Big Cats Should Not be Enriched In Captivity Unless it is Necessary for the Survival of the Species
![Picture](/uploads/5/2/5/9/52590333/7708595.jpg?319)
Big cats should be enriched in the wild. Some may say that it is safer in captivity, however, this will cause them to become less aware of upcoming threats when they are released back into the wild. In the picture above, there is an image of a tiger getting food from a bucket. Is this really what a big cat needs to know in the wild? How to get food out of a bucket? This tiger is not being taught the necessary skill of hunting. Without this necessity; if this tiger is released back into the wild; it will not be able to care for itself, much less its family.
Most animal enrichment in other zoos is similar. Big cats are not being taught survival skills. Instead they play with man-made EED's such as a tire, a bucket, a piñata, or a rope. How are they supposed to survive in the wild with the ability to push a tire? However there are some advantages to captivity. National Geographic claims that big cats live up to 16 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. This is an advantage to captivity, along with increased population, and a greater amount of trust. This would help the Amur Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Jaguar, and other endangered big cats.
However, a trusting environment can have downsides. Kathy Stearns, the founder of Dade City's Wild Things, argues that human contact, especially with young animals, is part of their training—and beneficial for an animal in captivity. When the animals interact with people, for medical treatment, the doctors can get close and do what they need to do." Although Kathy is correct about human contact being beneficial for an animal in captivity for medical treatment, she fails to understand that once this species is released back into the wild; which may take generations; it will be too trusting with humans and other predators. This trust that a big cat has in captivity can dull a big cat's senses, causing it to be less aware of approaching predators, even though zoos show big cats their predators' pictures. Also, not having a family in captivity would play a role in a big cat's family's survival in the wild. Big cats are not being taught the skills necessary to taking care of a family and themselves properly in zoos like the Phoenix, Toledo, and Minnesota.
Some advantages to enrichment in the wild are a family, space to roam, prey to hunt, learning to be cautious of predators, strong senses, and natural EED's. Big cats that live in the wild will live a shorter life than a big cat in captivity, however, they will live longer than a big cat that was enriched in captivity and then released into the wild.
Big cats that are enriched in captivity will face a gargantuan challenge hunting, being aware, and not being too trusting in the wild. Without these necessary skills, they will have trouble taking care of their family and the chances of their survival are much slimmer. Therefore, big cats should not be enriched in captivity unless it is necessary for the survival of the species.
Most animal enrichment in other zoos is similar. Big cats are not being taught survival skills. Instead they play with man-made EED's such as a tire, a bucket, a piñata, or a rope. How are they supposed to survive in the wild with the ability to push a tire? However there are some advantages to captivity. National Geographic claims that big cats live up to 16 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. This is an advantage to captivity, along with increased population, and a greater amount of trust. This would help the Amur Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, Cheetah, Jaguar, and other endangered big cats.
However, a trusting environment can have downsides. Kathy Stearns, the founder of Dade City's Wild Things, argues that human contact, especially with young animals, is part of their training—and beneficial for an animal in captivity. When the animals interact with people, for medical treatment, the doctors can get close and do what they need to do." Although Kathy is correct about human contact being beneficial for an animal in captivity for medical treatment, she fails to understand that once this species is released back into the wild; which may take generations; it will be too trusting with humans and other predators. This trust that a big cat has in captivity can dull a big cat's senses, causing it to be less aware of approaching predators, even though zoos show big cats their predators' pictures. Also, not having a family in captivity would play a role in a big cat's family's survival in the wild. Big cats are not being taught the skills necessary to taking care of a family and themselves properly in zoos like the Phoenix, Toledo, and Minnesota.
Some advantages to enrichment in the wild are a family, space to roam, prey to hunt, learning to be cautious of predators, strong senses, and natural EED's. Big cats that live in the wild will live a shorter life than a big cat in captivity, however, they will live longer than a big cat that was enriched in captivity and then released into the wild.
Big cats that are enriched in captivity will face a gargantuan challenge hunting, being aware, and not being too trusting in the wild. Without these necessary skills, they will have trouble taking care of their family and the chances of their survival are much slimmer. Therefore, big cats should not be enriched in captivity unless it is necessary for the survival of the species.