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Cool Facts About Sharks | Things You Wanna Know

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Fate of orcas in captivity at SeaWorld and other marine parks | Whale and Dolphin Conservation

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“Should Orca Shows Be Banned?” “Marine Parks Wrestling with Change” “SeaWorld Promises a Bigger Tank for its Orcas After Movie Makes People Angry” “Activists and SeaWorld Debate the Life Spans of…

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Killer whale shows - banned in California!

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SeaWorld is Phasing Out Killer Whale Shows

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SeaWorld is Phasing Out Killer Whale Shows

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SeaWorld to phase out killer whale shows

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How SeaWorld Is Changing Since Killer Whale Controversies | NBC Nightly News

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The Humane Society of the United States opposes keeping whales and dolphins in captivity, for public display, for shows, because there's just no way that a facility can provide for these animals. Their environment is so alien to ours that in the end what you end up with, is a sterile environment for them in captivity.

They can travel 50 to 100 miles in the day. They can live for 40, 50, 60 years or longer, for killer whales. They live in family groups, they have a whole ocean, and a very very rich environment that the ocean provides and then what you do in captivity because of their health concerns and because of hygiene, you put them into a swimming pool, into a sterile environment, and it's the best we can do for them in captivity and it's just not good enough.

When you have them in a concrete tank, these are very acoustic animals which means that they rely very heavily on their hearing. We rely so heavily on our vision and on our sight, we can't really understand that. They have perfectly good vision but they're completely sonic creatures, their echo location, their passive listening is just far superior to ours. And so to put them into a concrete environment where it is very monotone and there's simply no variety, no texture, no substance, no depth to the environment why use their echo location, they know where the four walls are, it's an extremely limited environment.

There's nothing in the tank, there's no fish, there's no algae, there's no anything and so, it's not that they can't use their echo location in a concrete tank, it's--why use it? They know exactly the limits of their environment so there's no point to it and I think it's a terrible thing to take away from them.

And, as far as the complexity as I was saying there's just no complexity in a concrete tank. Even in a sea pen or at least the water is natural sea water and there's maybe a little fish or two swimming through the, the pen y'know because of the net that surrounds them, it's not concrete, even, even there, they are so restricted. There's four walls.

[Also] looking at the entire captive population, and then looking at some very well-studied wild populations of dolphins and whales, killer whales-- they don't compare very favourably. You're looking at for instance the annual mortality rate which is the best comparison, okay, looking at how long they live is not so good because, we think they live a lot longer than we've been studying. But we can look at them every year and see how many die every year. And in captivity for dolphins, that's about 6%. For killer whales it's about 6, 7% a year die of the entire population.

That doesn't sound like a lot but compared to the wild, a very well- studied population of bottle nosed dolphins, only about 4, 4 and a half percent die every year and for killer whales and other whale study population of killer whales in British Columbia only 2% die every year. So the mortality rate in captivity for killer whales is three times higher and that's the way you need to look at it, doesn't sound like a lot when you say 2%, 6%, but that's 3 times higher.

What's going on? What's killing these animals before their time? Females die routinely in captivity during their reproductive years. They never do in the wild. It's very, very rare for reproductive female to die in the wild; she'll die once she hits menopause, same thing. So something's going on in captivity, something is taken from them. It may even simply be something psychological, maybe they die of boredom, frankly. I mean we really couldn't say, stress, diseases they may not get, aggression between animals that wouldn't normally fight. But just risks and threats that they don't face in the wild. Eating coins, eating bad fish, things that might not happen in the wild. So something's killing them before their time in captivity, routinely.

Well in order to justify their existence, and in fact in order to avoid wild captures, which are very bad publicity-wise, a lot of the captive facilities, particularly the bigger, more well-endowed ones, are really pushing their breeding programs. And for bottlenose dolphins, they've had a pretty good success rate lately. And yet they are still not self-sustaining, even though they have a fairly large population in captivity that is breeding and you would think that they could be self sustaining. And yet they're still not so despite their claims that they're doing really well with their breeding programs for bottle nosed dolphins. I have to question it. Because they still are not self-sustaining.

Also, they claim they have a very good survival rate and they should of course, because of the intense veterinary care that's given when they give birth and in the first few weeks of the calf's life. And yet their um survival rate for calves is really not much better or in fact in some cases is worse than in the wild. So why is that? I mean, it's tough out there, in the wild and the mortality rate for for calves is very high. But it's about the same or maybe only slightly better and in some cases slightly worse, in captivity. Why is that? There's no predators, there's no sharks, there's no bad weather, there's no problems with food, there's intense veterinary attention, why can't they improve significantly improve, which they cannot claim on the survival rate of calves?

So again you have to ask yourself, what's going on? And in my opinion, it's not the calves' problem, it's the mother's problem, I think she's under stress...

I think the stress is constant, I believe there's a constant low-level stress put on these animals because of the confines of where they are, because of the limitations of their lives, socially, physically. I mean she's pregnant, and y'know, any stress is bad for a pregnant mammal, human, dolphin, dog, cat, doesn't matter. And I think that it doesn't help the survival of her calf that she's under that constant stress.

What's wrong with captivity? There's a lot of things and I'm not sure I can capsulize it but I'll try. It probably starts with the capture. It's violent, it's kind of like rape and I've captured many, many dolphins. That's how I started, capturing dolphins for the ... Aquarium. You chase them down to exhaustion. You separate mothers and babies. You take the young. We take the very best, incidentally. 80% of the captures are young females taken away from their mothers. How this affects the gene pool nobody will ever know. I mean the science of that is very, very questionable. The word science doesn't even come up when they're doing that and the National Marine Fishery Service doesn't ask them to prove that this is not having a detrimental impact on the environment because they work hand in hand - the captive industry and the National Marine Fishery Service. It's only when you want to put them back do they question the science.

But to answer your question: what's wrong with captivity? The capture, bring them into a concrete chlorinated box, reducing them to circus clowns and then selling this as educational to the public. And I think it's extremely dangerous. This issue for me is not just about the dolphins. There's about a thousand in captivity and it's more about the millions of people who go and see the show, go and see Shamu. They're learning, it is educational, they're learning, however, that it's okay to abuse nature. That's what they come away with that these - it only serves - the Shamu experience or the captivity experience only serves to perpetuate our insidious, utilitarian perception of nature and it's an issue about education. To teach a child not to step on a caterpillar or a butterfly is as important to the child as it is the butterfly. And that's what's wrong with it.

So any intelligent person who sees a trained dolphin show whether it's Shamu or Flipper or Keiko or whatever, would have to conclude if they were honest, that what they just witnessed was a spectacle of dominance. That's what's wrong with it. It teaches us that dominance is good. Dominance is right, dominance works and that's the problem.

...........There's no trick in getting dolphins to eat live fish. You know, when I used to debate with Lanny Cornell when he was at Sea World, he would say, well you can't teach a dolphin to eat live fish once they've been in captivity. He could teach them to catch a ball but not a fish. Something wrong with this picture here.

There's a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo and double talk and nonsense. It's a very simple thing. You offer them live fish and after a while they become interested in it. I used to have a small cage with live fish and I would put it in the pen with the dolphin. And just looking at it they would sit there for hours looking and jaw popping and using sonar and I guess they're thinking about live fish. A lot of it's mental, you know. I don't see any of that going on. What I see is a picture of a window and Keiko is on the other side and they've got these diamonds and squares and this mumbo jumbo about how you cannot train Keiko to become wild. That is not possible. The training is the problem to begin with. The training is the problem so the less training you do the better. You've got to take them to a natural sea enclosure and just leave them alone. Don't do anything. Just leave them alone. And again, habitat dictates behaviour. If the dolphin is in a concrete box -

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The Debate - Anti-Captivity Views | A Whale Of A Business | FRONTLINE | PBS

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The Humane Society of the United States opposes keeping whales and dolphins in captivity, for public display, for shows, because there's just no way that a facility can provide for these animals. Their environment is so alien to ours that in the end what you end up with, is a sterile environment for them in captivity.

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How Blackfish Documentary Negatively Impacted SeaWorld

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How Blackfish Documentary Negatively Impacted SeaWorld

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Released in 2013, focuses on Tilikum, an orca kept in captivity at the marine park SeaWorld in the USA. Built upon interviews of former marine mammal trainers, the documentary highlights various conservation and animal welfare issues surrounding the use of orcas in marine parks such as SeaWorld, as well as the dangers animal trainers face - seeing that Tilikum killed his trainer in 2010.

One year after the release of Blackfish, SeaWorld's stock market price fell by 33%. The company deployed an aggressive marketing campaign to restore its image following the documentary, culminating with the launch of a new orca show in 2017, focused on educating the public about orca conservation. In 2016, SeaWorld announced it would stop its orca breeding programme, effectively making the 22 orcas at the time at SeaWorld the last generation in captivity.

New study shows that Blackfish pushed SeaWorld to end its orca breeding programme

So what may have caused such a U-turn in SeaWorld's orca breeding policy, the design of its show and the fall of its stock market value? I decided to investigate the impacts of the documentary Blackfish during my Master's in Biodiversity Conservation and Management at the University of Oxford. My research 'Nature documentaries as catalysts for change: Mapping out the 'Blackfish Effect' has just been published in the journal People and Nature from the British Ecological Society.

To understand what happened, I interviewed 26 key stakeholders with a range of expertise in marine conservation, marine mammal welfare and media communication. SeaWorld's leadership refused to take part in my study. I found evidence that Blackfish led to negative publicity for SeaWorld and changed how people viewed marine mammal captivity. As a result, attendance at the park decreased and the market value of the company dropped.

These interviews revealed three main variables which explain why Blackfish had such a wide impact. Firstly, the documentary was broadcasted by major distribution channels like CNN and Netflix, which allowed Blackfish to reach a wider public. Secondly, Blackfish was able to engage hearts and minds on the animal suffering caused by marine mammal entertainment. Thirdly, Blackfish' s release was timely: the documentary benefitted from a perfect storm, which had been building up to create an appropriate cultural climate for its release in 2013. A confluence of factors, fuelled by animal welfare and rights activism, enabled the documentary to resonate with a wide public. Furthermore, SeaWorld lost credibility by dismissing the documentary as lies, and their response was regarded as slow and inadequate.

Overall, my research demonstrates that documentaries can be powerful change agents. The 'Blackfish Effect' is long-lasting, and will hopefully pave the way for other marine parks to stop their animal breeding programmes and retire their animals into sanctuaries.

Blackfish is yet another piece of evidence that marine mammals belong in the wild

Though Blackfish was released in 2013, it is sadly still relevant today, seeing that there are currently more than 3,000 whales and dolphins held captive in zoos, aquaria or marine parks. Orcas are the world's biggest dolphins and one of the most powerful predators. It's therefore no surprise that orcas should not live in captivity, seeing that the average dolphin tank is 200,000 times smaller than their home range. In captivity, dolphins will never be able to express their full range of natural behaviours in captivity.

