With my active involvement in the Animal Welfare Society I have found time and time again how important it is to boycott zoo's because of all the havoc they reek on wild animals being held in captivity. Although it may be a cute date plan or day to spend with kids it is not worth the amount of harm is being placed on these animals all for a day spent in a petting zoo. With the spring weather approaching, going to zoo's is going to be more popular so I feel that it is necessary to inform those who choose to support this industry as to what they are really supporting.

1. Animals should not be in cages.

Animals held in cages much smaller than their natural habitats will self destruct. Wild animals are not pets and should not be kept as if they are. Being taken from their natural habitat and confined in small spaces is extremely harmful to the health and well being of the animal.

2. Often times the habitats that they are placed into are nothing like the ones they come from.

These habitats that they are provided with are so small in comparison to their natural habitats that it is not even close to realistic. Taking a whale from the ocean and placing it in a tank is the equivalent of taking a human being and confining them to one room for the rest of their life. This is mentally harmful for the animals, as we have seen in many cases such as Lolita the whale that when this happens the animals become severly depressed and will attempt suicide. Dolphins and whales have been known to bash their heads against the tank walls because of the emotional stress they are being placed in for life.

3. It supports keeping animals in captivity

Supporting zoos or aquariums is directly supporting to animals in captivity. Animals who are used to roaming the Safaris in Africa are placed in zoos for the rest of their lives and often not taken care of correctly. By supporting this industry we are directing contributing to the continuation of animals being in captivity. These beautiful creatures should be roaming their natural habitats and not in cages as spectacles for human entertainment.

4. Bad things end up happening when wild animals are forced to be around humans.

As society has been shown. For example with Harambe the animal was shot and killed because a little boy escaped into the cage. This is an example of why wild animals and humans should not be forced to coexist. These animals should not have to pay the cost of life because of societies obsession with zoos. These animals should be viewed and appreciated from afar and not within a tiny enclosure while they sit miserably for the rest of their lives. If we cannot provide animals with the same habitat that they would have in the wild we should not keep them in captivity at all.