Freedom Vs Safety: The Trade-Offs Of Keeping Animals In Captivity

The first time I saw a monkey jumping freely on a tree in a far away forest, I was fascinated by it and I kept looking until it was out of sight. And a thought came to my mind, "This one haven't been caught or killed, that will happen soon". I felt pity for it even as I felt excited to see it jump around.

I don't know about other sides of the world but here in my country, it's rare to see animals like this by chance not to talk more of the wild ones. I've only heard in stories that people (especially hunters) come across a few of them when they go out hunting and setting traps to catch them.

God, our creator created these animals of different breeds and species for different purposes with one major purpose, to be dominated by man. I don't think I can have issues with men putting these animals to subjection but there is what we call animal cruelty, this is bad.

Thanks to men having animals, wild or domestic, under subjection, we have people who have learnt life lessons, be closer to nature and appreciate God's greatness through them. I remember I was reminded of God's greatness in creation the first time I saw a real life monkey.

I believe the intention of man coming up with the wildlife reservation idea was to avoid them going into extinction, many die without care or some take the lives of humans as they are without restrictions. The whole idea leaves us with the trade-offs, is man action for freedom or safety?

It is freedom for the animals and for humans in the sense that, large portions of lands are reserved by the different country Governments for these animals to go about their wildliving, it's not very free for them as every animal should be given their own territory which is not the case.

It is freedom for the humans because they won't have to live in fear of being attacked by wild animals that are not tamed, the risk isn't something we want to add to the already risky world we live in. But using them as a form of entertainment kinda goes far off their essence.

I've read that every animal have more uses than just placing them in zoos for entertainment, we get medicine, foods, clothing and a lot of life necessities from them. Although I can understand that they can be caged to keep them in close existence so man can have easy access.

It is safety for animals and humans when these animals are kept closely but caged and cared for. I don't know how the zoos are handled on the inside, but if these animals are dying easily then it is wrong to keep them in. I believe there should be a balance to how these animals are cared for.

I know the animals will be better off in the wild but it would be in less benefits for humans who have been given mandate to have dominion over these animals. The idea of zoos could be right but the outcome is becoming wrong and so I think it all depends on balancing human actions.