Category: Animals

The estuarine environment is an area where bodies of water and shoreline meet, where rivers join the ocean or other large masses of water (Barnes, R.S.K. & Green, J. 1972). The estuarine environment is very dynamic and presents many difficulties for survival, animals have found many ways to adapt and deal with the pressures. The combination of both flows of water creates what is known as brackish water, this is a mixture of salty and fresh water (‘The Dynamic Intertidal Environment’, 2013). The area at the shoreline that is most affected by tidal movements is known as the intertidal zone, the salinity concentrations and water levels are affected (Gracey, A. et al., 2008). Salt is moved in with the ocean and a constantly changing water level results in the habitat being under water half the day and exposed to the atmosphere the rest. Wave exposure is another problem that animals face living in the intertidal zone, the force of waves crashing onto the shore can be powerful. Although organisms that live in these harsh habitats face many challenges, they have adapted to create a very productive ecosystem, nutrients flow in from both bodies of water and this allows for the support of a large diversity of animals (‘The Dynamic Intertidal Environment’, 2013). This essay will discuss the ways that barnacles, fiddler crabs and ochre sea stars have adapted to survive in these conditions.

Barnacles are bivalves that have adapted to live in estuarine environments, they are found in the intertidal zone on rocks and other solid surfaces (‘Basic Biology’, 2018). The life cycle consists of two larval stages and the adult stage, the first larval stage is dispersed to drift with the zooplankton because the intertidal zone is too harsh an environment to support the young (Anil, A.C. et al., 2010). This first larvae stage feeds until it is ready to undergo a transformation into the second larval stage, which is known as a cyprid. Once in this second larval stage it is developed enough to be able to support itself in the intertidal zone and must find a hard substrate to attach itself to, where it finally develops into an adult (Anil, A.C. et al., 2010). Barnacles are sessile which means they will spend their entire life in one position, they have a foot which has is used to attach themselves to the surface (‘Basic Biology’, 2018). Barnacles have also developed glands that can release a cement like substance to secure themselves into position, this stops the force of the waves from washing them away. Barnacles have a calcareous outer shell that, like all bivalves, is made up of five or more plates. The intertidal zone is exposed to a lot of force from heavy waves crashing and this calcareous shell helps absorb the impact of the waves which allows barnacles to live in some very hazardous places (Hoch, M. & Reyes, K., 2015). Barnacles do not have gills or lungs, instead they respirate via gas exchange through a modified leg known as a cirri. The cirri are feather-like legs that are also responsible for feeding, it extends out of the shell and sifts through the water filter feeding on particles (Hoch, M. & Reyes, K., 2015). Barnacles are only able to use their cirri when they are submerged underwater and so when the tide recedes, and the barnacles are exposed to the atmosphere it presents a major problem. To cope with this, they have adapted the outer shell to allow movement in two of the plates, meaning barnacles can open and close. When it is high tide, they will open their shells to release their cirri, and at low they will close their shells. By closing their shell barnacles can retain water inside an impermeable surface, this stops water loss when exposed to light and air long enough to survive until the water returns with the tide. Barnacles have adapted to the estuarine environment by a change in morphology that provides protection and prevents water loss.

Fiddler crabs are another animal that lives in the intertidal zone and has adapted to survive high tide. Fiddler crabs are a terrestrial species that has evolved to limit their activities to brief terrestrial outings when it is low tide (Takeda, S. & Murai, M., 2003). They cannot breathe underwater, when it is high tide, the crabs dig burrows to hide and wait in. When it is low tide and they are exposed to the atmosphere they will emerge from their burrows to participate in everyday happenings such as feeding, maintenance of the burrow, combat and ritualized courtship (Hilke, A. et al., 2015). When the tide starts to come back in the crabs will return to their burrows, they have what is known as a ‘biological clock’ which allows them to anticipate the tidal return and get back to their burrows before they are flooded (Barnwell, F., 1968). Once inside their burrow the fiddler crabs will plug up the entrance to stop water breaching and so creating a little oxygen tank (Hilke, A. et al., 2015). It can be many hours that the tide is high and there is only a limited amount of oxygen that be stored in the burrow. By shutting down and reducing the metabolic requirements fiddler crabs have adapted to restrict the amount of oxygen that they consume, prolonging the limited supply inside the burrow (Barnwell, F., 1968). Fiddler crabs have physically and behaviorally adapted to survive high tide by developing techniques to avoid it.

Ochre sea stars, commonly known as the purple sea star, are predators that are a key stone species which means they play a major role in the stability of the surrounding ecosystem (Ferrer, R. et al., 2015). Mussels are the sea stars main source of food. They have developed a technique in which they invert their stomach inside of a mussel shell and then digest the mussel inside. It is a very effective technique and can wipe out populations of mussels, this is important because they can cover large areas inhibiting the growth of other species and by clearing the mussels it allows for a larger diversity of species (Ferrer, R. et al., 2015). Ochre sea stars live in a wide range of environments, they can be found anywhere from sheltered lagoons to the most wave exposed rocky intertidal shorelines. By manipulating their morphology ochre sea stars can survive in some of the most wave exposed shorelines, when found in wave exposed areas their arms are thinner, and they weigh less (Hayne, K. & Palmer, A., 2011). By narrowing their arms and becoming lighter it decreases lift and drag from the crashing waves. When ochre sea stars are found in sheltered areas, they have wider arms and are heavier, this can help prevent overheating by increasing its insulation and it takes advantage of its increased body volume for more gametes (Hayne, K. & Palmer, A., 2011). Sea stars can adapt to short term variation in wave exposure, if moved from sheltered areas to wave exposed areas in three months they will have changed their physiology to adapt to its environment. Ochre sea stars are radially symmetrical and they move using a series of tubes that run along the underside of its arms called a hydrostatic skeleton. Surrounding water can be moved in or out of the system through the madreporite, a porous plate located on the underside of the star (University of Puget Sound, 2019). The arms are moved using hydrostatic pressure by moving the fluid within the hydrostatic skeleton, once it is low tide water cannot enter and exit the system and restricts the sea stars movements. When exposed to the atmosphere the tissue will become very stiff, this stiffening prevents water loss and allows it to anchor itself in shade or rock crevasses to reduce light exposure and hide from predators (University of Puget Sound, 2019). Ochre sea stars have adapted to this atmosphere exposure and are able to survive whilst exposed for up to 12 hours.

