>>4941566
>All I'm saying is confinement in these artificial spaces can leave higher animals feeling "incomplete" or depressed even when their basic survival needs are met; especially megafauna and predators. Take away the conflict, specialization, and environment the animal's brain was built for and they'll feel bad.

No, that's your retarded and completely unscientific anthropomorphism again. The life of an apex predator is much more precarious than you think it is and many are nowhere near as physically active in the wild as you think they are, especially if they're not desperately searching for food. Are you so stupid and naive that you think a tiger, that spends roughly 20 hours a day SLEEPING, can't be satisfied in a good zoo?

Animal husbandry has also gotten to the point that pacing is rarely an issue in a first-rate zoo with up-to-date exhibits. Many of the issues of the past were caused by the type of meat fed to them and very small enclosures that lacked enrichment.

Like it or not, average lifespan IS the best measure we have of an animal's well-being. That's even true of domesticated animals like dogs. A dog that's abused or neglected by its owner, or that goes a long time without receiving the stimulation it needs, will most likely die prematurely. A dog that reaches or exceeds its average lifespan is having its needs met.

Funnily enough, back when animal husbandry was at a more primitive level, "animal rights" retards made this argument about average lifespan as well. Now that many animals in first-rate zoos live longer than they would in the wild, they have to resort to all kinds of subjective bullshit arguments about "autonomy" and non-empirical definitions of "well-being" like you're doing now. Most people who actually study animals, and don't just engage in sentimental fan fiction, don't find these arguments persuasive.

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Wild elephant kills tourist trying to save his grandchildren in Kruger National Park