Captivity (animal)
Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either
domesticated
animals or wild animals. This may include for example
farms, private homes and
zoos. Keeping animals in human captivity and under human care can thus be distinguished between three primary categories according to the particular motives, objectives and conditions.
Encyclopedia
Animals that live under human care are in
captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either
domesticated
animals or wild animals. This may include for example
farms, private homes and
zoos. Keeping animals in human captivity and under human care can thus be distinguished between three primary categories according to the particular motives, objectives and conditions.
Categories
Animal Husbandry
Keeping and breeding livestock domesticated for
economic reasons
in
farms,
stud farms and similar establishments.
Pet Keeping
Keeping pets domesticated for personal reasons mostly at private homes.
Wild Animal Keeping
Keeping wild, non-domesticated animals in
menageries,
zoos,
aquaria,
marine mammal parks or
dolphinariums and similar establishments for various reasons:
History of Keeping Animals in Captivity
The
domestication of animals is the oldest documented keeping of animals in captivity. The result was habituation of wild animal species to survive in the company of, or by the labor of,
human beings. Domesticated species are those whose behaviour,
life cycle, or physiology has been altered as a result of their breeding and living conditions under human control for multiple generations. Probably the earliest known domestic animal has been the
dog, likely as early as 15000 BC among hunter-gatherers in several locations.
Throughout history not only domestic animals as pets and
livestock were kept in captivity and under human care, but also wild animals. Some were failed domestication attempts. Also, in past times, primarily wealthy men, aristocrats and kings collected wild animals for various reasons. Contrary to domestication, the ferociousness and natural behaviour of the wild animals were preserved and exhibited. Today's zoos claim other reasons for keeping animals under human care:
conservation,
education and
science.
Behavior of animals in captivity
Captive animals, especially those which are not domesticated, sometimes develop repetitive, apparently purposeless motor behaviors called
stereotypical behaviors. These behaviors are thought to be caused by the animals' abnormal environment. Many who keep animals in captivity, especially in zoos and related institutions and in research institutions, attempt to prevent or decrease stereotypical behavior by introducing novel stimuli, known as
environmental enrichment.
See also
Animal Husbandry: ...
Pet Keeping:- Pet
- European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals
-
Wild Animal Keeping:Cruelty to Animals and Animal Welfare:
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