Document type : article published in Ouest France Le Mag des Animaux
Author: Laetitia Cochet
Preview: Keeping animals in captivity is a source of much debate and emotion. The issue is complex, calling for a thorough exploration of animal welfare implications, without neglecting the importance of conservation efforts and the role played by human society in the management of other species.
Negative consequences of captivity for animals
The keeping of animals in captivity raises worrying questions about their psychological and physiological welfare. (...)
Meritsof the keeping of animals in captivity
The practice is not altogether bad, though. Animal captivity can be defended because it contributes to the conservation of endangered species. (...)
Thefuture ban on the keeping of certain animals in captivity in France
In 2020, France announced a landmark legislative measure to ban the keeping of certain wild animals in captivity in circuses and for other entertainment purposes by 2027. (...)
Educating the public
It should not, however, be forgotten that zoos and wildlife parks play an essential educational role by bringing animals closer to the public. (...)
Can quality of life be better for captive animals?
In some cases, the quality of life of animals in captivity can be better than that of their wild counterparts, particularly in cases where their natural habitat is severely compromised. (...)
The debate on animal captivity is still ongoing. On the one hand, captivity is seen as an essential strategy for the safeguarding of certain endangered species, providing a controlled environment for reproduction and preserving genetic diversity. On the other, this same captivity can compromise the welfare of the animals, depriving them of their natural freedom and imposing living conditions on them that may sometimes be inappropriate for their species. The issue of human responsibility towards other living beings is more acute than it has ever been. The keeping of animals in captivity, especially for entertainment, is increasingly called into question, not least from an ethical point of view. This undoubtedly prompts our societies to reflect on our conservation priorities: should we prioritize species preservation at all costs, even to the detriment of individual welfare? A growing number of voices are promoting alternatives to captivity, such as the protection of natural habitats to achieve better in situ conservation, or the creation of reserves. These approaches promise to be more effective in the long term for species conservation. Although there is still a long way to go, the situation is certainly becoming more favorable to animal welfare.