Despite some legislative progress in Australia and Belgium earlier this year, in France last year and Canada in 2019, marine mammal captivity and entertainment is still allowed in many countries in the world. The accreditation of zoos and aquaria is not enough, we must bring an end to the inherent cruelty of marine mammal captivity. At World Animal Protection, we are currently asking Expedia Group to show travel industry leadership and stop selling tickets to captive dolphin entertainment venues: Join the Pod and help us make this the last generation of dolphins in captivity.

Article written by Laure Boissat. Laure Boissat holds an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation from the University of Oxford and has built our Animal Protection Index in 2020.

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How Blackfish documentary negatively impacted SeaWorld

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Released in 2013, focuses on Tilikum, an orca kept in captivity at the marine park SeaWorld in the USA. Built upon interviews of former marine mammal trainers, the documentary highlights various conservation and animal welfare issues surrounding the use of orcas in marine parks such as SeaWorld, as well as the dangers animal trainers face - seeing that Tilikum killed his trainer in 2010.

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When the Stierle family made plans for a trip to San Diego recently, it made a conscious decision not to go to SeaWorld. Watching the 2013 documentary, "Blackfish" - which alleged that the park mistreats its orca whales - turned the family against park's signature shows.

"Even the boys said, 'This isn't right to keep huge creatures in very small spaces just to entertain the public,' " Mr. Stierle says.

But for Sanjay Agarwal, SeaWorld is the reason his 11-year-old daughter wants to become a marine biologist. Despite being anti-circus, she was captivated by what she saw on a backstage tour.

"We paid $300 to go backstage and see how the [whales] were kept and fed," Mr. Agarwal says. "Seeing it all up close is what was the secret for our daughter."

The two viewpoints frame a growing debate over whether the large-animal shows at the heart of SeaWorld's image are still seen as suitable fare by American families.

This week, SeaWorld has launched an ad campaign in major newspapers across the country and in California and Florida - where its parks are located - to combat what it says are gross distortions of how it treats sea animals.

But criticism continues to build, with John Hargrove, an orca trainer for 14 years, claiming in a new book, "Beneath the Surface," that the conditions in which Sea World keeps orcas are inhumane and drives them to become aggressive.

Facing similar criticism over its treatment of elephants, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has announced a plan to retire its elephants by 2018.

In many respects, parents hold the final vote on the issue. SeaWorld's revenue dropped 3 percent this year compared with last, and its chief executive has resigned. The company has announced plans to build larger environments for its orcas.

For Sheri Muntean of Anacortes, Wash., SeaWorld brings back "wonderful memories" of visits to see her grandparents in San Diego. But she says she would most likely not take her grandchildren there now.

"I believe it would be sponsoring human behavior that harms animals," she writes in an e-mail.

The park's new ad campaign, together with its plans to build larger environments for its orcas and its change in leadership, are attempts to restore public trust and maintain legitimacy in an environment where Americans have become increasingly sensitive to treatment of animals.

The "Blackfish" documentary alleges that keeping the enormous and intensely social sea mammals in such confined spaces amounts to cruelty. It includes the story of veteran orca trainer Dawn Brancheau, who in 2010 was dragged into the water and killed by a whale at the SeaWorld Park in Orlando, Fla.

In an effort to address "claims that have been leveled against us head on," the park encourages the public to pose questions about the company's practices on the new website AskSeaWorld.com, according to an official company statement. "The point is to reach people who will hear out SeaWorld's stance."

But the website has at times been overwhelmed by negative comments. The debate is an opportunity for families to have a discussion about issues of captivity for all creatures, says Catherine Doyle, director of science, research, and advocacy for the Performing Animal Welfare Society.

"Even if you think it is wrong to hold whales captive like this - as we do - it can still be a learning experience for a child to ask the question and to be shown what the choices are," she says. "If parents are doing their job and telling them all the facts, kids are pretty smart in knowing when something is wrong."

When Stierle and his wife, Suzanne, heard about the sterling reviews for "Blackfish," they decided to watch it with their two boys, 13-year-old Tristan and 8-year-old Aidan.

"We made a conscious decision to not go to SeaWorld, even though we were in San Diego for vacation," says Stierle, father of three.

Stierle says he doesn't buy any of the arguments of SeaWorld's new ad campaign. "They are just putting out a narrative to suit their own needs at the expense of these whales, and when I hear it, I turn into a bit of a ranter. They are trying to turn a buck in entertainment and calling it education and even my kids see through that as trying to justify bad behavior."

Others agree. "I do not believe that any animal that thrives in family groups in the wild should be removed from the wild," writes Jolee Walker of Mason, Wis., in an e-mail.

But for the Argawal family, the opportunity to see orca whales up close potentially sparked a career dedicated to the service and care of animals - a point that SeaWorld often makes in its own defense.

"When she saw this huge whale make a splash and jump and swim she was totally taken with the whole thing," he says. "It's one thing to see a fish in an aquarium and quite another to see [whales] jumping in a football-field-sized pool."

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SeaWorld debate flares: Are families souring on orca shows?

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When the Stierle family made plans for a trip to San Diego recently, it made a conscious decision not to go to SeaWorld. Watching the 2013 documentary, "Blackfish" - which alleged that the park mistreats its orca whales - turned the family against park's signature shows.

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Wildlife inspectors at a port in Miami discovered an unusual shipment on Monday: 1,400 pounds of dried shark fins. Officials estimate the commercial value of the contraband to be between $700,000 and $1 million.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the shipment of dried fins were found in 18 boxes at the Miami Port of Entry on January 24. Officials believe the shipment originated in South America and was likely headed to Asia, where shark fins are sought after for use in soup and traditional medicine.

Customs and Border Protection officials assisted with the bust. Officials told CBS News the shipment was falsely declared.

The shipment violated the Lacey Act, which prohibits illegal wildlife trade, and included species protected from exploitation by CITES, The Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

Authorities have not announced any criminal charges. The investigation is ongoing.

"It is very big money stuff. It is very harmful to the ecology," charter captain Bouncer Smith told CBS Miami. "This is one of the most heinous crimes in nature that we have seen."

Conservationists say that up to 73 million sharks end up in the global fin trade every year." Smugglers cut the fins from live animals before throwing them back into the water to suffocate or bleed to death.

"Whether it is rhino horns, elephant tusks, shark fin soup, they seem to be if you convince 'em it's hard to get, they want it all that much more," Smith said.

According to Oceana, shark finning is illegal in U.S. waters, but buying and selling the fins is not, leading to massive declines in shark populations around the world. The organization is urging Congress to pass the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act to ban the practice nationwide.

"The seizure in Miami of 1,400 pounds of shark fins being shipped from Latin America to Asia speaks to the worldwide crisis facing sharks. Up to 73 million of these majestic animals are butchered each year for their fins. The United States plays a key role as an international transit hub for shark fins," Sara Amundson, President of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, told CBS News.

"It is time for the U.S. Senate to pass the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act. Sharks are worth more alive than in a bowl of soup."

Trending News

Sophie Lewis

First published on February 4, 2020 / 12:47 PM

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1,400 pounds of shark fins, worth up to $1 million, seized in Miami

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Wildlife inspectors at a port in Miami discovered an unusual shipment on Monday: 1,400 pounds of dried shark fins. Officials estimate the commercial value of the contraband to be between $700,000 and $1 million. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the shipment of dried fins were found in 18 boxes at the Miami Port of Entry on January 24.

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What happens if sharks disappear? FINconceivable explores the important role sharks play in our world and what could happen if the ocean's fiercest predators ceased to exist. Created by Lily Williams, this is her Thesis film from California College of the Arts, May 2014.

If you are interested in having FINconceivable in your film festival?

Please contact with details about your event.

"My efforts to educate the public and legislators as to why sharks matter were remarkably assisted by the film FINconceivable that was created by Lily Williams. It is entertaining, attention-getting, and scientifically accurate, and makes viewers think and care about the worldwide problem of shark depletion in ways that no scientist could achieve."

"The Cutest Video About Shark Murder I've Ever Seen. I'm not usually a sucker for cute stuff, but this got me because it's also remarkably informative. Check it out - and eat responsibly!"

"Don't think sharks are adorable? Watch this."

- Greenpeace Australia

"This film may look cute, but it expresses concern for a serious issue that is happening now. Help spread the word and save the world's sharks."

"Sharks generally aren't all that cute. And they have a pretty bad rep. But man oh man, are they important. If it takes a cute little kid and a few cute drawings for us to figure that out and make them a little more relatable (instead of the dead-eyed monsters many view them as), then maybe, just maybe, we'll stop trying to kill all of them. That would be good!"

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What happens if sharks disappear? FINconceivable explores the important role sharks play in our world and what could happen if the ocean's fiercest predators ceased to exist. Created by Lily Williams, this is her Thesis film from California College of the Arts, May 2014. If you are interested in having FINconceivable in your film festival?...

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History

Save The Sharks was founded out of passion, and a need for a bilingual South Florida organization. We've been involved in shark conservation work for over a decade, below is a brief summary of our accomplishments:

In 2010, we helped in the passing of a law that protected Lemon sharks in the state waters of Florida

In 2012, we helped in the passing of another Florida law that protects Tiger sharks, Smooth, Scalloped, and Great Hammerheads in state waters

We helped support a California law that aims to stops the sale, trade and possession of shark fins

We've successfully stopped shark fin soup from being a part of several restaurant menus and stores in the USA, and internationally

We've drafted letters showing our disagreement with international finning laws, or lack thereof

We were involved with CITES in 2013 where it was a historic year for shark conservation -Porbeagle, Oceanic Whitetips and several Hammerheads gained international protection

We've organized domestic and internationally rallies against shark culls

We have conducted small scale independent research to better ID sharks

Mission

Our mission is simple; to save the sharks. We do this through many mediums, but always fall back to our core belief. We believe that people will want to help conserve something only when they truly understand the issues. This is why our ultimate goal is to educate, because without knowledge and awareness, we cannot accomplish much else.

Goals

We believe that in order to be successful at what we do, we have to be organized. Below you'll find our three core beliefs, and any projects that we conduct fall into one of our three goals. Browse our site for more detailed info for each goal.

General Outreach and Education

One of our objectives is to bring more educational awareness to the public who otherwise wouldn't know much about issues that sharks face today.

Independent Surveys

Our second objective is to conduct independent dive surveys that highlight the relationships between people and sharks, and how we can better them.

Removing shark products

We aim to get shark products and meat off of menus and out of stores.

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In 2010, we helped in the passing of a law that protected Lemon sharks in the state waters of Florida In 2012, we helped in the passing of another Florida law that protects Tiger sharks, Smooth, Scalloped, and Great Hammerheads in state waters We helped support a California law that

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A breakdown of where shark attacks occur the most, and what types of sharks attack.

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How Likely Are You to Be Attacked by Sharks?

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How Likely Are You to Be Attacked by Sharks?

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How Likely Are You To Be Attacked By A Shark?

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Shark Attack Statistics We Are The Real Monsters

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Why Are White Shark Attacks On the Rise?

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Why Are White Shark Attacks On the Rise?

