research questions

Julia Werthaiser

ENC 2135



My topic is: are the conditions of zoos cable of maintaining the physical/ mental health of animals?

1. I am interested in researching and writing about animal rights.

2. I am interested in this topic because my dad is a veterinarian and from a young age I was surrounded by animals and I developed a love for them. The problem of captivity was brought to my attention after watching the infamous film Blackfish.

3. Some surprising facts I encountered during my research is that it is common that animals in captivity develop mental disorders like OCD and depression. Also, that some zoos still take animals from the wild. I still have questions like how do we know an animal has depression or another mental illness? What can zoos do to ameliorate this problem? How common are zoos in this decade as compared to other decades?

4. Yes, many researchers disagree about the effects of keeping animals in zoos. Some arguments they make is that animals in captivity are safer than the wild, scientists can do researcher on endangered species, and generates the economy through tourism.

5. Yes.

6. Captivity leads to OCD and depression in animals. Having an alternative to zoos.

7. How can we better the lives of animals that are enclosed?
   What would happen if zoos were shut down?
   How does keeping animals captive physically harm them?
   Are there laws enforced making sure that the captive animals have everything they would in the wild?
   
8. Animal rights, animal cloning, zoochosis, and endangered