Elise Pevoar

Amy Rybak

GSW 1120

20 March 2017

Annotated Bibliography

Ali, Z., et al. "EFFECT of SPACING on REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE of INDIAN PEAFOWL (Pavo Cristatus) in CAPTIVITY." Pakistan Journal of Science, vol. 68, no. 4, 31 Dec. 2016, pp. 387-390. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.bgsu.edu:8080/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=120666248&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

This study was conducted by Punjab Wildlife Research Institute to show the effect of different cage sizes and reproductive rates.  The birds were kept in cages that were 30, 21, and 12 square meters, this way each bird was able to have some space.  For each cage there was two females for every male.  Results showed that the birds kept in the 21 square meter cage had higher egg production compared to the other two.   

“This study indicated that, in case of Indian Peafowl, the breeding flock kept at intermediate cage spacing performed better than that kept at large spacing or at too narrow spacing” (Ali 387).

“Increase in human population, habitat destruction and degradation due to human settlements, industrialization, food scarcity, hunting and trapping have caused decline in population of Indian Peafowl in its natural habitats” (Ali 387).

What is the hardest animal to breed in captivity?

Bekoff, Marc and Jessica Pierce. Wild Justice. The University of Chicago Press, 2009. 1-30. Print.

Research has shown that some animals do have the ability to live cognitive and emotional lives.  Another experiment was conducted using captive diana monkeys.  The monkeys had to insert a coin in order to obtain food.  When one of the monkeys wasn’t able to obtain food, another monkey stepped in and gave the food to the one that was incapable of getting the food.  Not all animals have been tested to see if they have the ability to see if they have moral behavior; however, examples include chimpanzees, apes, and whales. 

“Taking animal-behavior research as it stands now, there’s compelling evidence for moral behavior in primates, social carnivores, cetaceans, elephants, and some rodents” (9)

“Research on primates currently provides the most robust account of moral behavior in animals” (9).

What are ethical ways scientists could perform tests on animals to see if they have the ability to show moral behavior?

Birkett, LP, and NE Newton-Fisher. "How Abnormal is the Behaviour of Captive, Zoo-Living Chimpanzees?" PLOS ONE, vol. 6, no. 6, 2011, pp. e20101, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020101.

Chimpanzees that live in captivity have shown behavioral issues, which then can develop into more serious mental health problems.  This is why zoos have transformed exhibits to better replicate their natural environment.  The researchers studied 40 chimps chosen from six zoos across the United States and United Kingdom.  For 50 days they recorded the diversity, duration, prevalence, and frequency of the uncommon behaviors.  The results showed abnormal behavior was observed in all 40 test animals.  The most common behavior spotted across all 40 chimpanzees was eating feces.  Some less common, but still observed behaviors, include hitting themselves and picking at their fur.  Some zoos used toys for enrichment, but abnormal behavior still occurred.

“We suggest there is an urgent need to understand how the chimpanzee mind copes with captivity, an issue with both scientific and welfare implications” (Brikett).

“All 40 chimpanzees showed some abnormal behaviour” (Brikett).

Do all animals react the same way to mental issues?

Blackfish. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Our Turn & Manny O Productions, 2013.

Fisherman set out on the coast of Washington to collect young orcas and took them out of the wild. Tilikum was captured in 1983 off the coast of Iceland and was later paired with another whale at Sealand park in Canada to work on behavioral skills.  If he didn’t get the behavior correct both whales would be deprived of food.  The other whale would get mad and attack him with his teeth, leaving Tilikum with deep cuts on his body.  During the day, they were kept in a 100 foot by 50 foot pool and at night they were kept in a pen that was 20 feet across and 30 feet deep.  Tilikum killed a trainer in 1991, because of this, Sealand closed, and Tilikum was sold to SeaWorld because trainers thought he would have a better life.  Everyone thought killer whales were dangerous animals, but in reality they are social and understanding in the wild due to the fact that they live in families.  Along with dolphins, they have a strong sense of self and social behavior.  Tilikum was kept in a holding pool because he was abused by the females and only performed at the end of the show.  Shamu was born in captivity and was separated from her mother at an early age.  Her mother was very vocal when her calf was taken from her, which was unusual for her.  Park visitors and trainers noticed dorsal collapse, which happens in less than 1% of wild whales.  According to the trainers, all captive males have collapsed fins, which is a sign of an unhealthy whale.  Violence happens between whales because they didn’t grow up together and were brought in from around the world (not seen in the wild because they have space to get away).  Over the years, 70 + incidents have happened at SeaWorld involving the whales.  SeaWorld only kept Tilikum around for breeding purposes.  All whales in captivity have psychological issues and trainers never know when they’ll express that frustration.