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Why Are White Shark Attacks on the Rise? | SharkFest

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Do Sharks Attack Humans? | Q&A | Earth Unplugged

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The Misunderstood Shark | Mission Critical

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We can't wait to see Captain Marvel on March 8!

Wow. We can't believe we are less than a month away from Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel. We've been waiting for what feels like forever, and we are counting down the days until it finally hits theaters-it's 23 days away, if you were wondering!

Earlier this year, we got the amazing opportunity to visit the set of the newest Marvel Cinematic Universe installment and chat with Lashana Lynch who plays Maria, Carol Danvers' (a.k.a. Captain Marvel's) friend and fellow fighter pilot.

This is what we learned about Lynch and her character:

Maria is Captain Marvel's BFF.

Even super heroes need besties, and Maria Rambeau is Carol's! They even get to work together. "My character, along with Carol Danvers, is a fighter pilot. So, you catch a lot of us being the strong, driven, bold females." And, even though they are fierce, independent women, they are oftentimes there to support each other. "Strength mainly... mental and spiritual strength," is what Lynch says Carol and Maria give each other as friends. "In order to do the job that they do, I think to have any other woman at work that just gets you and understands the journey, gives you enough power to go to work."

Even when Carol ends up losing her memories, Maria helps her find herself.

"There's a certain energy that you share with your friends that you can't get anywhere else," Lynch shared. "And slowly through conversation and ... giving her some history about herself, giving her some might through my words, she recalls some things and it all comes flashing back and she can be herself."

Lynch and Brie Larson got along right away.

Even though Lynch came into the cast a little later than everyone else, she felt instantly welcomed by her co-star. "Brie has been incredible from the jump, literally from the test with her. Reading with her was amazing," Lynch revealed. "She was very giving and very supportive, and any actor reading with another actor knows that it's nerve-racking and you just want to do a good job." We are stanning this friendship already!

Lynch actually got to go to the Air Force to learn some tricks.

In what sounds like maybe the coolest part of getting ready to be a part of Captain Marvel, Lynch got to witness what being a fighter pilot was actually like. "I went to Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix and spent the Monday with [fighter pilot] Taboo and the Tuesday with [fighter pilot] Mother," Lynch described. "Then the next day, I got to fly an F-16 and I'm so excited that I did. It was the best experience of my life. It was crazy, it was a whirlwind, you can't really compare it to anything actually." Sign. Us. Up.

Lynch has been a BIG Marvel fan for years.

Much like us and millions of fans around the world, Lynch already loved Marvel Studios movies before Captain Marvel was set to film. "So, literally I've been a Marvel fan for ten years. But I've been aiming to be in a Marvel film for two years." Now that she finally had her wish come true, she's enjoying being a new character in an established franchise. "You want it for so long, and then when you get it, you have to just step up and make it work. And it's very nice to have the veterans and experienced people that are in this cast to kind of have a pathway for you, because it can be a lot."

Maria is not worried about aliens.

"I think being a fighter pilot, you are exposed to so much weirdness, like pulling G's casually, that she is prepared for any eventuality," Lynch told us. "So, it's nice that she has that background to face these weird creatures. She's not scared at all." Not only is she ready to face the aliens and all the mystical facets of her life, but she's using it as a tool. "She's definitely here for taking in the experience and contributing her expertise to these situations. Instead of using it as a way to ... retreat out of it, she uses it as a way to almost take a bit of their power, and use it as a weapon to fight for them." We stan a super fierce queen!

We are living for Lashana Lynch! Mark your calendars for when Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel arrives in theaters on March 8, 2019, and make sure to pick up your tickets now!

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Meet Lashana Lynch, Who Plays Captain Marvel's BFF Maria Rambeau

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We can't wait to see Captain Marvel on March 8! Wow. We can't believe we are less than a month away from Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel . We've been waiting for what feels like forever, and we are counting down the days until it finally hits theaters-it's 23 days away, if you were wondering!

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Nowadays, Disney's animation movie Frozen is extremely popular. According to the articles, they say the movie Frozen drew over six million moviegoers. The movie was the biggest box-office hit in the history of animation movies in Korea. What is interesting is that Frozen is very popular among the adults especially who are in their twenties and thirties. This is quite surprising because most people think that animation movies are usually for children. Even though Frozen may seem like a movie for kids, how did it attract people of all ages? These must be some reasons.

First of all, when we think of Disney animation movies, we can easily remember its wonderful soundtracks. There are hardly any people who has never heard Disney's soundtrack once in their life. Frozen also gained the public's attraction by its soundtrack "Let it go." It made a lot of people eager for the release. After the movie came into theaters, people played the song everywhere and they made fan-music using the song, regardless of age. The Disney animation movie has characteristic of musical film so it gives more powerful impression to moviegoers visually and acoustically than any other animation movie. Therefore, after watching movies, the gemlike soundtracks and its sensation still remain in moviegoers' heart.

Another reason that people are crazy about Disney is its attractive characters. They make characters that people from all generations would like. For example, Disney's early characters such as Mickey Mouse and Snow White are still loved by adults and kids consistently. It truly shows that Disney's characters have powerful marketability. Disney spares no effort in making various products with their animation characters and they are really selling well. Some products which figures Elsa who is main character of Frozen are totally sold out. Disney knows how to attract people to purchase their character merchandise.

For the last, the most decisive reason that Disney movies are loved by people of all ages is that we experienced "Disney Renaissance." There was a period we called "Disney Renaissance" (1989-1999) which flourished for 10 years. It was definitely the most splendid time for Disney. During that period, there were plenty of movies, original
and well-known; The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), The Lion King (1994), and Tarzan (1999), to name a few. These are the movie that stood out as the best Disney movies during that time. Some people even praised highly that now animations can rival the movies performed by actors and actresses. As
the Disney movies of that time are considered classic masterpieces now, adult might play it to their children and those who watched the movie are now twenties and thirties. Those in their thirties especially let their little children watch Disney movies just like when they were children. It naturally introduces to kids, who aren't grown in the time of Snow White and Mickey Mouse, love those characters. The legacy of Disney is handed down from generation to generation.

Disney still receives high praise because they try to put cultural code in their works. Disney always used to emphasize love between man and woman. That makes people think that the storyline is obvious. Actually, the latest movie, Frozen concludes with the love of sisters instead of men and women. By ending the movie like that, Disney
took a good self-reflection; parodying the love-at-first-sight Cliche that Disney used all the time. This shows that Disney is still changing and well reflects the needs of the time. It also leads people to be sympathized with the storyline and lets more people accept Disney movies with little objections.

In conclusion, there are many reasons that people are crazy about Disney movies. Even at this right moment when you read this article, many people around the world regardless of sex and age are eager to visit Disney World where they can see their fantasies and dreams come true. I assume that the reason to why Frozen became a sensational animation among twenties and thirties is because of the kind of nostalgia they have of Disney Renaissance. Despite the years that have passed, one of the reasons why people still love Disney movies consistently is that they remind us of the innocence of childhood.

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Nowadays, Disney's animation movie Frozen is extremely popular. According to the articles, they say the movie Frozen drew over six million moviegoers. The movie was the biggest box-office hit in the history of animation movies in Korea. What is interesting is that Frozen is very popular among the adults especially who are in their twenties and thirties.

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With a net income of more than $2.02 billion in fiscal 2021, Disney's influence on the world's economy and imagination cannot be understated. Even during the pandemic, the company's Disney+ channel ensured that its brand and messaging remained front and center in pop culture. As the son of an abusive alcoholic, Walt Disney seemed obsessed with highlighting life's goodness and proving the imminent triumph of good over evil. But does this simple message impart any benefit to the children who watch Disney animated movies? And is it the only important message children receive from Disney?

Should parents be "Hakuna Matata" or is it better to "Let it Go"? Here, we'll discuss whether it's healthier to embrace or let go of Disney's magic.

Disney movies promote social awareness.

Disney films use fairytale romances and hero-villain epics as engines for social consciousness. With the original animated version of Lion King, viewers can take a closer look at " Circle of Life," which implores the audience to make sacrifices (like Simba, a lion who gives up meat to maintain balance between those at the top of the food chain and those at the bottom). Meanwhile, Lilo and Stitch explores the ethical questions behind genetic engineering.

Disney's Pixar films are particularly hard-hitting: Monsters Inc. investigates the sources and methods of energy extraction, and begs the question: Is the energy industry full of monsters? Wall-E provides an apocalyptic warning against unchecked consumerism. In the last 20 years, there is scarcely an issue that Disney hasn't examined, lending its unique voice to ever-adapting conversations between film, audiences, and society at large. Not to mention, many of the characters come from culturally diverse backgrounds ( Moana, Tiana in the Frog Princess, the Madrigal family in Encanto, and Mulan, among others) inviting young children (and their parents) to expand their social and cultural awareness.
Disney films promote children's capacity for hope, an essential tool for success.
All Disney films deal in hope. Protagonists overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to lead to happier lives. Whether the obstacle is poverty, a punishing stepmother, or a character's own eccentricities, Disney heroes reach the point of no return and rebound to success. Psychologists have long recognized hope's potential as a cognitive motivational tool. Disney characters model the transformative power of hope, encouraging children to apply hope in their own lives.
Disney characters regularly flout social expectations, challenging kids to follow their own inner voices.
A fair number of Disney protagonists are outsiders. Mulan is too awkward for an arranged marriage; Belle from Beauty and Beast has a feminist side not warmly embraced by her town; Ratatoullie's Remy is ousted from his community for his culinary flare; and Quasimodo is, well, the Hunchback of Notre Dame. And... let's do talk about Bruno from Encanto, whose power seeing the future get him outcasted.

While each of these characters is out of step with their surroundings, their exceptionality eventually leads to greatness. Mulan becomes a warrior who prevents an invasion; Belle finds love and happiness without compromising; Remy becomes a gourmet chef; and Paris hails Quasimodo as a hero. Bruno's vision propels Mirabel, the story's protagonist, to ultimately save her family. Disney's outcasts challenge society's norms and invite young viewers to challenge them as well. Many Disney movies also directly or indirectly promote lessons of tolerance, showing that it can be rewarding to accept others for who they are, even - or especially - if they are different.

Let It Go
Disney de-emphasizes female agency.
Disney's characterizations of females and femininity have been seen as pejorative. Eleven of 13 Disney princess plots are driven by love interests, and the princesses themselves mostly earn their efficacy through advantageous marriages. Disney steers young women away from power by differentiating the treatment of magical powers between male and female characters. In the Little Mermaid, King Triton's use of his magic triton is portrayed as benevolent and good. Yet, in the hands of a woman (Ursula), it is unequivocally evil and wreaks havoc in the order of the natural world, as expressed through the storm she conjures. Even female protagonists with magical powers like Rapunzel and are considered dangerous and locked away. Disney sends young women a clear message: females should only earn power through beauty.

Disney advances stereotypical, inaccurate ideas of other cultures.

