A List of Arguments For and Against Zoos

A List of Arguments For and Against Zoos Not all animal rights activists love animals. Some respect them because they understand animals have a place in the world. Zoos, especially the ones that are doing everything right, present a special challenge to the animal-loving advocates because they would like to see and interact with the animals. Zoos and Animal Rights Zoo advocates argue that they save endangered species and educate the public, but many  animal rights activists believe the costs outweigh the benefits, and the violation of the rights of the individual animals is unjustifiable. Roadside zoos, petting zoos, and smaller animal exhibitors tend to offer inadequate space for the animals, keeping them in pens or cages. Sometimes, barren concrete and metal bars are all a tiger or bear will know for their entire lives. Larger, accredited zoos try to distance themselves from these operations by touting how well the animals are treated, but to animal rights activists, the issue not how well the animals are treated, but whether we have a right to confine them for our amusement or education. grass-lifeisgood / Getty Images Arguments For Zoos By bringing people and animals together, zoos educate the public and foster an appreciation of the animals. This exposure and education motivate people to protect the animals.Zoos save endangered species by bringing them into a safe environment, where they are protected from poachers, habitat loss, starvation, and predators.Many zoos also have breeding programs for endangered species. In the wild, these individuals might have trouble finding mates and breeding.Reputable zoos are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and are held to high standards for the treatment of the animals. According to the AZA, accreditation means, official recognition and approval of a zoo or aquarium by a group of experts.A good zoo provides an enriched habitat in which the animals are never bored, are well cared for, and have plenty of space.Zoos are a tradition, and a visit to a zoo is a wholesome, family activity.Seeing an animal in person is a much more personal and more memorable experienc e than seeing that animal in a nature documentary. Some would argue that humans have little, if any duty to non-human animals because humans are more important, and if keeping animals in zoos serves any educational or entertainment purposes, it serves a purpose to the humans, even if that purpose is not beneficial for the animals.Some zoos help rehabilitate wildlife and take in exotic pets that people no longer want or are no longer able to care for.Both accredited and unaccredited animal exhibitors are regulated by the federal Animal Welfare Act, which establishes standards for care. Long Zhiyong / Getty Images Arguments Against Zoos From an animal rights standpoint, we do not have a right to breed, capture and confine other animals, even if they are endangered. Being a member of an endangered species doesnt mean the individual animals have fewer rights.Animals in captivity suffer from stress, boredom, and confinement. Intergenerational bonds are broken when individuals get sold or traded to other zoos, and no pen or even drive-through safari can compare to the freedom of the wild.Baby animals bring in visitors and money, but this incentive to breed new baby animals leads to overpopulation. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos, but also to circuses, canned hunting facilities, and even for slaughter.Some zoos just kill their surplus animal outright.The vast majority of captive breeding programs do not release animals back into the wild. The offspring are forever part of the chain of zoos, circuses, petting zoos, and exotic pet trade that buy, sell and barter animals among themselves and exploit animals. Ned the Asian elephant was born at an accredited zoo, but later confiscated from an abusive circus trainer and finally sent to a sanctuary. Removing individuals from the wild will further endanger the wild population because the remaining individuals will be less genetically diverse and will have more difficulty finding mates.If people want to see wild animals in real life, they can observe wildlife in the wild or visit a sanctuary. A true sanctuary does not buy, sell, or breed animals, but takes in unwanted exotic pets, surplus animals from zoos or injured wildlife that can no longer survive in the wild.If zoos are teaching children anything, its that imprisoning animals for our own entertainment is acceptable.The argument that children will have more compassion animals they can see life does not hold water. Not one of todays children has ever seen a dinosaur, yet kids are crazy about them.At least one study has shown that elephants kept in zoos do not live as long as elephants in the wild.The federal Animal Welfare Act establishes only the most minimal standards for cage size, shelter, health care, ventilation, fencing , food, and water. For example, enclosures must provide sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Inadequate space may be indicated by evidence of malnutrition, poor condition, debility, stress, or abnormal behavior patterns. Violations often result in a slap on the wrist and the exhibitor is given a deadline to correct the violation. Even a long history of inadequate care and AWA violations, such as the history of Tony the Truck Stop Tiger, will not free the animals. Sanctuaries also rehabilitate wildlife and take in unwanted exotic pets, without breeding, buying and selling animals like zoos do.Animals sometimes escape their enclosures, endangering themselves as well as people. There have even been incidents of zoo animals eating other zoo animals. In the case of zoos, both sides will argue that their side saves animals. Whether or not zoos benefit the animal community, they certainly do make money. As long as there is demand for zoos, they will continue to exist. We can start by making sure that zoo conditions are the best possible for the animals who are confined to them.

