Zoos are one of the most inhumane ways of torturing animals. They are held captive solely for human entertainment and are thus deprived of the existence with their own kind, a sense of personal space, a natural habitat, interaction with other species and the ecosystem; let alone their freedom. Between 3,000 to 5,000 zoo animals die annually due to the inhabitable conditions they are forced to live in. 

Zoos contribute to the endangerment of animals, since they suffer an early death. They prove to be detrimental to the animals’ physical and psychological health. How would you feel if you were trapped in a cage for days altogether, year after the other? They are given limited food in rationalised proportions resulting in malnourishment and most importantly, captivity restricts their natural behaviour.

Zoo is an extremely uncomfortable and solitary environment, especially for wild animals such as lions and tigers who are meant to roam around freely in a space that is tenfold the cages they are thrown in. A popular counter-argument is that Zoos contribute to conservation. But why not mention Wildlife Sanctuary and conservation parks? These enclosures are the true contributors towards the prevention of extinction of species which do so by rightfully serving these animals in their true habitat. Moreover in zoos, animals are kept on display 24 x 7 which creates certain tension and stress impacting their well-being and healthy functioning.

Humans are deemed the title of the most intelligent species, but do our actions seem wise? We are driven with insatiable greed and self righteousness and as a result, all the other species are the ones getting caught in this web.

Animals are our counterparts and have been so since the beginning of time, they evolved before us. Who established that caging these creatures at our expense is ‘fun entertainment’. At this day and age, majority of the masses is equipped with technology which enables us to closely study and analyse these animals without imposing harm upon them. 

Its time to step up fellow humans, give back the voice to the voiceless. Boycott zoos.