For many American children, Disney films offer their first glimpse into unfamiliar cultures. Aladdin takes us to ancient Iraq, Mulan takes us to China, and Pocahantas to the Colonial Americas. The only problem is, Disney has a penchant for stereotypes. The Jungle Book literally depicts African Americans as lazy, nonsensical monkeys, while Dumbo depicts them as lazy, nonsensical birds. Moana's depiction of the demigod Maui as gigantic is considered among Polynesians as insensitive, considering that the obesity rate in the South Pacific is the highest in the world.

And while many Disney movies are peppered with insensitive depictions of cultures, Arabs receive some of the worst treatment. The Phrygian opening song of Aladdin relates the "facts" of the Arab world that the audience is expected to accept: " It's barbaric, but hey, it's home." Aladdin's hero is a thief, its law enforcement filled with easily duped zealots, their Sultan imbecilic, and its villain an evil sorcerer. The film's indiscernible mashup of Arab cultures and histories leads to an unflattering presentation of a people whose global legacy is much more than an enchanted lamp.
Disney initiates children into consumerism and never lets go.
Any parent can attest to the insatiable craving for the Disney merchandise that follows the release of each film. Communications scholar Eric Jenkins contends that Disney has engineered this and "not only promotes consumerist behavior but trains us in the habits of consumerism." Disney animation encourages viewers to project emotions onto objects; buying Disney products offers further interaction with these emotions. Disney has endless avenues for communication, and this communication ensures the company such ubiquity that it consistently ranks among the world's most powerful brands.

The Bottom Line: Disney did not invent consumerism or the gender roles and biases that pervade our society, though it certainly has propagated and profited from them. To Disney's credit, it too seems to be thinking about these questions, and continues to animate characters who negotiate in imaginative, uplifting ways. Do you think entertainment companies be held accountable to accurately present history and culture to children, or if it is enough that they outline basic moral principles?

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Are Disney animated films good for children?

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With a net income of more than $2.02 billion in fiscal 2021, Disney's influence on the world's economy and imagination cannot be understated. Even during the pandemic, the company's Disney+ channel ensured that its brand and messaging remained front and center in pop culture.

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Disney Princess Movie: Gender Roles and Stereotypes

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Disney Princess Movie: Gender Roles and Stereotypes

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The negative effects of Disney on children

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One of America’s popular cultural institutions is Disney. From Mickey Mouse to “Sleeping Beauty” to “Cars,” everyone has seen, or is at least familiar with, something from Disney. We view Disney as a family-friendly and wholly moral corporation, one that does not stand for anything that could offend anyone.

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What Disney Movies Taught Us About Girl Power

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What Disney Movies Taught Us About Girl Power

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What Disney Movies Taught Us About Girl Power? - LEAP Summit Zagreb

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LEAP Summit is a multidisciplinary conference where changemakers LEAP into action. LEAP gathers more than 3,000 participants from 40+ countries every year in Zagreb, Croatia.

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27 Important Life Lessons from Disney Films

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27 Important Life Lessons from Disney Films

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27 Important Life Lessons We Learned From Disney Films

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8 Things We Learned On Set with Black Panther

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8 Things We Learned On Set with Black Panther

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Last year, I journeyed to the set of Marvel Studios' Black Panther to talk to the cast and crew, and I am not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best days of my life. As a Marvel fan since I was a kid, stepping onto the set of such an iconic film, helmed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, aka Black Panther, was a dream come true. What struck me most was the clear and steady passion the entire creative team and cast had for the story they were creating. I learned details about the creative process in making a film like Black Panther, and am so excited to see T'Challa's story unfold further.

For those of you who need some background, the last time we saw T'Challa was in Captain America: Civil War (which was also when we first met Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe). Black Panther takes place following the death of T'Challa's father, the King of Wakanda, in Civil War. T'Challa returns to Wakanda, a hidden and technologically advanced African nation that thrives on vibranium, "one of the strongest and most expensive metals," according to Production Designer Hannah Beachler. Soon a formidable conflict emerges and T'Challa must rally his allies to save Wakanda and the world.

Here are some facts I learned while on the set of Black Panther:

1. The creative team went on a research trip to Africa to gain inspiration for the production design.

Production Designer Hannah Beachler, director Ryan Coogler, and their teams travelled to different locations in Africa while researching for the film. Beachler said of their travels, "One thing that we always talked about in Africa was, you have no point of perspective because everything is huge. You're like, I'm not sure if that's 10 feet or 50,000 feet ... and the one thing that I really didn't want to do was lose being in this big cavernous space with an intimate moment happening." To solve this, Beachler said her team approached large spaces by "always bringing in a natural material. So you'll notice in every single set there is mud ... you bring in these natural things into each of the spaces and all of a sudden you start to soften the space." Every space in Black Panther, no matter how grandiose, has a connection to the earth which keeps it grounded in reality. Beachler also joked that not everybody has to agree with this and may ask why the spaces have to be so big. Her response? "Because, you know, you let me do it and I'm going to make it huge." Beachler is officially the best.

2. We'll get to see vibranium in its raw form in the film.

Beachler gave us a look inside her designs for some of the most iconic locations in the film. One was the Wakanda Design Group, which is run by 16-year-old genius Princess Shuri (played by Letitia Wright), and is where all the tech in Wakanda is being created. It includes a vibranium mine, which is a "blue, glowing rock" according to Beachler. She also told us that we'd see a lot of vibranium in its raw form, not like we usually see it in Black Panther's suit and Captain America's shield.

3. We'll see T'Challa's ship, the Royal Talon Flyer.

Pictured above is director Ryan Coogler on set with Chadwick Boseman. When speaking with Beachler, we also got a look at Mount Bashenga, which is where Shuri's building is. According to Beachler, at this location is the Royal Talon Fighter (the King's ship) and a Dragon Flyer (a ship with wings.) They came up with the name for the Dragon Flyer because the design started to look like a dragonfly. As for the Royal Talon Flyer, Beachler told us, "Ryan [Coogler] was in Africa ... and he called me and said, 'Oh, I saw this really great peafowl'-which is a lot like a peacock-and he [said], 'That's it! That's the Royal Talon Fighter.'" Later the Royal Taylor Fighter started to look like a mask from the top view and the bottom. So cool!

4. Vibration, sound, and circular patterns will be a recurring theme in the film.

Pictured above is a concept design of T'Challa's palace throne room. In Black Panther we'll see a lot of circular elements, and a deep connection to vibration and sound. Beachler said, "Really a lot of the society is based on that: Vibration and sound as communication and sound as life, as well as water and air. So, bringing that in really was a part of creating-bringing that tradition-and creating its own tradition." She then went on to say, "Often times you don't want people to notice your production design and you know you've done well when they don't, but in this instance, please notice." I'll be looking out for the circular patterns for sure!

5. The Warrior Falls location will give us insight into the history of Wakanda.

In the film, Warrior Falls is the place where the tribal council meets, and in the comics it's a location where the Wakandans go to fight. It contains natural falls with a cliff's ledge and one can only get there by boat. Beachler also confirmed that Warrior Falls will "go back to the ancient" in contrast to the more technologically advanced locations in Wakanda. She also said that "we'll have lots of awesome panthers all over the place." I can't wait to see this location in the film!

6. The Casino location design developed quickly, whereas the Tribal Council was the most difficult part of the design process to conceptualize.

Yes, there will be a Casino scene, and Beachler detailed, "'It has to be as beautiful as possible, so we can completely destroy it." Intriguing! As for the Tribal Council, the concept took a little longer. "We didn't want it to be this huge place, we wanted it to be different," Beachler said. She added, "It was one that we took a little more time on than anything else ... that one was hard-to make it royal, but not make it insane and over the top." What helped finally complete the Tribal Counsel design? The addition of glass floors, according to Beachler.

7. There are very strict color palettes based on the regions in Wakanda.

Pictured above are sketches of Danai Gurira as Okoye and Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia in their costumes. Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter said that in the design process, "They were very strict about the color palates. There are the River Tribe, which is green. There's the Border Tribe, which is blue. There's the Panther and the Royal Palace, which is black and royal purple. The Jabaris, which are wood. We had a very clear direction and that came from Ryan [Coogler]. With Hannah [Beachler], her taste levels are through the roof, so I was constantly becoming aware-and still visiting-as they're developing the sets, seeing what lanterns are going in, the furniture-and still getting a surprise when I [got] to set. This business is always morphing and you're always tweaking when you see things finally coming together." Based on the drawing above, the costumes are going to be absolutely breathtaking!

8. Black Panther's suit will show us technology that we've never seen before.

Carter said that we'll see some brand-new technology coming from Black Panther's suit, but couldn't detail more, so obviously: I. Am. Intrigued. Here's a clip from Black Panther that gives us a little insight:

Well, T'Challa and Shuri are officially awesome. Needless to say, I absolutely cannot wait to see Marvel Studios' Black Panther, in theaters on February 16.

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8 Things We Learned When We Visited the Set of Marvel Studios' Black Panther, Plus a New Scene

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Last year, I journeyed to the set of Marvel Studios' Black Panther to talk to the cast and crew, and I am not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best days of my life.

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9 Adults Share Why Going to Disney Is Still So Special to Them

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Why Disney Movies Are Great for Everyone

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Why Disney Movies Are Great for Everyone

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When you watch Disney movies, no matter how old you are, you will always get a sense of serenity and tranquillity. Although these films are mostly aimed at youngsters, they are just as amusing for adults.

Disney movies, both animated and live-action adaptations, have a remarkable ability to portray imaginary characters. Not to mention the epic plot that runs throughout the narrative.

Parents and counselors can use animated movies to help children communicate more effectively about difficult topics. For example, Disney films blend entertainment with life lessons like love, friendship, good against evil, death and loss, and the value of family.

Some of the classic Disney Plus movies include:

Disney movies deal with serious issues and reinforce key lessons. They can influence us in ways we never expected, and they are frequently oddly inspiring. (And, in case too many of us rush for the sick bowl, they also promote some very questionable moral behavior, which they then laugh about.) These films are excellent educational resources for people of all ages.

However, Disney Plus is a geo-restricted platform that cannot be accessed from anywhere in the world. Also, some people face errors while accessing the platform. To avoid missing out on great content offered by Disney Plus, look for quick fixes to troubleshoot Disney Plus not working error or try accessing the platform from anywhere in the world by using a premium VPN.

So, without further ado, let's find out the six reasons Disney Plus movies are a must-watch for everyone.

These films encourage people to be themselves regardless of their circumstances. These films inspire everyone to strive to be a better version of themselves. Although the individuals in these pictures are fictional, the lessons they teach are quite genuine and relatable.

They show us that good always wins against bad. One of the famous Disney pictures, 'The Lion King', provided us with several teachings among which the most important was 'the past is in the past, all we can do is learn from it and move on.' Undeniably the audience was moved by the heart-wrenching death of Mufasa, but Simba, eventually taking over the kingdom's responsibilities, was a moral for everyone indeed.

2. Family Friendly Movies

Almost all of these films are suitable for children. During the holidays, you can watch Christmas movies with your friends and family. Most of the films' concepts are intended for a family audience. There are no incorrect notions that parents may believe will have an adverse effect on their children.

