The first zoos were private collections of wild animals established by kings and other rich people for their own amusement. The keeping of wild animals in private collections dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, approximately 3500 BC. The pharaohs imported many animals to Egypt. Expeditions brought back monkeys, leopards, cheetahs, various birds, large cattle, and even giraffe. Today, there are over 4,200 zoos, aquariums, and wild animal parks in the United States alone. (Welfare 3). A zoo by definition, is a park, or other large enclosure in which live animals are kept for public exhibition. Wild animals should not be kept in captivity because it is detrimental to their health, as well as the health of others around them, whether it be humans, or other animals. Animals kept in captivity are often very unhappy, and in turn, unhealthy. Also, people with private collections of animals, oftentimes do not know how to properly care for the animal, and risk hurting themselves, and the animal. And lastly, wild animals should not be kept in captivity because, as the name states, it is a wild animal, one does know the capabilities of any animal, especially, a wild animal, on that has not been domesticated; the caretaker, could once again end up hurting themselves, or the animal. .
A common misconception about zoos and wild animal parks, is that they are a place to learn about wild animals, and to see an animal in its most natural setting. This couldn't be the least from the truth. Animals in zoos are kept in cramped quarters, usually with a few others of their species. They do not have the freedom to roam about, as they do in the wild, and tend to be stressed because of this, and develop "zoo madness." "Zoo Madness" is the disposition that commonly affects animals kept in captivity. Anyone visiting a zoo can see the stereotypical behavior which is a sign of zoo madness, for example, a tiger endlessly pacing back and forth, up and down in his cage, elephants rocking back and forth, bears repeatedly nodding or swaying their heads from side to side, and lastly, animals biting the bars of their cages.