The estuarine environment is a hazardous habitat that presents many challenges for the animals that live in these areas. The intertidal zone is in estuaries at the shoreline and is heavily affected by tidal movements and wave exposure. Many species have had to adapt and develop techniques to survive, barnacles have done this by adapting morphologically to developed glands to provide an anchor and a moveable shell to prevent water loss (Hoch, M. & Reyes, K., 2015). The fiddler crabs have made behavioral and physical changes to avoid the high tide completely (Takeda, S. & Murai, M., 2003). Ochre sea stars have adapted morphologically to withstand atmospheric exposure but can also exhibit short term physiological changes in response to a difference in environmental conditions (Hayne, K. & Palmer, A., 2011). There are many ways that animals have found to adapt and overcome the pressures of living in an estuarine environment.

The Australian bushfires have changed Australia; as a result, many people and animals are undoubtedly affected by this disaster. However, in order to know why this happens, we must first look at ourselves. Nevertheless, bushfires have killed millions of people and even left many homeless causing them long-term problems and even debts. This impact on Australia has affected many lives in multiple ways and how people look at the world.

Bushfires in Australia is most prominent during summer, when the weather is very hot, promptly making the fire spread easier. Most of the time, natural causes are to blame due to climate change. Other factors such as lightning or even the severe heat of the sun can cause bushfires. Due to such circumstances, many forests have been burned down and sometimes, it can also endanger humans as it can spread by wind or even by the leaves from trees. A prime example that demonstrates this clearly when a series of wildfires called Black Saturday Bushfires, started accidentally on Saturday, February 7, 2009, when a couple of power lines fell and it spread across acres of trees due to harsh winds, causing immense destruction and even affected the surrounding environment causing many animal deaths. Not only animals but humans have also died on that faithful day in their homes being burnt alive.

Numerous forests get burnt from bushfires every year; therefore, the biodiversity has been severely affected causing many animals to become endangered. Billions of animals every year die as a result to the loss of diversity, making Australia experience the most excessive rate of species lost. Many of these species lost their lives as a result of the upcoming problem, global warming. As global warming becomes worse it starts affecting the climate, making Australia hotter every year and a lot of summers lasting longer than normal causing the bushfires to become more intense and destructive. “There are substantial concerns about the capacity of these ecosystems to rebound from the fires”, said Dieter Hochuli, an environmental sciences professor at the University of Sydney. Due to this, animals have been put in danger by loss of food, destructed homes and no place to hide. As seen on the news, more popular animals such as koalas and kangaroos are directly killed by bushfires either by breathing in too much smoke or getting burnt alive. However, not all animals die during the fires but after. Mammals and reptiles are affected due to the lack of food left by the fires or even no habitat to go back to and get eaten by predators. Despite this, people from around the world has collaborated together to launch several fundraisers to preserve these animals; one of them being RSPCA Australia (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Australia), this non-profit organization accepts donations from around the world to fund the rescue and treatment of the animals that suffer tremendously on the front lines of the monstrous fires.

The smoke produced by the bushfires is notably one of the most considerable threats to the civilians causing many problems when breathed in vast quantities of it. They especially pose a considerable risk to children and elderly people, inevitably producing a lot of health problems such as lung infection, asthma or even death. Over the years the percentage of hospital admissions has led to a 10% rise causing many health problems and can affect the future health of these people and affect their future/present careers. Most of the smoke is blown by the wind to the neighboring cities causing a lot of fog/smoke to fill the streets. During 2019-2020 the summer bushfires had an estimated 445 human deaths killed and put more than hundreds admitted to the Australian hospital summing up the health insurance to 2 billion dollars. This problem has prompted many concerns about the health consequences in the population, and it is shown those who have pre-existing health conditions or even pregnant can be affected severely. To protect themselves from the smoke, Australians have resulted to stay home wear masks, follow bushfire news and follow the information the news gives out. However, it has been recommended to stay home to reduce intake of the smoke. Although many humans are affected, we cannot look past our pets are even wild animals that inhabit the city such as birds, insects and fish. A lot of wild animals can be affected by bushfires as they do not possess a proper home such as birds. More than 60 birds have been reported to have just ‘fallen from the sky’ in Australia due to the excess amount of smoke and even polluted waterways. The reason some waterways are polluted is due to the soil being washed into lakes, ponds, etc. This can kill millions of fish as they would equally suffer to breathe and it was indeed confirmed by experts that this would continue to happen if nothing is done.