Disney animated films are well-known for being kid-friendly. The Disney characters are friendly and entertaining, allowing you to spend quality time with your family.

3. Disney Movies are Diverse

Disney shows and movies resonate with people of all ages, races, and cultures. The stories and characters are created in such a way that anyone can relate them to. Therefore, Disney television series and films have become increasingly famous around the world.

Disney films are now easily available in a variety of languages and on a variety of free and paid streaming platforms. They promote the concepts of cooperation and togetherness in their movies.

4. A Notion to Believe in True Love

Isn't it true that everyone is familiar with Disney Princess films? In a large number of their movies, love is the central theme. These films show the significance of struggling for love. Many ancient Disney movies include lessons such as love for oneself and others above all else, just like Frozen, where unconditional affection can be seen between the two sisters.

These heartwarming movies give us a splendid chance to take a break from the real world chaos and restore inner peace and joy.

5. Make the Imagination Stronger

Talking about children's overall development and growth, a powerful imagination plays a vital role. It helps them in developing new ideas and also thinking out of the box. Watching such movies together not only encourages the cognitive growth of children but also helps in improving parenting techniques. They can make communication easier when adults try to tell youngsters about real-life obstacles.

6. Family Bonding

Since the movies are family-friendly and every age can resonate with them, it provides a great opportunity for building stronger ties with the family members. With such entertainment, they can spend memorable quality time together during a time like this, when life has gotten extremely busy.
To Sum up
Disney films teach children the value of ambitions, friendship, family, and the determination to never give up in the face of adversity, among other things. These lessons are also crucial for adults, who often overlook these fundamental but powerful insights.

Disneyland in the USA itself has long been known as the "happiest place on earth," a location where visitors always have pleasant experiences that reflect the tone and morality of Disney's many successful films. Disney films, experts have discovered, not only promote generosity through their plots but also have a beneficial effect on individuals who watch them.

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Why Disney Movies are Great for Everyone [6 Reasons]

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When you watch Disney movies, no matter how old you are, you will always get a sense of serenity and tranquillity. Although these films are mostly aimed at youngsters, they are just as amusing for adults. Disney movies, both animated and live-action adaptations, have a remarkable ability to portr

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Why We Need Zoos | Gabriela Mastromonaco | TEDxToronto

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Real sanctuaries are safe, comfortable places for animals to live after they've been rescued from not-so-nice places like circuses or laboratories. People can sometimes visit these sanctuaries, which is an awesome way to learn about and see animals without supporting businesses that hurt them, like roadside zoos or wildlife parks. Roadside zoos and wildlife parks use animals to make money. It's confusing because they sometimes call themselves "sanctuaries" or "rescues" to bring in more customers, because they know that people don't want to visit roadside zoos, but they're being dishonest when they do that.

It's important not to get these horrible places confused with actual sanctuaries. But how can you tell the difference? It's easy! There are a few simple questions you can ask about a place to figure out whether it's helping or hurting animals the animals who live there.

You can find answers to these questions by browsing a facility's website and social media pages (your parents can help):

1. How are animals housed?

Real sanctuaries make sure that an animal's living space is as close to their natural habitat as possible. Animals should live with others of their own kind so they can have friends. It's mean to keep them all alone in small, dirty pens with concrete floors and nothing to do-and you should stay away from places like that.

2. What kinds of activities do the animals get to do?

The animals' living area should have lots of ways for them to play and enjoy themselves! For example, there should be a large structure for chimpanzees to climb on, water for bears to soak and splash in, and large fields for roaming and exploring. Animals need these things if they're going to be healthy, happy, and comfortable.

Animals should also live with others of the same species so they can communicate with each another easily and form relationships and groups. In many sanctuaries, the animals who already live there help teach the newcomers how to get back in touch with their natural instincts and enjoy life again.

3. How big is the facility?

Animals should be given enough space to explore, roam, climb, and forage. And a real sanctuary NEVER takes the animals out of the facility to show them off.

4. Are visitors allowed to touch or hold the animals?

True wild-animal sanctuaries (with big cats, bears, primates, or wolves) NEVER allow visitors to touch or hold the animals, even babies, and that includes taking photos with them. This would be scary for the animals and dangerous to the visitors, too!

5. Where did the animals come from?

The animals who live there probably came from a place where they were mistreated, so they have a sad and painful past. The staff will want to share each animal's story so that visitors can learn about the various places that hurt animals (like laboratories, circuses, and roadside zoos). Real sanctuaries provide animals with a permanent home for the rest of their life. They NEVER trade, borrow, or loan animals.

6. Does the facility breed animals?

Sanctuaries NEVER breed animals, meaning that they don't make any of the animals have babies. Places that do breed animals are using them to make money-that's not right, and that's not a sanctuary.

7. What is it like to visit a sanctuary?

Most sanctuaries only allow very limited visits. Usually a guide takes people on a small tour of the place and doesn't let them walk around by themselves.

8. Is it accredited?

True sanctuaries are accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), a group that makes sure sanctuaries follow strict rules to protect the animals who live there, like the ones listed above.
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All living, feeling beings deserve a comfortable place to live where people aren't always staring at them. A true sanctuary puts the needs and wants of the animals first. So if you care about animals, NEVER visit a roadside zoo or a wildlife park, and explain to your friends and family why places like that are bad for animals!

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8 Ways to Tell a REAL Sanctuary From a Roadside Zoo | PETA Kids

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Roadside zoo or animal sanctuary? This list will explain the difference-so you can figure out if a place is hurting or helping animals.

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The zoo has come a long way, transforming from a place of public entertainment, to the modern zoo, which many see as a centre for conservation. So why do we even need modern zoos? In this episode, David explores this very question. --- Special thanks to Chester Zoo!

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advantages and disadvantages of zoos. for debates and speeches.

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16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Zoos

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16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Zoos

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A zoological garden, which is sometimes referred to as an animal park or a menagerie, is a facility which houses animals within an enclosure and displays them to the public in a manner that is safe for everyone involved. Most of us referred to these parks as a zoo. The first modern one was opened in 1828 for scientific study in London, and then eventually became open to the public about 30 years later.

Over 180 million people visit zoos in the United States each year. There are thousands of them around the world, with every continent except Antarctica hosting at least one.

Not only can we benefit from the experience of learning about new animals and their habitats by visiting a zoo, but it also gives families an opportunity to spend time together while enjoying the outdoors. This advantage comes at the expense of the animals which are forced to spend their lives in an enclosure. Although there are efforts to replicate a wild habitat, a small display area is hardly the same as being free to roam.

There are additional pros and cons of zoos that are essential to consider as well.

List of the Pros of Zoos

1. Zoos have a significant financial benefit for their communities.
A report out of George Mason University found that zoos associated with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums employed almost 40,000 people. For every $1 million spent by zoos on their operational outlays, there were nearly 30 jobs supported. Another 23 jobs were supported for every $1 million that zoos spent on construction projects. That created a total economic output in the United States of more than $17 billion per year, with $2.4 billion in spending and $5.4 billion in personal earnings on top of that figure.

The indirect spending that zoos provide for their communities are significant as well, adding another 62,000 jobs across the United States to support visitors.

2. A zoo can provide a protected environment for rare and endangered species.
Animal products like elephant tusks or shark fins create a financial market where the health and welfare of a species is secondary to the profits which are possible. Some species have been poached to near extinction because of this market. By having these animals in zoos, there is another layer of protection given to these hunted species so that their survival chances are greater.

That hasn't stopped some poachers from breaking into zoos to harvest what they want, but it is preventing the levels of harm that we have seen in the past. Because poaching activities qualify as criminal conduct, most attempts are thwarted.

3. These facilities can provide an educational resource to their community.
Most zoos got their start because local scientists wanted to get to know wild and exotic species better. Although the initial methods of retrieval were brutal, sometimes killing the parents to take the young one back for study, the overall goal was to extend human knowledge. This emphasis is still present today, with many facilities offering educational programs, behind-the-scenes tours, and various activities which encourage visitors to learn more about the animals which live there.

You will also see the staff members from local zoos making presentations at local schools and businesses to raise awareness for what they do. Specific programs at the zoological grounds encourage visitors to interact with the animals in unique ways. Although not everyone can afford a visit to their local zoo, there are still plenty of ways to learn more about the various animals who share this planet with us.

4. We can protect some of the rarest animals in the world in zoos.
If you visit the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans, then you can see a rare white alligator. About 15 out of the 5 million animals currently alive are believed to have this rare condition that changes the color of their skin. When you visit the Memphis Zoo, then you can see an Okapi. The Red Panda can be found in St. Louis, and there are fewer than 10,000 of them in the world today.

Additional rare animals which receive protection in U.S. zoos include the Addax, Amur tiger, Borneo elephant, and the Pacific walrus.

5. Animals receive care from specialized trainers in zoos.
Zoos provide specialized care for the animals that are kept on the grounds. Instead of keeping them in small cages, there is an effort to replicate the natural habitat to accommodate the natural instincts of each animal. Each person in a caretaker role is highly educated, trained to know the mannerisms, health needs, and characteristics of the animal to ensure the highest levels of safety. These efforts have created a significant reduction in the number of attacks and accidents that occur.

The animals are given special activities and nutrition that works with their instincts as well to give them the most natural existence possible. Although these efforts do not entirely replicate migration or hunting, it does reduce the amount of boredom that occurs during their stay in the zoo. These efforts have helped to reduce the risks of premature death in many species as well.

6. Zoos are regularly inspected and accredited for the services they provide.
Zoos receive regular inspections on multiple levels to ensure they are in compliance with care and safety regulations. Careful supervision of policies and procedures allows for trainers, visitors, and the animals to maintain a higher level of safety in every facet of care. If zoos are unable to maintain standards of cleanliness, animal engagement, and habitat structure, then the facility can lose its accreditation and ability to operate.

The animals would then be transferred to zoos where the proper care would be given to them. Because there isn't a monetary transaction that occurs, there is no way for the non-profit organization providing supports for the zoo to recoup their losses. If they don't follow the rules, they essentially go out of business.

7. Most zoos use veterinarians and work with professionals from degree programs.
The Smithsonian Zoo is one example of many that works with local institutions to build programs at every post-graduate level to ensure the future safety of animals. There are residency programs, veterinarian internships, and a variety of other educational opportunities which allow for a high level of treatment for the conditions which may development.

You can find animal treatment teams including specialists, pathologies, and trainers to ensure that every care plan is followed to the letter. Quarantine procedures are part of the zoo's overall structure as well. The overall goal always remains the same; to ensure the best possible care for every animal in care.

List of the Cons of Zoos

1. Zoos are often used to exploit people, animals, and even communities.
Did you know that one of the first zoological gardens in the Western Hemisphere featured humans instead of animals? This first effort displayed people who had different physical traits that were unusual - something similar to the "freak shows" of the traveling circuses in the 19th and early 20th century. Even the Catholic Church got involved with this effort at displaying people in cages, maintaining facilities deep into the 16th century.

