Animal rights answer

Animal welfare answer

Conservation view

Arguments FOR zoos

Scientific research

Preserving the Species

Extinction in wild

What is ethics?

Zoo ethics

On what grounds can we justify keeping wild animals in captivity?
How should zoo directors respond to the charge, from animal rights campaigners that zoos are morally indefensible?

Philosopher Dale Jamieson

Stephen Bostock (1993)

We only remove the liberty of humans under very specific circumstances (e.g. law breaking)

Utilitarianism

"The greatest good for the greatest number"

Harm done to small number of animals is justified if it benefits a large number of the same species

Animal Welfare View

Basic Needs Test

Can the zoo provide basic physiological and psychological needs of the animal?

Animal Rights View

Rights of animals are equal to that of humans

Animal Rights View 2

Some argue zoos give false compromised picture of habitats and ecosystems

Conservation vs. Welfare

Anti-Zoo Campaigners

Born Free Foundation
PETA

Animal Welfare

Animal Rights

Which animals should be considered?

Sentience

Consciousness

Cognition

Self-awareness

Communication

The greater the sentience of an animal,
The greater its consciousness
The greater its ability to feel as a result of perceiving the external world,
The greater its ability to suffer pain...

Welfare Consideration

Space? Natural social system?
Training - enrichment or limit autonomy?

Visitor effect

Stereotypical pacing in large cats