50 Synonyms for Assistant

50 Synonyms for Assistant 50 Synonyms for Assistant 50 Synonyms for Assistant By Mark Nichol A number of words- many precise in meaning, as well as colorful and/or pejorative- exist to assist you in describing someone who works below another person. Here are fifty synonyms for assistant. 1. accomplice: an assistant, especially in the commission of a crime 2. adjunct: an assistant or associate (also, a short-term or junior faculty member, or something added or joined to another) 3. adjutant: a military officer who is an assistant and secretary to a superior officer 4. aide: an assistant, often in a military or political context (sometimes misspelled aid) 5. aide-de-camp: a military officer who is an assistant to a superior officer 6. apprentice: an assistant training to master a skill 7. attendant: an assistant or servant, or an employee who helps customers (also, someone who attends an event, or something that accompanies something else) 8. auxiliary: a member of a foreign military unit fighting alongside military units of another nation (also, a Catholic bishop subordinate to and not entitled to succeed the bishop of a diocese) 9. coadjutor: an assistant (also, a Catholic bishop subordinate to and often a successor to the bishop of a diocese) 10. cog: an assistant who is one of many or who has a minor role in a company or organization 11. deputy: a substitute or second in command (also, a member of a lower house of a legislative body) 12. domestic: a household servant 13. employee: someone who works for someone else or for a company or organization for pay; also spelled employe 14. factotum: a servant with multiple responsibilities (also, anyone with multiple responsibilities) 15. flunky: a person who performs various small tasks for an important or powerful person; also spelled flunkey and flunkie (also refers to a sycophant) 16. follower: someone in the service of another person 17. gofer: someone who performs errands or other simple tasks for another person (from â€Å"go for†) 18.–19. handmaiden: a female maid or servant; also handmaid (also, something inanimate that exists to assist or serve) 20. help: an employee or helper; often used collectively (â€Å"the help†) 21. helper: an assistant, especially an unskilled laborer who assists a skilled worker 22.–23. helpmate: an assistant who also serves as a companion, or a wife; also helpmeet 24. henchman: a trusted assistant (often used colloquially for a politician’s aide), or a subordinate member of a gang (originally, a page or squire to a nobleman) 25. hireling: someone paid to do an unpleasant or illicit task 26. lackey: a person who performs menial or unpleasant work for another (originally a footman or a general servant; also refers to a sycophant) 27. legman: someone who gathers information and/or runs errands for another person 28. lieutenant: someone who assists and/or substitutes for another person (also, a specific military rank or role) 29–30. maid/maidservant: someone who cleans and performs other tasks for another person (maid also refers to an unmarried girl or woman) 31–33. man Friday: a devoted, efficient assistant; also â€Å"girl Friday† or â€Å"gal Friday† (from the character named Friday in Robinson Crusoe) 34. mate: an assistant to a more skilled person (also various other meanings) 35. menial: a person who does boring or unpleasant work for another person 36. minion: someone who obeys another person 37. number two: a person immediately subordinate to a leader (from military slang) 38. personal assistant: someone who assists another person by performing tasks and running errands 39. retainer: a person who assists in a household 40. right hand: a key assistant 41. second-in-command: a person immediately subordinate to a leader (from military usage) 42. scullion: a kitchen servant 43. second: an assistant, especially to a boxer or a duelist (also various other meanings) 44. second fiddle: someone in a supporting role or with subordinate responsibilities (from an informal reference to the violinist who sits next to the principal violinist in a music ensemble) 45. servant: someone who assists another person in that person’s home, often by cleaning and/or cooking 46. sidekick: someone who assists another person; traditionally refers to an assistant and companion to a heroic character 47. steward: someone who manages someone else’s household and/or property (also, someone who provides food and drinks in an institution or on a vehicle or vessel, or who manages finances or carries out other administrative duties) 48. subordinate: someone who works below someone else 49. swamper: a handyman or helper (also someone inhabiting or familiar with a swampy area) 50. underling: a low-ranking person who works for someone more powerful Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? 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