Another problem that has risen over the bushfires are the droughts. As climate change gets worse every day it has increased the time summer stays and even how often rainfall happens. Australia is currently the most severe drought in modern history and is even affected 49% of the grass growing in the fields. Due to this the patters of rainfall have changed in many places in Australia causing droughts during April-October which water is the most needed for animals and humans alike. Some of the most affected areas in Australia are New South Wales, southern inland Queensland, South Australia and many parts of the northern territory only receiving less than 50% rainfall than normal during the rainfall period. Over the years Australia’s rainfall has decreased by 11% for many years. It was even recorded that in 2019, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology was one of the country’s driest it has ever been. Sadly, in the regions of Queensland last year, it had killed over 500,000 livestock animals due to the extreme droughts. Similar to humans, plants and animals need water to survive, but due to speed of the bushfires any animals that survived the fire would not be able to recover due to dehydration caused the lack of water. Moreover, plants and trees require a lot of water to regrow but without it, it would not grow or even die. As for humans, the farmers would suffer tremendously as they would have to keep the animals alive but as stated before the livestock has tremendously depleted according to many news articles.

As bushfires become more problematic every year the local agriculture has also taken a turn for the worse as the fires grows day by day. The bushfires have caused a reduced production to agriculture as rainfall and fires have affected the crops, making them fall dramatically causing last year’s wheat crops to be below 47% average. It was also reported that the cotton made in Australia has fallen by 61,000 hectares over the span of many years ever since the 20th century. Additionally, many other things produced such as grains and dairy has taken a large hit due to the bushfires. Unfortunately, many farmers were forced to sell their farms, many of them resulted in their homes, water supply and even due to lack of food. However, the government in Australia has invested approximately 68 million to help the farmers with their livestock and agriculture. On a positive note, during 2019 farmers observed an increase in profit in cotton, wheat and much more produce as it has required a lot of hard work and money to maintain the farm. Although the government has made many attempts to assist the farmers to preserve their livestock and goods; it has also made Australia import many goods from other countries to support the insufficient materials like water and other things that may be in high demand such as water (‘Australia Imports Fiji Water’). Not only have the crops been destroyed but also the economy. The Moody’s economist Katrina Ell said: “The fires would further cripple Australia’s already anemic consumer confidence, increasing the chances of a rate cut next month, as well as causing damage to the economy through increased air pollution and direct harm to industries such as farming and tourism”. It is estimated that Australia’s government has to pay upwards of damages of 3 billion dollars, which can cause a huge impact onto the economy making the Australians think twice on what they are about to spend their money on later on. As many people have damaged homes or even been admitted to hospital, they would most likely invest their money on food although the prices would be increased due to the damaged farmlands.

This essay has conveyed the present condition and the effects the raging bushfires have had on Australia. Supportive arguments have been provided contrasting several critical statements. Based through research, bushfires are only one of many reasons that brings a lot of harm towards Australia, thus other factors may include climate change and even global warming. In short bushfires have severely affected many lives and reshaped how people perceive the global issues.

In the zoo, people can observe a variety of animals from all over the world. From aquatic animals to terrestrial animals, those vivid creatures are displayed in front of human beings. The origin of zoos can be dated back to ancient Egypt. Animals represented the power and wealth of an empire. The Romans usually captured animals, such as lions, elephants, and bears to battle criminals. According to Poultry, Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences (2014), “Collections of animals during ancient times could also be effective instruments of political statecrafts, with the exchange of particularly rare or valued specimens helping to forge alliances or ameliorate past offenses between feuding kingdoms.” That is to say, in Western Europe, rare species were favored by rulers because those animals could help sustain peace and power among kingdoms. Nowadays, zoos have several functions. The zoo helps conduct scientific research and experiments. On one hand, we are more familiar with the behavior of animals, on the other hand, animals are contributed to blood and drug test. In addition, zoos motivate public education. Through being close to these wild animals, people are able to learn how to preserve these extinct animals. Last but not least, the zoo provides a stable environment that prevents endangered animals from being intimidated by human and natural threats. Nevertheless, many controversies lie in the establishment of zoos. Due to captivity, animals’ behavior and instinct may change, which leads to both physical and mental damage.

Being transported from the natural environment to the zoos, the space is restricted and limits animals’ activities. Take animals for example, we know that elephants are bigger than any other animals. Once they are moved to the smaller enclosure, their instinct to migrate may be deprived. As a result, aggression may occur. Elephants are active animals, so it is important to make sure that they have plenty of time and place to conduct activities. As a matter of fact, we keep wild animals in captivity in order to deter them from facing predators. Nevertheless, their liberty of searching for food or building social orders may be interrupted by human beings. Humans confine these animals so that they can take care of them and increase their living qualities. However, according to The Captivity Industry, “Yet science shows that the stress and the trauma of capacity compromise the mental and physical health of individuals. The result is that countless efforts to re-introduce into (a mostly desecrated) wild have failed.” (Ref4-4) Even though humans try to imitate the original place for animals, there is nothing but a hard cage and a place full of noise. Furthermore, some animals should live in a group, but keepers separate them, making animals feel depressed and arise health problems. It shows that keepers are not familiar with their living habits. A lot of factors give rise to physical and mental problems, which undermine animals’ well-being. Despite the fact that laws can protect animals from living in an uncomfortable place, the truth is that there are many accidents and studies proving disadvantaged of confining these animals. (Ref4-4) Zoos, circuses, and marine mammal parks are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act and its regulation and are inspected for compliance on a regular basis. But regulations are general. And while there are penalties for violations. They are small and the agencies that perform such inspections are extremely understaffed relative to the number of institutions requiring examination.

