Alana Dolan

Professor Jennifer Santiago

UWRT 1102

6 February 2017

Topic Proposal

The first zoo in the United States was approved in 1859 to be created in the city of

Philadelphia but due to the Civil War it was delayed until 1874. On July 1, 1874 the Philadelphia

zoo officially opened its gates and thus the first zoo was created. The idea of a zoo came from

English Settlers who were interested in the animals that surrounded them. Also the idea grew

from sailors and hunters who came across exotic animals on there trips. The first modern zoo in

the world opened in 1793 in Paris, France. This zoo was modeled more along the lines of a

museum with living breathing animals. The animals were kept in small enclosures to fit as many

animals as possible into the zoo. With the creation of zoos many animals have been placed in

captivity and until recently scientist have not been really looking at the effects on them. The

question Ive proposed is What are the effects of being kept in captivity on animals. Im

curious about this inquiry because a zoo is not an animals natural habitat so there are bound to be

some kind of effects. There is a lot of contradicting information on the topic of zoos and whether

or not there having a negative or positive impact on animals.

The research I will be doing for this inquiry will be interesting to those who are animal

lovers or just who have an interest in the science surrounding animals. The purpose of my paper

is to try and figure out whether or not zoos are helping or hurting the animals. My research will

help me make a decision on if I support zoos or not. If I find out that zoos are having a negative

impact on its inhabitants than I will stop supporting them and not be going to anymore.
 The two major opposing views have basis in some of the same areas due to trying to

protect animals. One view is that by having animals in zoos we are saving them from

endangerment and helping to educate the public on these animals. The other view is that having

animals in zoos is unnatural and cause mental problems to the animals. The term for the mental

state of the animals in captivity is zoochosis which states that certain behaviors we see in zoo

animals are unnatural and are a negative result of captivity. Some of these behaviors are bar

biting, self-mutilation, swinging, pacing, and rocking. While studying these odd behaviors

scientist are trying to see if there connected to being in a zoo or not. Thus, the question of the

effects of captivity on animals has been debated until a diagnosis is proven as evidence which is

why I will be researching this question to try and find an answer.

The next steps in my process will be to try and find more evidence on what exactly being

in a zoo does to animals. Are the zoos causing unintentional harm or are they helping with the

problem of extinction in todays world. I will need to research more sources on opposing views to

try and gain a more informed stance on the subject matter. In the end I will side with whichever

side has significant proof that they are indeed correct. I will also be looking at more academic

sources and finding more sources of higher caliber.

Bibliography

Ramos, Jessica. Zoochosis: The Disturbing Thing That Happens to Animals in Captivity.

Zoochosis: The Disturbing Thing That Happens To Animals In Captivity | Care2 Causes, Care2
 Causes, 22 May 2014, www.care2.com/causes/zoochosis-the-disturbing-thing-that-happens-to-

animals-in-captivity.html.

Good,Kate. Zoochosis: What Really Happens to Animals in Captivity (Video). One Green

Planet, 23 May 2014, www.onegreenplanet.org/news/zoochosis-what-really-happens-to-

animals-in-captivity-video/.

Keep Wildlife in the Wild. Born Free Foundation, www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-

check/.

Smith, Laura. Zoos are fun for people but awful for animals. Slate Magazine, Slate, 20 June

2014,

www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things2014/06/20animal_madness_stereotypic_behavior_and_prob

lems_with_zoos.html

Carr, Michelle. The Reality of Zoos. PETA, PETA,

Alex Halberstadt. Zoo Animals and Their Discontent. The New York Times Magazine, New

York Times, 3 July 2014, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/magazine/zoo-animals-and-

their-discontents.html?_r=0

Burkett, Lucy P, and Nicholas E Newton-Fisher. How Abnormal is the Behavior of Captive,

Zoo-Living Chimpanzees?, PLOS, 16 June 2011, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?

id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0020101.

How do zoos help endangered animals? Scientific American, 8 Apr.2009,

www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-zoos-help-endangered-animals/.

In Defense of Zoos: How Captivity Helps Conservation. The Conversation, 23 Jan.2017,

theconversation.com/in-defence-of-zoos-how-captivity-helps-conservation-56719.
 Pickerel, John. How Zoos Are Saving Our Animals.-Features-ABC Environment, 2

Aug.2010, www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2010/08/03/2971822.htm.