Hobbies And Interests
Captivity for Entertainment Restricts Natural Movement
Various animals that people keep captive for entertainment, such as big cats and birds, would cover greater distances in the wild than they are able to in captivity. The cages and exhibits in which they live are often too small and do not contain what the animals need to be happy. For example, elephants in the wild run, walk, swim, sunbathe and socialize for most of the day in the wild. They walk as many as 25 miles on any given day with their herds. Circuses and zoos transport them in train cars for days at a time, without their social and exercise needs met. Elephants only sleep fours hours a day at the most, so most of the time captive elephants are on trains, they are awake. Once they are off the trains, circuses chain them so they cannot run away.
Animals Fighting for Entertainment Often Kill Each Other
One way that people use captive animals for entertainment is for fights, typically dog and cockfights. In a cockfight tournament, up to half of the birds are usually dead by the end. Those who live sustain serious injury. People who keep dogs captive to fight for human entertainment will force their dogs into fights that may last up to two hours. Fights end when one dog is dead or cannot fight.
Entertainment Animals Can Injure or Kill People
Animals that people keep in captivity for entertainment are sometimes free of cages and under the control of humans. The problem is that many of these animals can easily kill their handlers and innocent bystanders. In 1994, a captive elephant cow in Honolulu killed her handler and ran wild through the streets. Police killed her to prevent more deaths. In 2003, a tiger bit Roy, of the famous magic duo Siegfried and Roy, in the neck during their show. Roy had been working with tigers for roughly 30 years.
Captivity can Shorten Animals' Lives
Marine mammals that learn tricks for entertainment, such as dolphins and orcas, live shorter lives in captivity. Dolphins may live up to 50 years in the ocean. In SeaWorld in San Antonio, they live an average of four years. Orcas can have a life expectancy of up to 90 years in the ocean. None has ever lived longer than 20 years in captivity.