It seems that visiting zoos can not only receive entertainment but also educate children on the value of biodiversity and convey the importance of conservation. Witnessing these different kinds of animals in person may be better than reading the information in books. According to Zoos through the ages, “The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) clarified the importance of wild animal collections in educating the public and advancing our scientific knowledge. Also, during this time, zoos began cooperating with each other. Nonetheless, the study demonstrates that most people take a look at animals and walk away. Edward G. Ludwig (1981) observed zoo employees, children, and adults reflections when they approached animals. Based on People at the zoo (1981), “People will usually stop, at least momentarily, for 1) animals that beg, 2) animals that are feeding, 3) baby animals, 4) animals that make sounds, or 5) animals that are mimicking human behavior.” That is to say, they may ignore animals if they are sleeping, remaining silent, and taking a rest. In addition, Ludwig also observed guided schools of children. Indeed, docents put emphasis on the education of preservation and conservation, however, people gradually lost interest in listening to speakers, and children run away from one place to another. It shows that people are reluctant to pay attention to docents, and education in zoos is a big question. Therefore, we should think about the necessity of the zoo. If zoos can educate people, we should know what aspect of knowledge we convey to people. To show the behavior of animals, we can find a method that does not capture animals but observe them at the same time. To inspire compassion for endangered animals’ situation, displaying animals in zoos may be not the utmost way. Books, films, and other technology are beneficial to students in acquiring knowledge and cultivating a sense of sympathy for animals. Accordingly, the existence of a zoo is worth considering.

Amusement plays an important role in our life, and the zoo brings a lot of entertainment. However, based on Mortality’s progress, Dale Jamieson mentioned “most curators and administrators reject the idea that the primary purpose of zoos is to provide entertainment. Indeed, many agree that the pleasure we take in viewing wild animals is not in itself a good enough reason to keep them in captivity.” Out of curiosity, humans want to know more about animals and be entertained by animals. In recent years, scientists cost a large quantity of money. Financial problems are a significant issue. Once animals suffer health problems, zoo keepers have to choose whether to cure animals or send them to euthanasia. Many factors lead to Animals suffering pain, such as the incorrect humidity and heat. Some zoos make effort to mimic habitats for wild animals but come to failure. In addition, some zoos emphasize profit, not animals’ well-being. Despite the fact that many zoos denounce that they are contributed to animals’ health care and meet the standards of ethical and moral principles, the truth is that little effort is made behind the statement.

Animal Ethics

Today, we will look at several modern western historical philosophical figures that have played a significant role in the movements of animal rights and welfare, such as Rene Descartes, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill; we will discuss their work impact in changing our ethical attitudes and laws regarding animals. We also will discuss animal ethics in the 21st century.

Descartes is one of the earliest advocates of animal rights, who start to pay attention to the difference between humans and animals. In his Meditations, he denies animals even the ability to feel pain, he argues animals can’t feel pain, think, or suffer; animals have no mind; he rejects the scholastic concept of the ‘rational animal’. Animals have no consciousness, like a machine. (Descartes, 77) However, most of the scientists in the 20th century, maintained their idea, believing animals are like unfeeling robots, which cause a lot of people concern for animal suffering and their rights, Animal rights movement become more active and relevant, split around the world. Fortunately, today most people believe animals are capable of feeling pain and distress, and they should be granted rights, many modern philosophers start practicing animal ethics such as Peter Singer, and Tom Regan, who lead the animal liberation movement. [1: Rational Animal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_animal]

Kant talks about his view in his deontological theory, that animals do not possess rationality. And he doesn’t think humans owed any ethical duties to animals. He believes that since animals are not self-conscious, they lack reason or autonomy. ( Kant,1978,127 ) Therefore, our duties towards animals are indirect duties towards humanity, either legal or ethical. He tells us it’s all right to raise animals for meat and to use them for labor. ( Kant,1978,127 ) From here, we can see that Kant’s theory is limited, which denies animals moral status. [2: Animals and Ethics: https://www.iep.utm.edu/anim-eth/]

Compared to Descartes, Mill is more friendly to animal rights and famed for utilitarianism. According to utilitarianism, the well-being of every individual counts, including nonhuman animals as well as humans. Utilitarianism’s goal is the greatest happiness for the greatest number of individuals. Mill argued for the moral consideration of nonhuman animals. There are many great advantages of animal experimentation; but as we know, over the years animals have been tortured. If animal experimentation or biomedical research is to satisfy the maximum number of happiness (or interests), then such experiments should be acceptable regarding Mill’s utilitarianism theory. Utilitarianism thus does not argue for the abolition of animal exploitation.

