How would YOU feel in a Cage?

Ludovico Einaudi — Broken Wings x WaterBear — YouTube

This morning, I found a small bird on my balcony, gasping for breath. It had climbed up seeking respite from the relentless summer heat, only to succumb to thirst and exhaustion. This tragic event stirred a deep agitation within me, amplifying a persistent unease about our treatment of animals.

We often think of birds as symbols of freedom, their flight representing an escape from the mundane. Yet, we cage them, confining their boundless spirits to small enclosures.

Why do we, as supposedly rational beings, find it acceptable to imprison animals for our amusement?

The Cruelty of Caging Birds

Birds, like all animals, are meant to thrive in their natural habitats. Their wings are meant for soaring through vast skies, not for fluttering within the confines of a cage. By caging them, we strip them of their intrinsic freedom and reduce them to mere objects for our entertainment. This is not merely a physical imprisonment but an intrinsic psychological torture. Birds are sentient beings with unique needs and behaviors. Confining them disrupts their natural instincts and leads to a life of perpetual distress.

Imagine the sensation of flight; a surge of adrenaline, the wind beneath your wings, the boundless horizon. Now, imagine being stripped of this joy, confined to a space where you can barely stretch your wings. The cage, no matter how ornate or luxurious, becomes a prison, a daily reminder of lost freedom.

Birds sing, not because they are happy, but often because they are desperately seeking connection, announcing their presence to a world they can no longer reach. This is not amusing, it’s heartbreaking!

The Injustice of Keeping Pets in Unsuitable Climates

Consider the husky, a breed that evolved to endure the cold climates of the Arctic. Their thick fur, designed to protect them from freezing temperatures, becomes a source of torment in hot weather. Yet, we find them in tropical cities, panting heavily, struggling to cope with the heat. Just because they can survive does not mean it is humane or ethical to subject them to such conditions. It’s akin to humans surviving in prisons; survival is not synonymous with well-being. Just because one lives and survives, does not mean we should subject them to it!

When we bring animals like huskies into unsuitable climates, we are imposing a life of constant discomfort and stress upon them. Their thick fur, which should be their shield, turns into a burden. Each hot day is a battle, every breath a struggle. They look at us with eyes that plead for relief, yet we often remain oblivious, comforted by the notion that they are “adaptable” and, nauseously complementing their plea as, “adorable.”

The Atrocity of Confines

Did you know dolphins can swim 100 km in a day?

Yet, our fascination with dolphins has led to the creation of marine parks where these intelligent creatures are kept in woefully inadequate pools. Dolphins are known for their complex social structures and their need for extensive space to swim and dive. Confining them into small pools is a grotesque distortion of their natural way of life. The psychological and physical stress they endure is evident in the increased rates of illness and abnormal behaviors observed in captivity.

Dolphins, with their high intelligence and social lives, suffer immensely in confinement. Their world shrinks from the vast, boundless ocean to a tiny pool. They are forced to perform tricks, and their natural behaviors are exploited for human amusement. This environment, devoid of stimulation and space, leads to a life of misery. We see their smiles and mistake them for happiness, not realizing the profound suffering behind those expressions. We would never take kids to show them a human prison, but we love taking them to these aquatic shows…

Unsuitable Habitats for Animals in Zoos

Zoos are often touted as educational and conservation efforts, but the reality is far more disheartening. Many animals in zoos are kept in environments that do not even remotely resemble their natural habitats. Large predators are confined to small enclosures, leading to stereotypic behaviors, a clear sign of psychological distress. Herbivores, which would typically roam vast plains, are restricted to small patches of grass. The underlying message is that it is acceptable to confine and display living beings for our curiosity and amusement.

The grandeur of zoos masks the suffering within. Tigers pacing back and forth in tiny enclosures, elephants swaying in boredom, birds clipped off their wings; these are not scenes of education but of cruelty. The artificial habitats fail to meet the sophisticated needs of these animals, leading to frustration and behavioral issues. Each visit to the zoo is a tacit endorsement of this suffering, a lesson in the normalization of captivity.

The Moral Implications of Teaching Children to Enjoy Animals in Cages

Taking children to zoos to see animals in cages sends a deeply troubling message. It normalizes the idea that it is acceptable to confine and control other living beings. Children, who are naturally empathetic, may initially feel sadness seeing animals behind bars. Over time, however, they are conditioned to accept this as normal. This desensitization to the suffering of other beings has broader implications for how they view compassion and empathy throughout their lives. We’re systemically desensitizing them to cages.

Children are the most impressionable members of our society. When we take them to zoos, we are teaching them that dominance over other beings is acceptable. We dull their natural empathy, showing them that the suffering of animals is a spectacle to be enjoyed. This early lesson in apathy can shape their views on compassion and ethics, leading to a society less sensitive to the plight of others.

In time, this desensitization moves on to humans, and then we wonder, why is the world so cruel? Where did we go wrong?

Born and Bred in Captivity

Imagine being born and bred in captivity, knowing no other life than the confines of a cage. The mere thought is harrowing. Yet, this is the reality for countless animals around the world. They are deprived of their natural behaviors, social structures, and environments, all for the sake of human entertainment. It is disturbing to even start comprehending the ethical implications of such treatment. I shudder at the thought of this rabbit hole.

Consider a life where every action is monitored, every movement restricted. The monotony, the confinement, the lack of freedom; this is the daily existence of animals in captivity. They do not know the joy of freedom, the thrill of exploration, the comfort of their natural environment. Their entire existence is a shadow of what it could be, shaped by the limitations imposed by their captors. How horrible would it be for us? How horrible must it be for them..?

Towards Compassion and Change

To create a more compassionate world, we must rethink our relationship with animals and nature. Instead of caging birds, we need to create environments where they can live freely. Instead of keeping pets in unsuitable climates, let’s ensure they are in environments where they can thrive. Let us boycott marine parks and zoos that confine animals in inhumane conditions and support sanctuaries and conservation efforts that prioritize the well-being of animals.

The death of the bird on my balcony today is was a dark reminder of the broader suffering we inflict on animals. It needs to be a reminder to humanity to reconsider our practices and to strive for a world where compassion, empathy, and respect for all living beings are paramount. In doing so, we honor not only the lives of the animals but also our own humanity.