Policy statement: Animals in entertainment and zoos
In modern society, people have few opportunities to see wild or exotic animals,
let alone touch or work with them. While people can learn much about animals
from books, movies, and the Internet, there is nothing that will open human
eyes, minds, and hearts to these wonderful creatures more quickly and thoroughly
than seeing an animal in the flesh and observing its behavior in a habitat display
or with a trainer or handler.
Circuses, zoos, wild animal parks, aquariums, and private entertainers and
foundations provide opportunities where people can see animals in these situations
and thereby foster understanding of and appreciation for other species. NAIA
supports the institutions that responsibly house, breed, train, and otherwise
care for these animals, pursue the worthy goals of species conservation and
public education, and exemplify the mutually beneficial relationships that can
exist between individual trainers and their animals. NAIA also opposes legislation
and regulations that would rob people and animals of these opportunities.
Opportunities for housing and breeding endangered species are scant worldwide,
a circumstance that adds to the intrinsic value of zoos, wildlife parks, and
other wildlife conservation organizations and agencies. NAIA supports the scientific
work that these entities do in order to develop reproductive strategies and
health profiles to conserve species; prepare populations for reintroduction
when practical and appropriate; and educate the public about the relationship
between wild animals, people, and the natural environment and the economic and
social values of sustainable use of natural resources.
Suggested reading:
Performance animals
The sight of a well-conditioned animal doing a job it was bred and trained
to do is awesome. Sports such as rodeo, dog sled racing and touring, horse racing,
Greyhound racing, weight pulls, draft contests for horses and dogs, and other
events that prove the skill and stamina of hunting, herding, coursing, and agility
dogs and the suitability of dogs, horses, and livestock as working, breeding,
or performance animals demonstrate extraordinary skills and abilities resulting
from behavioral training. NAIA supports the responsible and humane raising,
breeding, and training of animals for these performance events and activities;
opposes efforts to restrict or ban such events based on isolated cases or on
claims of inherent cruelty, and will work with groups to help make improvements
within sports and industries.
Unfortunately, misunderstanding of the training and use of animals in these
endeavors has led to a well-orchestrated crusade designed to end human interaction
with performance animals. Strategies employed by activists range from claims
that training and performance are inherently cruel to demonstrations and campaigns
against specific individuals, organizations, sports venues, regulatory agencies,
and corporations that sponsor or otherwise support these events. NAIA encourages
those involved with performing animals to continue to increase their knowledge
and expertise, to educate the public about the high standards to which they
adhere, and to protect the working abilities of domestic animals through training
and competition.
Suggested reading:
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