In recent times, Peter Singer and Tom Regan are inspiring the animal liberation movement with the view that we should extend moral standing to other species of animals

For utilitarianism, the problem is not that we use animals; rather, the problem is how we use them. Regarding the website from Wikipedia, ‘Animal ethics is a term used in academia to name the branch of ethics that examines human-animal relationships, the moral consideration of animals and how nonhuman animals ought to be treated.’ The big question we should question ourselves is what borderline is for non-humans to exist in an acceptable moral system. On one hand, we are happy to see the animal rights movement is making big progress for the animal rights, currently, there are 92 out of 180 law schools in the U.S have animal law courses; another hand, we do need to focus on relationships and response-ability with animals to rethink animal ethics. We need to find the mean point for both sides’ views to gain the greatest benefit for both human and non-human animals. [3: Animal Ethics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_ethics] [4: Animal Right Movements: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights_movement]

Environment Ethics

Since we talk about animal ethics, we have to introduce the environment ethically. Environmental ethics concerns itself with the relationship to the natural environment. Environmental challenges such as environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change. The granting of moral standing to future generations has been considered necessary. The environmental philosophers look at environmental ethics collectively with the big picture of how our actions impact on the environment, we should not just evaluate how these affect humans in the present or future, but also how they affect the interests and rights of animals. (Regan, 1983/2004, ch.9) For example, an area of forest is proven to be of benefit to humans both in the short and long term. We feel so sorry for the Amazon rainforest fire this summer. A number of philosophers have recognized that environmental movement, whatever its practical political effectiveness, faces considerable theoretical difficulties in justification. (Sagoff, 1984, 205-67; Norton, 1982, 17-36) For environmentalists, ‘holistic’ entities matter, such as species and ecosystems; in some cases, the overabundance of individuals of a particular species of animal can cause a serious threat to the normal function of an ecosystem. For example, the problems of an increasing number of rabbits or kangaroos have caused to ecosystems in Australia. Thus, for many environmentalists, we should kill these damaging animals; unfortunately, this is violated the animal ethic for the rights of individual animals. [5: Environmental philosophy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_philosophy]

Commonly, environmental ethics and animal protection ethics conflict where there is a perceived need to protect ecosystems from individual animals or even species. (Garner, 2005, 143) Both animal liberationists and environmentalists broaden our ethical horizons – to make us realize that it is not just human welfare that counts. (Elliot, 1995, 229) After all, the welfare and interests of individual entities are often bound up with the healthy function of the whole ecosystem. We should not over-emphasize the opposition between animal ethics and environmental ethics. We have obligations in respect of the environment and animal rights and both ethics, in general, require people to play fair in the natural system.

Cites

1. Kant, Immanuel, Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View, trans. Victor Dowdell (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1978), 9; VA 7: 127.
2. Rational animal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_animal
3. Regan, Tom, The Case for Animal Rights, (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2nd ed., 1983/2004).
4. Mark Sagoff, ‘On Preserving the Natural Environment’, Yale Law Review, 84(1974): 2005-67; Bryan Norton, ‘Environmental Ethics and Nonhuman Rights’, Environmental Ethics, 4(1982): 17-36.
5. R. Garner, Animal Ethics (2005), 143.
6. Elliot, Robert, ‘Environmental Ethics’, Oxford University Press 1995, 229.

Introduction

You could already have visited a zoo or a safari park at one point of your life or maybe even more than once. Many people argue about animals being kept in zoos. Some people think zoos are a good thing and some people don’t. The zoo was created for many reasons, like research making, conservation, and educational purposes. You might see zoos like some sort of an artificial environment for the animals, but in my opinion, it is horrible for animals to be kept in zoos as animals are supposed to stay out in the wild where they can enjoy their lives.

There are good zoos which will provide great care and protection to animals, besides which the animals are kept in a well looked after environment where they are able to be in the same habitat as the wild. In addition to this, they are fed their normal diet and keepers make them hunt for their food in hiding spots, so it is not like they are taken away from the wild. As well as, at zoos there are veterinarians on hand, constant food, and there are no predators. A good zoo will prolong the life of an animal, as long as the animals are taken proper care of. Furthermore most zoos run educational programs, which teach us everything we need to know about animals and educate us about the appreciation of animals and motivate us to protect the animals. You may also argue with me that the animals are housed in what is known as a mini-habitat, this means that the atmosphere where that particular animal lives is as close to its natural habitat as possible. However in my opinion it is really mean to take animals away from their family and force them to live in cages, which is really stressful for the animals causing them to suffer from loneliness. I believe that animals should stay where they were born, out in the wild because animals in cages may suffer from stress, boredom, and confinement. Moreover, animals kept in zoos are almost NEVER going to be released back into their natural habitats. It is nearly impossible to release captive-bred animals into the wild safely. Animals who are reared in zoos live in unnatural environments and can’t learn survival skills—and often, they have little or no natural habitat left to return to because of human encroachment. Aren’t there laws to protect animals in zoos?

According to a website named Captive Animals’ Protection Safety (CAPS), African elephants in the wild live more than three times as long as those kept in zoos. Even Asian elephants working in timber camps live longer than those born in zoos. They also mentioned that, 40% of lion cubs die before one month of age as compared to those in the wild that only 30% of cubs are thought to die before they are six months old and are mostly due to a natural event like predation. Nevertheless, some zoos help rehabilitate wildlife and take in exotic pets that people no longer want or are no longer able to care for.

In spite of this, as stated from the website, Infogram, lions in zoos spend 48% of their time pacing, 60% of animals in zoos have marks on their heads because of continuously banging their heads against the bar, and over 40% of elephants performed stereotypic behaviours. Moreover, lions and other big cats have 18,000 times less space in zoos than in the wild, meanwhile, captive polar bears have one million times less space in zoos than in the wild. Furthermore, it is 50 times more expensive to keep an elephant in a zoo than to protect its natural habitat. Sadly, 10 to 15 % of animals die in zoos in India every year, while 98 out of every 100 marine fish died within a year of being captured in Philippines. Therefore in my opinion, I don’t think it’s right to keep them in captivity. They are meant to be free! Additionally, animals are physically and mentally healthier in the wild than in zoos. Many of you would continue to argue that animals are supposed to be kept in zoos to protect them and that zoos are there to save animals, but my position still stand that animals should not be kept in zoos.