Humans as part of zoological exhibitions did not fully stop until the early 20th century. Ota Benga was part of an exhibit in the Bronx and in St. Louis, purchased by a Christian missionary who wanted to put African people into an exhibition. Now some would argue we do the same thing with animals or try to hold communities hostage because of the potential financial gains that a well-run zoo can provide.

2. It changes the lifespan of the animals held in captivity.
Even when you take into consideration the educational benefits that come with a zoo, the fact is that most wild animals do not adapt well to confined circumstances. It places enormous pressure on the mental health of many species, causing them to live much shorter lives than they would in the wild. The difference can be as much as 50% when comparing the lifespan of a wild species compared to one kept in a zoo.

Orcas can live for more than a century on their own, but when you keep them in captivity, the average lifespan for a male is less than 20 years. National Geographic notes that elephants can live for up to 70 years when they live in protected areas of the wild in Africa or Asia, while those kept in zoos is just 17 years for African elephants born into captivity.

3. Zoos are losing their influence on the educational industry.
When the first modern zoo was established in London in the 19th century, the purpose was purely scientific. Even when these facilities began to open to the general public, the purpose was still to provide an educational resource to the community. Although there are some around the world which continue to place their primary emphasis on teaching, research, and saving endangered species, more facilities are focused on the entertainment experience instead.

Visiting the zoo requires people to have respect for the fences, borders, and safety enclosures that separate the animals from their trainers, keepers, and families. When an incident causes an individual to fall into the enclosure of a wild animal, the facility will usually save the person by killing the animal.

4. It changes the behavior of the animal.
The behavior of animals will change when they encounter long periods of captivity. This disadvantage occurs because there is no longer a need to hunt for their survival. Even injured animals can encounter this problem if their recovery time is lengthy. Being stuck in the same enclosure every day also disrupts the natural migratory patterns of the species, which can have a dramatic impact on their mental health.

Elephants become more aggressive when they are unable to travel and explore, which is caused zookeepers to euthanize almost 100 individuals in the past decade because of the danger they caused to others. Predatory animals encounter a similar problem when they are kept in a zoo as well, even if there is no way to safely introduce them back into the wild.

5. Animals can become dependent on the facilities.
Animals which are born in captivity can often adapt to their circumstances if given enough time, but they will still encounter the lifespan issues of their parents. That problem will not go away no matter how many generations remain in captivity. What we see is a process that eventually leads towards domestication, which is why it is a struggle for injured or wild animals to finish out their lives in a zoo.

When dealing with a predator species in particular, any children born in captivity cannot be released into the wild because they have no hunting or survival instincts. That means a cycle of dependency begins that requires ongoing resources to maintain because that animal has no ability to live on its own.

6. Zoos are ultimately a business that needs to make money.
Przewalski's horse is a success story for zoos because this species was believed to be extinct in the wild. Only a dozen individuals were left in one facility by the 1940s, but their numbers are now in the thousands today because of the conservation programs that were initiated to save them. There are now wild herds in Europe and Mongolia, closely monitored by scientists, which are thriving.

Zoos can do an excellent job at conservation if they make the effort, but far too often profit is the primary motivation. When animals move from zoo to zoo, trading money or other resources in exchange for another display opportunity to the local population, then it is our welfare we are concerned about instead of theirs.

7. The best natural habitat enclosures are a poor substitute for the real thing.
Some animals travel more than 50 miles per day as they wander about their wild habitat. The actual territory of some individuals and packs may be over 300 miles in width. When you keep the animal in a zoo instead, then they might have 1,500 square feet to roam, and sometimes even less. Even the Greater Vancouver Zoo, which seeks to replicate the natural environment for their animals, cannot supply a large enough space to accommodate these natural behaviors.

Some elephant herds in the wild can grow to become 40 members strong. When we look at zoo management, it is not unusual to take calves away from their mothers before they fully mature simply because there is a new marketing opportunity available somewhere else.

8. Some zoos are unable to care for their animals.
If you wanted to visit the San Diego Zoo in 2019, then a one-day pass for an adult will set you back $50. Kids 12 and up qualify for the adult rate. A child's ticket is going to cost you $46. If you have four kids that you want to take there for the day, then you could be out $300 before you take your first step onto the grounds. Even those prices are not enough to keep the zoo financially solid.

The San Diego Zoo offers an annual Gala fundraiser were tickets begin at $450 each, while preferred seating options are priced at $900. You will find employer matching, tribute gifts, exhibition sponsorship, and financial wildlife adoptions are all part of their financial picture each year as well. Most zoos struggle to survive, which means the animals kept in those facilities are also at risk.

9. Even the best zoos can have animals develop severe health problems.
Animals need to be kept in temperate zones which are similar to their natural habitat if they have any hope of being successful in the zoo. Elephants don't do well when they are kept in locations that are cold and snowy. Polar bears don't do well in tropical locations, even when they receive ice as a coping mechanism for the climate. Their health degrades rapidly when conditions are not favorable to them, sometimes even incapacitating the animal under extreme circumstances.

Verdict on the Pros and Cons of Zoos

There are times when a zoo is absolutely necessary to the survival of the animal. Then there are the circumstances where we try to profit off of their circumstances. We might be talking about animals who may not have the same level of conscious thought as humans, but how we treat other species says more about who we are than it does about the animals we keep.

Zoos can excel when they have the proper funding to meet the needs of their animal population. They must have staff present at all times who understand what it takes to have a safe experience. Even highly trained people miss an open lock or find themselves in dangerous circumstances with predatory animals, so there is always some level of risk involved.

The pros and cons of zoos are often dependent on whether you view an animal as property or an independent individual. There are times when wild animals should stay that way. When that possibility is no longer a choice, then this option might be the next best thing.

Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.

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16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Zoos

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A zoological garden, which is sometimes referred to as an animal park or a menagerie, is a facility which houses animals within an enclosure and displays them to the public in a manner that is

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Zoos have existed in some form since at least 2500 BCE in Egypt and Mesopotamia, where records indicate giraffes, bears, dolphins, and other animals were kept by aristocrats. The oldest still operating zoo in the world, Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, opened in 1752.

The contemporary zoo evolved from 19th century European zoos. Largely modeled after the London Zoo in Regent's Park, these zoos were intended for "genteel amusement and edification," according to Emma Marris, environmental writer and Institute Fellow at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. As such, reptile houses, aviaries, and insectariums were added with animals grouped taxonomically, to move zoos beyond the spectacle of big, scary animals.

Carl Hegenbeck, a German exotic animal importer, introduced the modern model of more natural habitats for animals instead of obvious cages at his Animal Park in Hamburg in 1907. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. In the late 20th century, the narrative changed again to the conservation of animals to stave off extinction.

Controversy has historically surrounded zoos, from debates over displaying "exotic" humans in exhibits to zookeepers not knowing what to feed animals. A gorilla named Madame Ningo, the first gorilla to arrive in the United States in 1911 who was to live at the Bronx Zoo, was fed hot dinners and cooked meat despite gorillas being herbivores, for example.

The contemporary debate about zoos tends to focus on animal welfare on both sides, whether zoos protect animals or imprison them.

Should Zoos Exist?

Pro 1

Zoos educate the public about animals and conservation efforts.

As of Apr. 2021, there are 241 accredited zoos in the United States. The zoos attract over 181 million visitors annually, which is more than the approximately 131 million yearly spectators of the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB combined.

According to a study of 26 zoos worldwide published in Conservation Biology, visitors to zoos increased their knowledge of biodiversity and specific individual actions to protect biodiversity.

Robin Ganzert, PhD, President and CEO of American Humane, stated, "zoos provide people, especially impressionable children, with the opportunity to see these remarkable animals up close. People won't protect what they don't love, and they can't love what they don't know. No matter how closely programs like Planet Earth depict animals, nothing will match the bond of seeing them in real life. Just look at a child's eyes at the zoo when he or she encounters a tiger or similarly majestic animal."
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Pro 2

Zoos produce helpful scientific research.

228 accredited zoos published 5,175 peer-reviewed manuscripts between 1993 and 2013. In 2017, 173 accredited US zoos spent $25 million on research, studied 485 species and subspecies of animals, worked on 1,280 research projects, and published 170 research manuscripts.

Because so many diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as Ebola, Hantavirus, and the bird flu, zoos frequently conduct disease surveillance research in wildlife populations and their own captive populations that can lead to a direct impact on human health. For example, the veterinary staff at the Bronx Zoo in New York alerted health officials of the presence of West Nile Virus.
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Pro 3

Zoos save species from extinction and other dangers.

Corroboree frogs, eastern bongos, regent honeyeaters, Panamanian golden frogs, Bellinger River snapping turtles, golden lion tamarins, and Amur leopards, among others, have been saved from extinction by zoos.

Zoos are also working to save polar bears, tigers, and wild African elephants from habitat loss, apes and rhinos from poachers, dolphins and whales from hunters, and bees and butterflies from population declines, among many other efforts to help many other animals.

Przewalski's horses, the last wild horses, were declared extinct in the wild in the 1960s when about 12 lived in zoos. By 2018, breeding programs at zoos increased the number to 2,400 horses, and 800 were reintroduced to the wild.
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Con 1

Zoos don't educate the public enough to justify keeping animals captive.

A review published in Animal Studies Repository concluded, "to date there is no compelling or even particularly suggestive evidence for the claim that zoos and aquariums promote attitude change, education, and interest in conservation in visitors." Even a study widely cited to justify the argument that zoos educate the public stated, "there was no overall statistically significant change in understanding [of ecological concepts] seen" because visitors know a lot about ecology before going to the zoo.

TV shows such as Planet Earth bring wild animals into living rooms, allowing people to see the animals in their natural habitats without causing harm to animals such as the endangered snow leopard. Romesh Ranganathan, a British comedian, stated, "It still slightly surprises me that anybody thinks that we should have zoos at all. The animals always look miserable in captivity... [T]he idea that kids only get excited about things they can see in the flesh is ridiculous. My kids are obsessed with dinosaurs that no longer exist, and Skylanders, which have never existed."
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Con 2

Zoos are detrimental to animals' physical health.

A study of 35 species of carnivores, including brown bears, cheetahs, and lions, found that zoo enclosures were too small for the animals to carry out their normal routines, which led to problems such as pacing and more infant deaths. Polar bears, for example, had an infant mortality rate of 65% due to small enclosures.

About 70% of adult male gorillas in North America have heart disease, the leading cause of death among gorillas in captivity, although the condition is almost completely absent in the wild. Other great apes have similar health problems in captivity.

Captive elephants live about half as long as wild elephants: 18.9 years v. 41.7 years for Asian elephants and 16.9 years v. 35.8 years for African elephants. Of 77 elephants in 13 zoos, 71 were overweight and spent 83% of their time indoors, contributing to early death.
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Con 3

Zoo confinement is psychologically damaging to animals.

A study of captive chimpanzees found that "abnormal behaviour is endemic in the population," and includes behaviors such as eating feces, twitching, rocking back and forth, plucking hair, pacing, vomiting, and self-mutilation, among others. The study concluded that the cause of such behavior could be mental health issues.
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Discussion Questions
1. Should zoos exist? If you believe they should, consider whether they should remain the same or change. If you believe they should not, consider how else to accomplish zoo's conservation efforts.

