The idea of keeping a wild animal as a pet has long been a contentious issue that has generated discussion. Particularly intelligent and social animals that have won many people over are elephants. However, keeping an elephant as a pet is unethical in addition to being impracticable. Here are a few explanations:
Elephants are not domesticated creatures, first and foremost. They are untamed creatures that have developed to live in their natural environments. Elephants need a lot of area to wander and live happily. They are more prone to stress, anxiety, and sadness in captivity, which can cause health issues and even death.
Second, most individuals lack the skills necessary to provide the specific care and attention that elephants need. They require a particular diet, appropriate medical attention, and a lot of activity. Training an elephant to do tricks or act in a certain way is risky for both the elephant and the owner in addition to being inhumane.
In addition, keeping wild animals as pets is illegal in many nations. These regulations are in place to safeguard animals and keep them from being used for human amusement or financial gain. Legal repercussions, fines, and even jail time are possible in some situations when keeping a wild animal as a pet.
Moving on to zoos, a contentious subject, many people question if animals are slaughtered in zoos. Yes, but it’s not as straightforward as it might seem. Zoos have an obligation to keep their animals healthy and secure. Euthanasia may be required when an animal is ill, hurt, or poses a threat to people or other animals. To create way for new exhibits or for no apparent reason, zoos do not kill animals.
The alternatives available to zoos when it comes to undesirable animals are varied. They might decide to move them to other zoos or wildlife refuges that can offer suitable care. If it is determined that the animals are healthy enough to live, they may occasionally be returned to the wild. The truth is that because to their dependence on human care or incapacity to live in their natural environments, many zoo animals cannot be returned into the wild.
Zoos offer various advantages, including teaching, research, and conservation activities, in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Zoos can also act as a haven for creatures that can’t thrive in the wild and a refuge for endangered species. Zoos do, however, have some drawbacks. Zoos, according to their detractors, are immoral and inhumane because they rob animals of their natural habitats and make them live in cramped quarters. Zoos may also help to spread the myth that animals exist only to amuse people.
Finally, it is difficult to answer if zoos are run for profit. Zoos do charge entry prices and make money from the sale of goods and food, but the majority of zoos are nonprofit organizations that put their profits back into the care of the animals and conservation activities. However, some zoos have come under fire for prioritizing profits over the care of the animals and breeding species only for the purpose of drawing crowds.
In conclusion, it is not only impracticable but also unethical to keep an elephant as a pet. Elephants need a lot of room and specialized care that most people are unable to supply. Similar to zoos, which have advantages and disadvantages, there is ongoing discussion about the ethics and goals of zoos. Zoos have a duty to put the wellbeing of their animals before profit, even when they can promote education and conservation.
The answer to the query of whether elephants make suitable pets is no. Elephants need a lot of room, a unique food, and social connections with other elephants because they are wild animals. Being a pet owner of them is wrong and cruel.
There are various reasons why zoos ought to be outlawed, to address the issue of why. First, many zoos hold animals in poor living conditions that are both physically and psychologically harmful. Second, zoos frequently put amusement over conservation and education, which results in the exploitation of animals. Last but not least, zoos aid in the continuous breeding and captivity of wild animals, which ultimately thwarts efforts to save them in their natural habitats.