Conclusion

Animals should be kept where they were born out in the wild. It is really cruel to take animals away from their homes and force them to stay in small cages at the zoos for the rest of their lives. Well, whether you think that zoos are a help to the animal community or not, as long as they make money as people go to the zoos and buy tickets, zoos will continue to exist.

Over the last 50 years, human activities have considerably worsened the ecological situation. The Earth suffers from heat-trapping gases that lead to global warming. The rise of temperature increased the sea level that made the Arctic ice melt. As a result, the survival of polar bear population is under the threat of extinction. Global warming caused the disappearance of ocean ice thus limiting the food supply for these animals. Therefore, there is an urgent necessity to prevent global warming from expanding as it may lead to the extinction of that species.

Global warming contributes to the lessening of the ice area. In that regard, Sonne et al. (1) state that the reduction of the sea ice will hamper the bear’s access to seals thus causing adverse effects on the their population. As the food chain is interrupted, the polar bear would be able to find enough food fro existence. The polar bears are suffering from an extreme lack of food as the outcome of carbon dioxide dramatic increase. The increase of this gas is caused by such human activities as deforestation and industrialization, which are unlike to stop. Relying in this, “Arctic could be free-ice in summer by 2050” (Parry 15). As Arctic see ice is melting, it provides the lessening of hunting ground for polar bears as well as the shelter for their breed. Gradual melting only causes global warming to develop quicker.

The rise of the temperature can cause volatility of chemicals resulting in the extinction of zooplankton. Under the high temperatures the contaminants are spreading faster that could be disastrous to the population of Polar bears. The contamination could destroy the food chain at higher levels of the food web thus causing the reduction of species and further increase of temperature. For instance, “bears are already scrawnier in places like Canada’s Hudson Bay” so that “Arctic’s entire population of 22.000 bears could become extinct” (Cone 170). Global warming fosters the poison spread resulting in bear population decrease. To be more exact DDT spraying and chemical emissions are significantly enhanced by the temperature increase. Thus, “the burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas – releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere” (Singer and Avery 35).

Owing to the fact that specific temperature is required for normal existence of polar bears, global warming negatively influences the body’s state of animals so that they are not able to survive. Carbon dioxide emission enhances the extinction of bears due to the worsening of biological state of the animals. According to the forecast the temperature could higher up to 0.07 degree by 2005 (William 74). Even this slight temperature would be enough to harm the health of the bear. Such an increase could hinge the bear’s function of reproduction. The refusal to reproduce the new generation of bears causes the decline in possibility to hunt. Numerous researchers prove that global warming obviously destroy the population of bears in Hudson Bay and Alaska.

In conclusion, it must be stressed that the natural existence of bears directly depends on the global warming process due to numerous reasons. First, global warming fosters the spread of poisoned substances. Secondly, it contributes to the reduction of ice areas that limits the hunting space for bears. Finally, the temperature rise aggravates the body conditions of bears thus lessening their reproduction function.

“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words” (Anna Sewell). There is without a doubt evidence that animals are being affected by climate change. Many effects are hard to measure but there are different ways animals are being affected. Because of this they’re many species that stand on the line of extinction. With the loss of predator and prey species it affects the life cycles in the food chain. Global warming has to do with the earths climate change and climate change causes habitats that involve snow, ice, or forest areas to change drastically. Global warming is used to refer to the increase in the earth’s surface temperature. It is caused by the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane that come together from the atmosphere. They’re are many things we can do to help save this situation and it takes the bare minimum to do.

Climate change that comes from global warming is an issue that demands help and awareness. Help such as recycling, driving hybrid cars, or using less plastic which will all reduce the greenhouse gases. Things like this will help stop Global warming. Limiting the use of fossil fuels such as oil, carbon and natural gas and replacing them with renewable and cleaner ounces of energy, all while increasing entry efficiency. “We need to cut CO2 emissions almost in half (45%) by the end of the next decade,” says Kimberly Nicholas, associate professor of sustainability science at the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), in Sweden. Elizabeth Kolbert is one of the most prominent writers in this field of research and is known for her unique writing style. She holds a prevalent place for writing on issues arising from conscience such as the brutal attacks upon the ecosphere. “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History.” is a powerful book of Kolbert in which she discusses how artificial climate alterations have contributed in sixth mass extinction, the present contraction animal and plant loss that is threatening the existence of almost 20-50 percent species on the planet (Gore, 1).

“If climate change drove the megafauna extinct, then this presents yet another reason to worry about what we are doing to global temperatures. If, on the other hand, people were to blame—and it seems increasingly likely that they were—then the import is almost more disturbing. It would mean that the current extinction event began all the way back in the middle of the last ice age. It would mean that man was a killer—to use the term of art an “over killer”—pretty much right from the start.” According to Kolbert, we need to worry about the rising global temperature and variations in climatic conditions, as this can lead to the extinction of species. Humans are blamed for these variations which makes the situation much more threatening and this accusation against them seems to be accurate. This also means that the process of extinction was instigated during the ice age and hence the phrase “overkiller” suits humans from the very first day.

