on August 26, 2013:

I sympathize that animals can look sad when they are only sitting around, bored, or thinking, but I don't get where you got your facts from.

For case, "Most animals (or not-humans, for lack of a better term), perceive a barrier just practice not associate the same emotional intensity with these structures. Humans on the other hand project their emotions with cages (or tanks) to animals."

How practise you know? When my dog gets locked in his kennel, he sometimes does not want to exist in there and he tries to tell me in no uncertain terms. He is very upset that he is a muzzle. So, where did you do the enquiry to back up your argument?

JoyLevine from tertiary Rock from the Sun on August 26, 2013:

This was a very well written and fair article. I can place with many things you say. I have a separate view on some things, simply agree with everything you have said. In effect, I prefer seeing whatsoever animal wild and gratis, but if they are captive, as long equally they are cared for by people who truly care well-nigh the animal, I see naught wrong with it.

The truth is, I remember that zoos and museums are necessary, in a sense. These animals serve as ambassadors for their species respectively, and without the opportunity of getting to see them up shut, many would non be inspired to learn about them or care. These parks are where some children and adults are touched by one or more animals and they brand changes in their own lives and perhaps influence others.

Sometimes animals are rescued and cannot be released back into the wild. This is unfortunate, simply they now they can alive out their life cared for. This is but sad for me because I know these animals knew the freedom of existence wild, just as an fauna captured from the wild and brought to an establishment would. Merely from my observance of many animals, animals don't tend to live in the by, they live more than in the present, the here and now.

I practise prefer to see animals in captivity that were raised in captivity, but that is just my ain opinion.

I appreciate the style yous presented the cloth, especially how people are and so quick to jump to conclusions. I worked at a Scientific discipline Center and at one signal I was hosting an exhibit on Swamps of the Southeast in which we cared for over twoscore animals. Amidst those were some mammals, such equally a bobcat, skunk, raccoon, and opossum.

People were very quick to brand statements well-nigh the enclosures, which I empathize. They were good size, but not what yous would consider for permanent habitats. What they didn't realize is that these animals had plenty of i on ane enrichment and play time in much larger areas both before and after visiting hours. We had an entire outside closed in area with a river and copse that was an outside playground. I used to accept the animals out at that place, one past one after hours. The skunk and raccoon would both just follow me out there and walk with me up and down the empty halls afterwards hours. The skunk was my babe & she was usually on my shoulders as I carried out my chores before piece of work.

The elementary truth is that we never know what goes on behind the scenes and it is piece of cake to judge things we do not know. I've been guilty myself from fourth dimension to time. Afterward working at the Science Center, it made me much more understanding, realizing we don't know everything at face up value.

I call up the only time to worry is when you see animals in very small enclosures and they are doing the 'cribbing' or 'rocking.' Even then, it could be a throwback to a bad past, but that'due south generally a sign of stress.

Very interesting article. Give thanks you. Sad for such a long comment... I feel strongly almost this. :)

JR Krishna from India on August 26, 2013:

Peachy hub.

these animals expect sorry.

Claudia Smaletz from East Declension on August 26, 2013:

Excellent hub. You are right to point out that the style we humans view emotional states cannot accurately exist transferred to an brute. Animals have evolved in their own style, a smile is not always a smile as we know it in the fauna kingdom. Keen photos!

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on August 26, 2013:

O my. My heart aches for animals in zoos especially when they are confined to such an extent they barely have room to motion effectually. I rarely go to zoos for that reason.

It breaks my center when I see a regal elephant pacing up and down, upward and downward in a tiny confined space longing for her homeland.

In all fairness I know there are places where animals are giving more than infinite and are treated well.

Thanks for sharing this.

Angels are on the style to you and to all of the precious animals in zoos.

ps

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on Baronial 13, 2013:

That's what all zoos should aim to do. It's non probable that almost animals would find 'freedom' as of import as you lot would if they have all their needs provided.

wayct12 on August 13, 2013:

It'due south tough keeping animals convict without 'domesticating' them. I like being able to see the animals merely information technology is a conflicting feeling that I'm contributing to them existence locked upwards. You have to commend institutions that do their best to conform their animals needs - that'due south the feeling I go from san diego zoos.

Shadaan Alam from Bharat on August thirteen, 2013:

This was an interesting hub, equally a child i have visited lots of zoos and used to relish there, but now i feel bad about these animals who are devoid of freedom, voted upward

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on August 11, 2013:

Please re-read this hub gpishev.

Georgi P. from Republic of bulgaria on Baronial 11, 2013:

Sad and true. How can an animal exist happy when locked for people entertaining? They practise not belong there.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on August 11, 2013:

Thanks

Seshagopalan Murali from Chennai, Tamil Nadu on August 11, 2013:

wa wa wa :) what a thinking.. Great hub!! Proceed writing melissa..

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on Baronial xi, 2013:

Certain

Amazing THINKER from Dwelling on Baronial 11, 2013:

I commented on the wrong hub. I have a different tab open, can yous hibernate that comment? B.T.West This one is interesting!

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August eleven, 2013:

Hi Amazing thinker. Delight...re-read this hub.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August x, 2013:

Thanks WiccanSage, I totally agree.

Mackenzie Sage Wright on August ten, 2013:

This was a good article, and that chimp movie fabricated me LOL. I was joking with my mom one time when she was watching an creature shelter commercial showing distressing looking dogs every bit it played a very sad song. I said I could brand fifty-fifty my very happy, content, spoiled pup look positively heart breaking if I took pictures of it laying around and played a slideshow of them with deplorable music. Information technology's true.

If I were an animal, I'd want to live in a zoo. I know there have been unethical zoos and I'm not palliating that, but many major zoos have good intendance of them-- they get good medical intendance, food, no predators-- I would probably rather live at Animal Kingdom's safari in Disney than in the real wild if I were a deer or a king of beasts.

Great hub!

Source: https://owlcation.com/stem/sad-zoo-animals

Posted by: rhoadsaftearany.blogspot.com

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