Animals in zoos have been attractions for many years. Despite protests from some sectors, many zoos have kept animals that would otherwise have gone extinct. Now it seems that zoos would have more benefits, as mammals in zoos live longer, as a new study reveals.
Many animals in the wild face uncertainty. There are predators that hunt them. Many also face such conditions as an increased risk of disease as well as starvation for some. In zoos, many animals are well-cared and can get treatment. Predation won't be a problem as well for many animals.
An international study led by UZH researchers have found that most mammals in zoos live longer than those in the wild. The life expectancy of the mammals depends on each species. In the wild, it is not easy to follow-up on these animals. In zoos, though, records show how much they are taken care of.
Mammals, in general, have been better off in zoos. As much as 80 percent of the 50 species studied have longer lifespans. Marcus Clauss, one of the researchers from the University of Zurich and a Professor of Nutrition and Biology of Zoo and Wild Animals said that 15 carnivore species have also lived well.
The species that have been found to have benefited from zoo captivity are mostly mammals with short lifespans, as noted by the University of Zurich site. Many of these animals have been prey in the wild, but in the zoos, they have been protected from their predators. Long-lived animals though show little difference between the wild and captivity.
The study has focused mainly on animals that have died, said Dr. Jean-Francois Lemaitre from the University of Lyon and a researcher at the Centre National de le Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). This has been done so that the analysis would be more objective. Animals that are still alive would offset the data, according to Science Daily.
It is apparent that mammals in zoos live longer, as a study reveals. With better care and lesser predators, many of them are able to live their maximum lifespans. In another report, it has been found that pets could get diabetes as well.