2. Extend the debate to other human-made animal habitats, such as safari parks and animal sanctuaries.

3. What other conservation efforts are important to saving wildlife? Explain your answer(s).
Take Action
1. Analyze " Eight Reasons Zoos Are Good for Conservation " from conservation scientist James Borrell.

2. Consider the pros and cons with a video from Above the Noise.

3. Explore conservationist Damian Aspinall's opinion that zoos are "outdated and cruel."

4. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the "other side of the issue" now helps you better argue your position.

5. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives.
Sources

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Proponents say zoos educate the public about animals. Opponents say wild animals should never be kept captive.

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Are zoos good? AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums protect animals, conserve endangered species, and help ecosystems recover by means of breeding programs, rehabilitation, and more.

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Oftentimes zoos and aquariums can get bad press which sparks the debate over how beneficial they are for wildlife. While we can't deny there are a couple of bad apples in the mix, the majority of zoos help enrich the lives of animals in many different ways. Many zoos do more than just connect people with nature; they also exist to facilitate and promote animal conversation. If you're wondering how zoos improve the lives of animals, this blog is for you!

Protection Against Extinction

It's sad to say, but the world is currently going through a mass extinction due to human activities encroaching on wildlife. A study published by Science Advances in 2020 found that human population and activity has caused rapid global mammal extinctions over the past 126,000 years. Even currently, many species are going extinct across the globe, and many more are facing the threat of extinction. Modern zoos and aquariums help combat these problems. Breeding programs help preserve genetic biodiversity and help reintroduce critically endangered species into the wild. Having animals in protection provides a reservoir against a population crash in the wild. Zoos have helped remove animals from the endangered species list and have saved many from extinction. Without the efforts of zoos, there would be fewer animal species alive today!

Zoo's Research Helps Wildlife

In order to reintroduce animals into the wild and repair the ecosystem, we need to understand how certain animals live and act. Studying animals in zoos can create real positive change for wildlife populations. Even if animals in zoos are never introduced to the wild, they still help improve the lives of their counterparts living in nature. Modern zoos act as a place for observation and research to study issues such as animal disease or infection and to help develop treatments.

Zoos Care for Their Animals

While there are many underfunded and neglectful zoos out there, the good ones positively contribute to the animals' health and well-being. Animals can have a quality of life as high or higher than in the wild. They don't suffer from the stress and threat of predators, the pain of parasites, injury, or illness, and they won't suffer from starvation or drought. Instead, they enjoy a peaceful life with a high-quality diet filled with all of the supplements they need. They won't have to endure the bullying or social ostracism that often happens in nature. Many dreadfulthings happen in the wild that aren't present in zoos.

The Children's Nature Retreat

We hope this blog has helped give you an understanding of how zoos improve the lives of animals! With the ongoing threat to wildlife environments and the many benefits that come with zoos, it's safe to say that they're essential to the long-term survival of many species. Not only can zoos help protect, breed, and reintroduce animals, but we can learn about them to help create a better world for them.

At the Children's Nature Retreat, many of our animals have been acquired from owners who could no longer keep or care for them. Some have been rescued from harsh living conditions and now enjoy the serenity of the Retreat. If you want to say "hi" to some of our animal friends, We have over 200 animals, We are open 7 days a week, no reservations required. You can visit us at 5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901, or get in touch by calling (619) 320-4942 or contacting us on our website.

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How Zoos Improve the Lives of Animals Oftentimes zoos and aquariums can get bad press which sparks the debate over how beneficial they are for wildlife. While we can't deny there are a couple of bad apples

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Have you ever went to a zoo and saw a polar bear in a small cage, a small swimming pool to where it can't even go fully underwater, and the fur of the creature wasn't even white anymore? If you think this is okay, then you are not realizing that these animals that they hold in zoos are becoming depressed because they don't have enough space to live a life they deserve. Many people think zoos are a learning opportunity, I agree in a way but there are many different opportunities that you can take instead of viewing animals through a small cage because these animals aren't even acting like themselves. They are being forced to live in such a small environment, some backgrounds are different from others, most are taken from their mothers as babies and others were injured and have to be looked after for the rest of their life because they can't live fully on their own. I agree to the extent that zoos are good assistance to injured animals but they shouldn't be forced into such a small cage, they should be put in sanctuaries that has millions and millions of acres of land where they can roam free as they are being looked after at the same time. Many people do not see this different for what is right or wrong, they look past all of the depressed animals behind bars, because they are too excited to think from the animal's point of view because they have never seen such a mysterious creature and they are blindsided. Zoos are prisons for animals. Do we go to a prison just to view the inmates or would that be weird? Exactly. That is the same concept I am making at this point. You wouldn't view your own species behind bars, then why should you force other species into cages just so that you can see them behind bars for your own use. Its not benefitting all of the animals, some in a way but there are better options than putting animals in zoos.

There are many reasons why animals shouldn't be placed in zoos, according to the article 5 Reasons You Should Boycott the Zoo by Abigail Geer, makes great points on why people should help boycott zoos. The first reason is that zoos cannot provide enough space for each animal. In the wild, these animals have a tremendous amount of space that is never ending. In zoos they are placed on an acre or two per animal. That isn't enough for a wild animal to live on. Second, animals suffer from abnormal behaviors. People come to zoos hoping to experience the whole package of what it feels like being in a different country as if watching these animals in their natural habitat. In reality, most of the animals you see behind the fences are depressed because they are kept in captivity. Zoos do provide the animals with anti-depressants, but is this what people think is right? If this hasn't convinced you then this next reason that Geer states will. Surplus animals are killed. Most zoos state that they are helping animals that are becoming extinct in the wild so they are trying to help reproduce species. Truth is that all the extra animals that are unwanted because zoos were overbreeding, they are killed because they don't have enough space to take care of these animals. Another reason why zoos should be banned is because most animals that are presented at the zoo were once taken from their mother at a small age. They never lived in the wild, so they are not even a good representation of how that animal should act because they didn't grow up in a free environment because they were forced to be in a zoo. So technically the animals that take up the cages at zoos they don't serve an educational purpose because that is not how the animal acts when they are in their actual environment. The fifth reason that will convince you to boycott zoos is that zoos don't serve conservation. Zoos try o hard to make the public believe that when a baby is born that when it grows old it will be released into the wild, but should we really believe them? The answer is no. The baby never knows how to live on its own so they could never just let the baby go on its own even when it does get older. It would know how to take care of itself because zoos do all of it for them, they bring them food and water. In the wild they would have to go hunt for their own food which they would end up starving and dying because they don't know how to do so.

Most people who are pro zoos are blindsided by the excitement of zoos. They never seen a wild creature like this before so they looked passed the sadness in the animal's eyes. An article on the PETA website The reality of Zoos written by Michelle Carr, is an article that supports the reason why zoos are bad for all animals. Carr states that, "I thought being able to see them in person would be neat. But once I saw them "up close and personal," I realized that the animals were miserable. It instantly became very clear to me that the animals imprisoned in zoos are sad and don't want to be kept in artificial environments, have people gawk at them, listen to children who bang on the windows of their enclosures, or have cameras flashing in their faces. To put it simply, zoos are imprisoning animals who want to be free." In this statement, it instantly made me feel guilty from going to zoos when I was little. People need to face up to reality because I know for a fact that everyone has had an experience like Michelle Carr and they need to live up to it and help close zoos down because they are just torturing these animals for their own beneficial use. If everyone became aware of these conditions, then they would proudly help shut them down. Haven't you realized that when you go to zoos you stand there for ten to fifteen minute but they don't move a bit? It's because they don't want to be there. They will never be with their blood family which the animals depend on for their whole life in the wild. They will never know the true meaning of life as if they were in the wild, they will be forced to live in the zoo for the rest of their life with sadness and boredom.

The world needs to come to realize that zoos are bad for animals, PETA explains to us that the animals are on anti-depressants, once an animal outlives their usefulness they are killed, animals are instantly killed if they escape their cages, they transport animals from other countries to satisfy the human eye, surplus animals are mistreated and killed, they will sell animals to circuses or to livestock auctions, they don't have the appropriate veterinarian service they need, and some animals are starved to death. If any one thinks that this is okay in anyway they definitely need to see the difference of zoos and animals in their natural habitat. We need to take action and educate the public before its too late and before they bring in any other animals into their exhibits where they will never be able to step free into the wild ever again. Last Chance for Animals explains to us, "Animals in zoos are forced to live in artificial, stressful, and downright boring conditions. Removed from their natural habitats and social structures, they are confined to small, restrictive environments that deprive them of mental and physical stimulation. While zoos claim to provide conservation, education, and entertainment, their primary goal is to sustain public support in order to increase profits." This is inhumane, there is nothing right about this situation.

There are many problems with zoos because once an animal gets brought in, it can never go out into the wild on their own ever again. Zoos claim they are saving the lives of these animals but they're not, they are torturing them because they don't have a big enough cage to run around and live in a natural way. Zoos take in animals to make money. If we shut down zoos there will be nowhere for these animals to go, unless sanctuaries take them in. Sanctuaries are a good resource when and if zoos go out of business because they are non profit and they promise to take care of the animals till the end of their life. They rescue these animals from abuse and rehabilitate these animals so that they can live a long happy life. Sanctuaries are inspected and they have to meet the guidelines of a true sanctuary according to Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. So this proves that if zoos are forced to shut down they will have somewhere to go, they will have an enormous area to roam free and be taken care because zoos took them from their natural habitat before and can no longer be let back into the wild on their own so they need a back up environment where they wont be in small cages and will not be displayed to the public for others entertainment. A National Geographic article Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals? Written by Rachel Shea states that sanctuaries don't have a sign saying to come in to view our tigers, they don't want to make money, they are just trying to protect these animals so they can have an enjoyable life. Zoo do not try at all to protect these animals, all they want to do is make money off of these animals. We need to find a way to convince the public that there are other ways to view these animals whether it is in person or on television. We do not need to keep these animals hostage so we can satisfy our own entertainment.

Yes, some animals are truly saved by joining zoos because they are in bad shape but they don't deserve to be in a small cage getting viewed by the public as they are making their way to recovery. They deserve to be in sanctuary so that they are protected by the ones who actually want to help and not make money off of them, instead they are protect their rights as animals and doing anything in their power to make sure they are living a life they deserve.

Here are some ways that you could learn about exotic animals without going to zoos, you watch documentaries or travel around the world volunteering at animal sanctuaries. You are not invading their space, you are helping them but not to the point to where they are depressed. They have a lot of open space, they are able to run freely, but they still receive the help they need. If you watch a documentary you are watching them from a screen in their natural habitat without taking them from their home, you see how they truly act and you'll get a more valuable experience from watching them from a TV because they are happy and energize instead of in a corner suffering because they are not with their family living the life they truly deserve.