According to scientists, our planet is in the middle of the sixth extinction of species which is the worst die-off since the extinction of dinosaurs. Human activities are the major reason behind this extinction as their activities are escalating global warming, damaging habitat and leading to the birth of different species within developed ecosystems. They estimate this extinction to snowball over the coming centuries as the rate of change within biosphere and extinction of one species is leading to the extinction of other, developing an intricate environmental web. Scientists believe that humans can reverse these climatic changes by employing renewable energy resources as a substitute of fossil fuels, shifting to organic agricultural methods, developing new procedures for reducing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and hiding away carbon in soil instead of releasing it in the air (Jeff 14). Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air because of your own energy needs. Personal choices on transportation, electricity, food, clothing, and other goods can make a difference. Little things such as turning off lights, TVs, and computers when they’re not being used turns out to be a ‘big thing’.

Global warming is leading to different life-threatening consequences to species such as topographical and altitudinal shifts within the ecosystem, variations or disturbances in seasons, alterations within the composition of species, escalating numbers of hostile species, changes within species interaction and distribution like changes in phenology, competition within wild species and humans for resources, climatic changes like droughts, wildlife fires, and deforestation and diseases within livestock and humans (FAO Forestry 4). The climatic conditions are changing at a rapid scale and the scientists warn that if these emissions are not controlled than the temperature of Earth’s surface can increase to 6 degrees C. by the end of 20th century (NRDC, 1). This information demonstrates the overarching issue of global warming and the many effects they have on both the environment and the species within it. The underlying effects of global warming can lead to issues with agriculture, as described by the disturbances in seasons, which may not be able to be controlled if conservation efforts are not set forth accordingly.

Global warming is an undeniable fact which proves that our planet is in trouble. Global warming is a major factor in the declining number of species around the world. Just because our animals cannot verbally tell us that they’re not ok, so much has been said that proves that they’re so many different things we can do to try and help them and in another way help ourselves. Protecting species can pay off in many ways. Rich biodiversity guarantees fertile soil, and clean water and air, researchers point out. If we don’t do anything about our future, we’re just waiting for a problem to happen just right around the corner.

Climate change is quicker and stronger in the Arctic than in most of the. The Polar zone is now getting more warmer at a rate of twice the earth’s average. In Polar zone, it gets warmer quicker than the the world. As the Polar zone loses snow and ice, rock and water absorb more and more of the sun’s energy, making it ever warmer. This is called the albedo effect.

Global warming is an issue we have all been made very aware of. However, although it appears to be a very straightforward process, numerous studies conducted on the problem have yielded varied results and conflicting evidence. This means there is little certainty over what is actually happening, the reasons for it, and the implications. On a very basic level, the problem is changes in the climate, which appear to be causing ice in the Polar Regions to melt. This in turn is causing many changes including a rise in sea levels, and damage to arctic environments, which is also greatly affecting wildlife

Nevertheless, there is a general consensus that human influences are contributing significantly. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in their 1995 scientific assessment: ‘the balance of evidence suggests a discernable human influence on global climate’. This human influence is mainly in the form of detrimental greenhouse gases and the destruction of forests, which absorb damaging carbon dioxide.

In fact the melting of the Polar Regions is at the moment most critical for the wildlife that inhabit them. These regions are home to a surprising range of perfectly evolved animals including polar bears, seals, walruses, penguins, caribou, and a great array of arctic sea life. These creatures rely on the ice cover and seasonal changes in environment to survive.

In fact the melting of the Polar Regions is at the moment most critical for the wildlife that inhabit them. These regions are home to a surprising range of perfectly evolved animals including polar bears, seals, walruses, penguins, caribou, and a great array of arctic sea life. These creatures rely on the ice cover and seasonal changes in environment to survive.

The polar bear, for example, is most active during winter and spring, as this is when ithe ice cover is at its peak. But with warmer weather, the colder season is receding – the ‘spring break-up’ for example, now come 3 weeks earlier than it used to. This is a significant reduction in the time that the bears have to stock up on – they often go many months without feeding, a pregnant mother, for example, can fast for up to 8 months. But the longer the warmer season lasts, the longer the bears have to last without food. The effects are evident through the bears’ loss of weight and reduced numbers of cubs.

Zoos are meant for the rehabilitation of animals, but is it possible that it actually hurts those beautiful, strong living beings? Ultimately, it depends on the specific case in question. For cases like Willie the gorilla in ‘The Zoos Go Wild’, and the macaws in ‘Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment’ the zoo specifically made an environment that would only help the animals. Zoos have helped so many animals thrive and get back on their feet, helping them through the hardships and rough life they have had. In this essay, I will compare and contrast the evidence listed in the three articles pertaining to how zoos benefit animals.

First of all, each of the three articles cover stories of specific animals, and show how zoos have helped them survive. For example, in ‘The Zoos Go Wild,’ Willie the Gorilla came from a harsh way of living, but the zoo made Willie B. feel like he ‘had finally become a real gorilla,’ which reinforces the theme of the zoo saving the animals’ lives. Similarly, in ‘Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment,’ the zoos ‘combed through a handful of creative ideas to give the Macaw Exhibit a new, fresh look’ which shows that without the zoos, their exclusive species might be more likely to go extinct. Similarly, the first article, ‘The Stripes Will Survive,’ talks of how ‘the American Zoo and Aquarium Association started the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to make sure that threatened and endangered animal species don’t disappear’ which shows us, the readers, that the zoos have helped these tigers in such an extreme way in that, they could . These beginnings show that zoos can help any animal in every circumstance imaginable.

