Lets Visit the Inmates

By Roger Yang
The issue of zoos keeping animals in captivity has recently been raised in the media. Phil Therians
opinion piece Lets Visit the Inmates discusses this issue and how he believes that animals should
not be kept in zoos; despite they fascinate so many people. He argues that while the animals in zoos
entertain children, the animals in reality are miserable, after being kept enclosed in a cage every day.
He presents his arguments in a disgusted and sarcastic tone, writing the piece for the readers of the
magazine Wild World targeting children and parents.
From the outset, Therian utilises a sarcastic tone supposedly showing his delight when announcing
Hooray! Were going to the zoo! This is followed by description of a jaguar gnawing at her tail to
an irreversible baldness, bears tearing all his fur from his belly and an elephant smashing his
trunk against his side. This obvious exaggeration places zoos in a negative light and positions the
reader to agree that animals in zoos are living a bored and distressed life.
Therian acknowledges that he may be exaggerating the description of the animals in zoos, but he
brings in an example from the Bunbury Zoos annual Annual Welfare Report. The inclusion of an
example adds a different perspective on the issue, so that it is not only the writer who is rallying for
action. It also shows that the writer has researched the issue and this strengthens his argument in
the eyes of the reader. He continues by comparing animals in zoos and circuses, stating the
difference between a circus and a zoo is only one of degree. This is an attempt to persuade
readers to side with the author, as this makes them realise that the inhumane treatment of
animals are present in circuses and zoos.
Targeting children, Therian claims any sensible young spectator would know that a zoo does not
represent nature or wildness, instead showing the cruel capacity of humans to trap and enslave
other living creatures. This encourages the reader to feel sympathy for the affected animals and
possibly anger towards those capturing the animals.
In order not to seem biased, Therian contrasts his initial argument stating that zoos and beneficial to
help the survival of species in danger of extinction. However, he comes to a compromise that
perhaps they should looks at ways of fund-raising that doesnt require animals suffering. Therian
continues by stressing that the problem with zoos dates back to the 1800s when they were set up.
He states that the welfare of animals in zoos was given no more consideration than people would
give to a stamp collection. The fact he goes back to mention the history of zoos and how it has
been a problem since them poses the questions to readers of how long has this actually been going
on for, and also persuade them to side with the author.