Captivity (animal)

Many who keep animals in captivity attempt to prevent or decrease stereotypical behavior by introducing stimuli, a process known as environmental enrichment. The goals of environmental enrichment are to make environments more complex and fluid, offer more engaging and complex processes, and give animals more chances to make decisions. Techniques that are commonly used to provide environmental enrichment include social, occupation, physical, sensory, and nutritional.^[4]

Another type of abnormal behavior shown in captive animals is self-injurious behavior (SIB). Self-injurious behavior indicates any activity that involves biting, scratching, hitting, hair plucking, or

Nonsocial factors include the presence of a small cut, a wound or irritant, cold weather, human contact, and frequent zoo visitors.[6] For example, a study has shown that zoo visitors density positively correlates with the number of gorillas banging on the barrier, and that low zoo visitors density caused gorillas to behave in a more relaxed way. Captive animals often cannot escape the attention and disruption caused by the general public, and the stress resulting from this lack of environmental control may lead to an increased rate of self-injurious behaviors.^[8]

There are studies that suggest the many abnormal captive behaviors, including

Wild animals may be placed in captivity for conservation, studies, exotic pet trade, and

Annually, it is subjected that thousands of wild animals end up in captivity due to the wild animal trade. These animals can be held in captivity because of the overabundance of their population in roadside zoos. Additional reasons as to why animals may end up in captivity is because animals are captured from their original habitat, come from animal breeders, or come from the black market. When wild animals are captured and held in captivity, then they may be sold in pet stores, auction sales, or the World Wide Web.^[13]

Zoos' impact on animal captivity

Zoos are known as a place where visitors come in to see wild animals.^[14] This means zoos may keep animals in confinement. For example, zoos may keep animals captive as a means to save them from going extinct. More specifically, in 2020 the Science Advances published a study where they concluded that the work and population of human beings has affected the growth of animals going extinct around the world. The uproar of animals going extinct has caused zoos to use their captive breeding programs on endangered animals in an effort to create a stronger population. It is said that zoos are responsible for reducing the number of animals on the endangered species list and from extinction.^[15][16]

Zoos could also be known as a place where animals are put into after they are taken out of their natural habitat. When animals are pulled out from their native habitat and taken to a location they are unfamiliar with, then it is said that animals may experience shock and poor mental health. Furthermore, some wild animals have died inside zoos due to the shock of being placed in an unknown setting. To be more specific, this can also mean that taking animals away from their native habitat can possibly disrupt their way of living. ^[17]

List of wild animals in America commonly held in captivity

Name of animal and classification[18]	Animal description	Lifespan in the wild	Lifespan in captivity	Photo of animal
Alligators reptile	The American alligators are considered to be crocodilians. Alligators may grow taller than 12 feet and weigh around 1,000 pounds (454 kg). This creature may be found in the southeastern area of the United States.[19] More specifically, places such as Florida, Southern Virginia Border, Rio Grande (Texas), and west of the Gulf Coast. Alligators live in areas such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and wetlands. Furthermore, alligators' bodies are covered with scutes (scales) or osteoderms (bone skin)[20][21]	35–50 years	65–80 years[22]
Bears mammalia (mammals)	Bears come in all different shapes and sizes due to where they live and how much food they have in their environment.[23] For example, the panda can weigh around 300 pounds (136 kg)[24] and the male polar bear can weigh from 550-1700 pounds (249 to 771 kg).[25] The range of bear heights can go from the panda who can be 4 feet tall[26] to the polar bear who can be up to 11 feet tall.[27]	20–30 years	Around 40 years[28]
Cougars mammalia (mammals)	mountain lions or pumas. The cougars' appearance is said to look like a larger version of a cat. The adult male cougar may weigh 200 pounds (91 kg) and the adult female may weigh 120 pounds (54 kg).[29] The range of length for an adult cougar is said to be from 42 to 54 inches, including the tail that is 3 feet long.[30]	Around 12 years	Up to 20 years[31]
Chimpanzees mammalia (mammals)	Chimpanzees are said to be social animals and their habitat is in the forests of Central Africa.[32] In terms of appearance, chimpanzees have long black or brown hair that covers their body.[33] Additionally, chimpanzees can be 3 feet tall. The females may weigh from 70 to 100 pounds (32 to 45 kg) and the males may weigh from 90 to 120 pounds (41 to 54 kg).	About 33 years[34]	31.7 years for males and 38.7 years for females [35]
Lions mammalia (mammals)	Lions are considered to be muscular and have broad bodies. In terms of their appearance, male lions have a mane of hair that surrounds the neck area. Lions also tend to have a yellow to gold coat. Additionally, male lions tend to be 10 feet in length and weigh around 330 to 550 pounds (150 kg to 249 kg). On the other hand, female lions, also known as lionesses,[36] tend to be 9 feet in length and weigh between 265 and 395 pounds (120 kg to 179).[37][38] Moreover, lions can be found in continents such as Africa, Asia, and Europe. More specifically, lions live in places such as Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.[39]	12 to 16 years	Around 25 years[40]
Ocelots mammalia (mammals)	Southern Texas and Northern Argentina. Furthermore, ocelots are night time animals. This is because they rest during the day and hunt during the night.[41][42][43]	About 12 years	Around 20 years[44]
Servals mammalia (mammals)	wild cat, has stripes and spots on its body. Serval can be small to medium-sized in length. To be more specific, this animal is approximately between 1 and 2 meters long. In terms of weight, Servals weigh around 20 to 40 pounds (9 to 19 kg).[45] This animal lives close to the savannas in the central and south area of Africa. More specifically, servals live where there are rivers and streams.[46]	10 to 12 years	Up to 20 years and higher[47]
Tigers mammalia (mammals)	Tigers have many subspecies and are known as one of the largest cats in the world. More specifically, Amur tigers are 10 feet long and weigh around 660 pounds (300 kg). In contrast, the Sumatran tigers, the smaller subspecies of tigers, are about 8 feet long and weigh around 310 pounds (141 kg). The female tigers for every subspecies are stated to be smaller in size and lighter in weight compared to the males. Furthermore, tigers may be found in South and Southeast Asia, Eastern Russia, and China.[48]	10 to 25 years	Up to 20 years[49]
Wolves mammalia (mammals)	There are different subspecies of North Idaho, North Michigan, North Wisconsin, Northeast Oregon, West Montana, and in Yellowstone park which is located in Wyoming.[50]	Typically no more than 10 years[51]	Up to 20 years[52]

See also

References