Remember, the money it takes to house just one elephant for one year in a U.S. local city zoo is equal to what it takes to operate a wildlife preserve with thousands of animals on thousands of acres in Africa for one year. Moreover, when zoos breed too many hand-fed, exotic animals, the surplus animals may eventually end up in the hands of canned hunt farms where they may be fenced in then shot and killed at point blank range by weekend hunters seeking a wall trophy.
Other animals used for human entertainment, like those used in rodeos, e.g. the bulls and broncos, may break their legs, get seriously injured or may even die when they run into the side of the arena. When calves get roped it may result in punctured lungs, internal hemorrhages, paralysis and broken necks. Racing greyhounds may be caged up to 22 hours a day. Up to 25,000 greyhounds a year may be killed because they are too slow and too few get adopted. Racehorses may be forced to run even when injured. Of course, any unprofitable racehorses too often may be sent to slaughterhouses or killed by hitmen to collect insurance money! Many animals in zoos and aquariums may exhibit abnormal behavior because they are deprived of their natural environments and social structures. Surplus bred zoo animals may be sold to research labs and endure torturous experiments, or sold to traveling shows, shooting ranches or to private individuals who may be unqualified to care for them.
SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCES: PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY MAGAZINE- SPRING 2000 and THE ANIMAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE MAGAZINE- SUMMER 2000