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Are zoos ethical in the modern age?
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Predators born in zoos are likely to die if released

Predatory animals born in captivity are unlikely to survive if released into their natural habitat.
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The Argument

Some zoos have attempted to have release programs instated, but they are most likely to fail, ending with the animal dying. Predators especially are most likely to die if released into the wild because they never learn predatory skills. [1] Carnivores only have a 33 percent chance of surviving in the wild. [2] They usually have little fear for other large carnivores and they fail socially. Most efforts to introduce predators into the wild have ended with the animal dying shortly after. Therefore, carnivores born in zoos will have to remain in captivity in order to survive.

Counter arguments

Some predators survive after being released into the wild. Zoos can prepare animals for the wild by mimicking their natural habitat. Some cases of released animals are successful, therefore it is possible for predators to survive after being in captivity.

Premises

[P1] Most predators die if released into the wild. [P2] Captive born predators can only survive in zoos.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.animalsasia.org/us/media/news/news-archive/tragic-legacy-why-cant-captive-animals-be-released-back-into-the-wild.html
  2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2008/01/predators-captivity-habitat-animals/#close
This page was last edited on Monday, 26 Oct 2020 at 13:32 UTC

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