Additionally, to get down to the nitty gritty of the articles, we would have to view the evidence where each article presents to us. All three articles have a main claim that zoos have gone through leaps and bounds to change the animals’ environment so that it would better suit them. For example, in ‘The Zoos Go Wild,’ Willie the Gorilla’s environment was changed into a ‘large open-air enclosure designed to resemble the rainforest of Willie’s native central Africa’. This made Willie more happy and full of life. The pulchritudinous macaws have a similar story. Alicia Powers, the author of ‘Our Beautiful Macaws and Why They Need Enrichment’ says that ‘The ACCR team combed through a handful of creative ideas to give the Macaw Exhibit a new, fresh look,’ which shows that the zoo has tried to specifically make the macaws more comfortable by bettering only their environment, because of their special needs. Additionally, the ‘Stripes Will Survive’ tigers are similar; the work’s main source of information is how the zoo has made Siberian tigers perservere, and not die with their decreasing population. The article says the zoo is in cooperation with ‘the American Zoo and Aquarium Association [who] started the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to make sure that threatened and endangered animal species don’t disappear.’ The main topic of these articles are about how well the zoos take care of their animals.

However, there are a lot of differences in the articles evidence. Subsequently, in Jaqueline Adams’ article, she describes the tigers as cute and friendly, while describing the jungle as a dangerous place where ‘tiger fathers in the wild don’t help care for their cubs and sometimes try to kill them.’ She creates a tone where the tigers are lucky to be able to be saved. Alternatively, the story of Willie is how he was saved from a trader, so the article was about how Willie had to adapt to the zoo and how they worked. In the beginning, Willie was very unhappy and thought ‘his cage was a real prison’ but when the zoo brought some mates for Willie and put him in an environment that ‘resembled the rainforest of Willie’s native central Africa.’ This shows that even though WIllie was unhappy at first, the zoo was able to meet his needs and make him love his life at the zoo. Lastly, the macaw article discusses the different ways that the zoo helps all kinds of macaws and how many organizations they have created just for them to breed and survive. The article states that ‘Oakland Zoo’s Animal Care, Conservation, and Research team has the privilege and challenge of providing our animal residents with an enriching, well-balanced life and advocating for the conservation of their wild counterparts,’ which shows that the zoos have gone above and beyond for the animals. The articles mutually exist to serve animals, but exclusively have their own resolution of presenting their knowledge and focus on different benefits of having an animals’ very own habitat.

In conclusion, the three articles are all talking about the same thing: how they protect and help animals. Each article tells their own story about how they were able to help an animal species, and how much better their life is because of the zoo. Nevertheless, there is one claim we can mutually sympathize with, zoos do strive to make every living beings life as good as it can get.

Introduction

Chicken sexing is a crucial process in the poultry industry that involves identifying the sex of chicks soon after hatching. Accurate sex determination is essential for various reasons, including efficient flock management, optimal resource allocation, and maximizing production. This essay aims to provide an informative overview of chicken sexing, exploring the different methods employed, their reliability, and the significance of this practice in the poultry industry.

Methods of Chicken Sexing

1. Visual Sexing: Visual sexing relies on physical characteristics that differ between male and female chicks. In certain breeds, males may have larger combs and wattles, longer wing feathers, or a more upright stance. However, visual sexing is not reliable for all breeds and is more challenging in younger chicks.
2. Vent Sexing: Vent sexing involves examining the cloacal region of chicks for the presence of specific anatomical features that indicate their sex. This technique requires specialized training and experience. Male chicks may have a more pointed vent, while females have a rounder vent with the presence of a small protrusion called a “dimple.”
3. Feather Sexing: Feather sexing is a method primarily used for certain breeds, such as Silkies. Male chicks in these breeds may have more prominent and longer feathers compared to their female counterparts. Feather sexing is typically done at a slightly older age than other methods.

Importance of Chicken Sexing

1. Flock Management: Accurate sexing allows poultry farmers to effectively manage their flocks. By knowing the sex of the chicks, farmers can separate males and females, preventing unwanted mating, and controlling breeding programs. This ensures that resources, such as feed and space, are efficiently allocated and enables targeted production goals.
2. Maximizing Egg Production: Sexing chicks is crucial for egg production farms. As only female chickens lay eggs, identifying and raising female chicks specifically helps optimize egg production. By eliminating male chicks from egg-laying flocks early on, farmers can focus their efforts and resources on developing a robust and productive laying hen population.
3. Meat Production: In the broiler industry, identifying and separating male and female chicks is essential for efficient meat production. Male chicks grow faster and have better feed conversion rates, making them suitable for meat production. By selectively raising male chicks for meat and females for egg production, farmers can streamline their operations and meet market demands effectively.
4. Genetic Selection: Chicken sexing plays a critical role in genetic selection and breeding programs. By identifying and tracking the sex of chicks, breeders can make informed decisions regarding mating pairs, genetic traits, and overall flock improvement. This helps in achieving desired breed characteristics and enhancing overall poultry genetics.

Conclusion

Chicken sexing is an essential practice in the poultry industry, enabling efficient flock management, maximizing production, and optimizing resource allocation. Various methods, such as visual, vent, and feather sexing, are employed to determine the sex of chicks soon after hatching. Accurate sex determination helps farmers make informed decisions regarding breeding, egg production, meat production, and genetic selection. By understanding the significance of chicken sexing and utilizing reliable techniques, the poultry industry can enhance its productivity, profitability, and sustainability, contributing to meeting the global demand for poultry products.