“He comes out every once in a while and performs in shows, but do you know what he does in his shows? He takes a few bows and then goes back into his little jail cell. That’s his life.” (Dean Gomersall, former Seaworld trainer) 

“If you were in a bathtub for 25 years, don’t you think you’d get a little psychotic?” (Jane Velez-Mitchell, CNN News)

“When you look into their eyes, you know somebody is home,” (John Jett, former Seaworld trainer)

Caron, Christina. Zanesville Animal Massacre Included 18 Rare Bengal Tigers. ABC News, 19 Oct. 2011, http://abcnews.go.com/US/zanesville-animal-massacre-included-18-rare-bengal-tigers/story?id=14767017. Accessed on 16 March 2017.

Terry Thompson, a 61-year-old man, released 56 wild animals onto his 73-acre property in Zanesville, Ohio.  He had been cited multiple times for animal cruelty and neglect and was arrested for weapon charges.  He released the animals on Tuesday October 18 2011 before committing suicide.  The majority of the animals were shot and killed by police officers; however, not every single animal was killed.  Three leopards, two monkeys, and a grizzly bear survived and were taken to the Columbus Zoo.  The local police department had been aware of the farm for many years.  

“When the carnage was over, 49 animals were slaughtered, including 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, six black bears, two grizzly bears, three mountain lions, two wolves, and a baboon” (Caron).  

“ABC News’ wildlife expert Jack Hanna, … said it was especially heartbreaking to see so many Bengal tigers killed when they were on the verge of extinction” (Caron).

“The guy was depressed and he loved the animals that much, maybe” says Hanna (Caron)

Could something like this happen somewhere else?

Keerthana, R. "Zoo Animals: Ethical Concerns." The Hindu, May 31, 2016, ProQuest Newsstand, https://search.proquest.com/docview/1792466594?accountid=26417.

Questions about animal safety in zoos began to emerge when Harambe was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo.  These days, zoos are created for conservation purposes, research, and captive breeding programs where in the past they were mostly for public viewing and entertainment.  Zoos have regulations to make sure their animals are well taken care of.  Some attempt to improve the exhibits, but money can limit the amount of changes that can be made.  Foot problems can develop in elephants if they are kept in a small enclosure.  Living in captivity can also cause an animal to live shorter lives and miss normal migration times.  

“Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla was killed on Saturday at a Cincinnati zoo to save a boy who slipped into the enclosure” (Keerthana).

“When zoos take time to think about the animal's welfare, zoos can become a place of refuge. There are animals that are injured in the wild and are unable to survive on their own, but in the zoos they can live out the rest of their lives healthy and happy” (Keerthana).

What affect does missing a migration have on the animals?

Koebner, Linda. Zoo Book The Evolution of Wildlife Conservation Centers. Tom Doherty Associates Inc, 1994. Print.

This book explores what zoos in the past and present looked like, the types of species that were kept, and their uncertain future.  The author then transitions into the changes zoos have gone through and what they look like in today’s society.  The evolution of the zoo, called a menagerie in the past, went from having many animals in small enclosures, so visitors could get to as close to the animal as possible, to having fewer animals but larger exhibits.  She then makes a point how the education aspect of zoos is just as important as the zoo itself.  Having educational signs for endangered species makes the public more aware of how important some species can be.         

“It is possible that within the next twenty years, many zoos will be called “conservation centers,” the name for the next stage of their evolution” (19).

“Dr. Christen Wemmer, the associate director in charge of the Center, feels that in order for conservation to be successful, wilderness areas must be protected but, of equal importance, people need to understand the value of their country’s wildlife” (46).

What is the overall cost to update every single zoo to the conservation standard of today’s society?

Kuehn, B. AVMA Our Passion. Our Profession. American Veterinary Medical Association, 2001, https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/021201d.aspx. Accessed on 20 March 2017.

Zoos can be either accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and those who fail to meet the requirements.  Some people believe zoos should not exist because animals have a right to freedom or living in captivity decreases their standard of living.  The largest, and most important reason, zoos exist is the fact zoos exist for conservation purposes    

“Of the 2,400 animal exhibitors licensed by the Department of Agriculture, fewer than 10 percent meet AZA standards for accreditation, Dr. Hutchins said

Dr. Hutchins says, "We need to know about the biology of animals to conserve," (Kuehn).

 

Clover, Charles. Carnivores Released into Wild ‘Fail and Die’. Telegraph Media Group, 2017, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/3322397/Carnivores-released-into-wild-fail-and-die.html. Accessed on 20 March 2017.

Carnivores that were born in captivity and released back to the wild failed and eventually died.  Only one in three animals survived when released into their natural habitat.  These deaths are believed to be caused by human interactions and starvation due to the lack of hunting skills.  For example, wolves that were reintroduced into Yellowstone were killed by farmers.  Captivity also makes the animals more prone to contracting illnesses.   

“The study looked at reintroductions involving such carnivores as lynx, Amur tiger, cheetah, brown bear and otter, and found only one in three captive-bred animals released into their natural habitat survived” (Clover).

“The next step is for scientists, conservationists and animal welfare groups to develop guidelines to help captive animals prepare for a new life in the wild” (