Animals deserve to live free. They do not deserve to live in a small cage their whole life. No one on earth could stand being in a cage everyday of their life, being viewed by others to satisfy others. They don't get to roam free anymore. Their freedom is taken away from them at such a young age, so young they never experienced the true life as a regular wild animal. So lets put a stop to this and boycott Zoos.

Work Cited

Geer, Abigail. "5 Reasons You Should Boycott the Zoo." 5 Reasons You Should Boycott The Zoo | Care2 Causes. Care 2, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Carr, Michelle. "The Reality of Zoos." PETA. PETA, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Editors of the Site. "Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Shea, Rachel. "Are Wildlife Sanctuaries Good for Animals?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

User, Super. "Last Chance for Animals - Zoos." Last Chance for Animals - Zoos. LCA, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

@peta. "13 Times Zoos Were Bad for Animals." PETA. PETA, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Healy, Patrick. "Giraffes, Towering and Otherworldly, Are 'Vulnerable' to Extinction." The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 Dec. 2016. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

"Zoos." Animal Cruelty - Zoos. Vegan Peace, 2015. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

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Have you ever went to a zoo and saw a polar bear in a small cage, a small swimming pool to where it can't even go fully underwater, and the fur of the creature wasn't even white anymore? If you think...

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This piece is a response to "The Modern Zoo" from the May 2008 issue of Teen Ink. I volunteer at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and have gotten to know its keepers, veterinary staff, and other workers. According to the writer of "The Modern Zoo," staff torture animals, do not provide adequate living space, and keep the animals merely to entertain. In my three years of volunteering, I have never seen, nor had any reason to suspect, any foul play at my zoo. The allegations in "The Modern Zoo" that all zoos are inhumane and cruel is false, I believe.

According to the article in Teen Ink, "Zoos claim to educate visitors. Yet we've all seen the one-sentence signs that describe monkeys. What can be learned from this? Certainly not enough to justify inhumane captivity." One-sentence signs are not the end of zoos' efforts to educate. At my zoo an entire department is devoted to educating the public about conservation of animals and our planet. If zoos didn't care about education, why would they have this? While exhibits may display signs with brief information, staff work daily at the zoo to educate visitors about conservation and other critical topics.

Some zoo employees visit schools and businesses to educate the public about how to be more responsible with our environment. This department even organizes conservation projects around Ohio, such as the community effort to remove waste from Big Creek. Volunteers spent a day restoring the creek to a more healthy ecosystem. The zoo is also part of a national conservation campaign called Year of the Frog, dedicated to saving amphibian species from extinction. Zoos put forth tremendous effort to educate people, and to say that they do not is just not true in my experience.

"Zoo animals endure inadequate living conditions with no space," claims the article. It's not fair to make this generalization. My own zoo, for example, is planning a one-of-a-kind, spacious exhibit for its elephants. The exhibit encompasses many acres, and will be large enough to support a breeding population. If zoos didn't care about adequate space for their animals, why would they waste time raising millions of dollars to build this type of exhibit? Also, my zoo cares a lot for its animals; it houses the second oldest hippo in North America and its polar bears are twice the age of those in the wild.

I witnessed a life-saving surgery on a 13-year-old wolf. Veterinarians worked for two hours to save his life. Thirteen is very old for a wolf. Zoos do care for their animals, and do what they can to keep them strong and healthy.

"These animals are simply meant to entertain," claims "The Modern Zoo." That too is false. At the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, animals are never forced to do anything for the sake of visitors' entertainment. We believe in positive animal/ human interaction. Zoo staff never force or coerce an animal due to this policy.

The author of "The Modern Zoo" is obviously very passionate in his opinion about zoos. I am also very passionate. I have not written this to personally attack him. Rather, I am simply stating facts. "The Modern Zoo" paints zoos as cruel, inhumane facilities, but it is both unfair and untrue to claim this about all of them. Many have state-of-the-art veterinary facilities and work hard to save endangered species.

I hope that readers will see that zoos seek to protect and save endangered species, as well as educate and encourage the public to do the same.

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This piece is a response to "The Modern Zoo" from the May 2008 issue of Teen Ink. I volunteer at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and have gotten to know its keepers, veterinary staff, and other workers. According to the writer of "The Modern Zoo," staff torture animals, do not provide adequate living space, and keep the animals merely to entertain.

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The Surprising Environmental Benefits of Plastics

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The Surprising Environmental Benefits of Plastics

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The Surprising Environmental Benefits of Plastics

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Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic | Short Film Showcase

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How We Can Keep Plastic Out of Our Ocean

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How We Can Keep Plastic Out of Our Ocean

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How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean | National Geographic

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Straw No More | Molly Steer | TEDxJCUCairns

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There's no denying that plastic has become demonised. What must've been hailed as a miracle product when it went mainstream in the 1950s is now an environmental nightmare.

And quite rightly so - we're all aware of the downsides to the convenience culture of plastic.

Manufacturing plastic produces toxins that are bad news for us and the environment. Plastic doesn't break down and hangs around for years. It kills unsuspecting wildlife. Even recycling it pollutes the environment - and only 9% of plastic has ever been recycled!

But all plastics now seem to have become a scapegoat for all that's wrong with the world. That's why we think it's important to highlight why plastic is good - sometimes.

The Benefits of Plastic

There's no doubt that certain single use plastics are bad news. Or that we can all strive to use less plastic. The last thing any self respecting eco warrior wants to be seen with is a plastic water bottle. But there are many reasons why plastic is good - even some single use plastics.

In the medical industry, plastics are used to keep things sterile. Syringes and surgical implements are all plastic and single use. They wouldn't survive the temperatures needed to kill bacteria and viruses by heat sterilisation.

Sterilising metal syringes simply isn't feasible. Glass is too dangerous and heavy. It would be a brave person who thinks that reusing a plastic catheter in a different patient is a good idea.

The benefits of plastic extend into far reaching areas of our lives. Plastics protect our heads in the form of helmets. They keep us safer in our cars in the form of seatbelts, fuel tanks, windscreens and airbags.

Plastic also helps to insulate our homes and make them more energy efficient. Window trims, front door frames and cavity wall insulation materials are generally made from plastic.

Food-wise, plastic keeps food fresh and affordable and helps to tackle the food waste problem. Shipping food in plastic is cheaper and less resource intensive than shipping it in glass.

Many foods are wrapped in unnecessary amounts of plastic. There's little doubt this needs to change. But asking the food industry to completely ditch plastic when we need affordable food and lots of it, isn't the answer.

Who remembers burning their behinds on metal playground slides heated up by the sun? Or getting splinters from wooden swing seats? For the sake of our kids, there are some playtime benefits to plastic too!

The Real Problem Is Avoidable Single Use Plastic

It's impossible to live a plastic free existence. Using your bank card, sitting on the bus, driving to the station. They all involve plastic. And that's before you've even had the chance to say "soya flat white in my bamboo coffee cup please".

However, we do need to drastically reduce our dependence on most single use plastics.

Plastic bottles, straws, drinks stirrers, coffee cups and shopping bags. These are all bad news and there are so many reusable alternatives now available.

Plastic Alternatives Aren't Always a Picture of Perfection

We can't consider plastic in isolation - there are many factors to consider. Instead, we need to take a balanced approach to the plastic problem.

Demanding a plastic free world will only push the problem elsewhere. And sometimes, the alternatives are worse.

Glass is heavy and takes more resources to ship. It can be wasteful too - if glass breaks in the food chain or on a production line, the whole lot needs to be scrapped. It's also very expensive to recycle.

Metals such as tin and aluminium are lighter. But they still need to be mined and the world only has a limited resource of both. Plus many metals oxidise over time, causing potential contamination problems.

Bamboo is a great natural alternative to plastic cups, straws, cutlery and plates. But is importing bamboo from China the answer? Especially when it's thought that so much of it comes from poorly controlled forests. These forests often have irresponsible logging practices and overuse pesticides.

Biodegradable or compostable plastics are great. These 'bioplastics' are made using renewable plant material such as corn, rather than petroleum. But for biodegradable packaging to breakdown, it needs to be in an industrial composting facility. Plus, some biodegradable plastics have been found to be far from biodegradable.

Then there's the humble cloth tote bag. Cotton requires more water and energy to produce than the plastics used to make carrier bags.

Yep, I was shocked too. How many cotton bags do you have at home? Loads, if you're anything like me.

Paper bags don't do much better either. Paper bags take four times more energy and generate more air and water pollutants to make than plastic bags. (Keep in mind though, that paper and cotton are made from renewable sources and are still better options. They're also less damaging to the environment when they break down in landfill.)

So folks, it's complicated. But the first step to becoming a more mindful consumer is understanding the issues across the board.

Accepting Why Plastic Is Good and Balancing the Equation

The benefits of plastic to certain industries - such as healthcare - are plain to see.

Easily accessible in an emergency, safe, sterile equipment is imperative to safe medical practice. In some cases, plastic alternatives aren't suitable. Sometimes plastic is a good, cheap or sturdy necessity.

Banning all plastic isn't the answer. Significantly reducing our reliance on avoidable single use plastics is.

But this isn't to say we should feel guilty if we don't get it right all the time. There will be times when we need to buy a bottle of water or indulge in a plastic wrapped treat. We can take solace in using a reusable coffee cup on all those other occasions.

It's taken decades to get us to the plastic crisis we face now. We're not going to solve the problem overnight.

So let's all do our bit to spark a gradual but forceful change. Let's aim to reduce and reuse where we can and consider our purchases more carefully. Future generations quite simply depend on it.

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There's no denying that plastic has become demonised. What must've been hailed as a miracle product when it went mainstream in the 1950s is now an environmental nightmare. And quite rightly so - we're all aware of the downsides to the convenience culture of plastic.

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7 Ways Plastic is Helping the Environment

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7 Ways Plastic is Helping the Environment

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Contrary to many uninformed individuals, plastic can actually help the environment in a wide variety of ways. While it's common knowledge the plastic can be recycled and reformed through plastic molding techniques, there are still many more ways plastic is better for the environment than traditional materials such as paper or wood. The following examples are only some of the ways that plastic is helping the environment.

1. Plastic Has A Lower Environmental Impact Than Paper

Paper products require a vast amount of resources to produce. In addition to the need to cut down large numbers of trees to produce paper products, the paper making process requires vast quantities of energy and water to function. In addition, paper making factories produce a large amount of waste. In addition, because paper products are less durable than plastic products, like those storage injection molding, they have to be replaced far more often.

2. Plastic Can be Recycled Into a Variety of Forms

An important advantage of plastic is the sheer variety of forms it can be recycled into. Today's plastic bottles can be recycled and converted into tomorrow's feedstock for a plastic molding system. Not only is this more environmentally friendly, but it also makes plastic a very flexible material for the industrial needs of the 21st century.

3. Plastic is More Efficient Than Other Materials

Because plastic is lighter and stronger than many other materials, it takes less plastic to handle any given task. This reduces the amount of material needed for a given purpose, which helps to reduce the environmental impact of plastic components.

4. Plastic Materials Can be Converted Into Fuel

In addition to being recycled into other objects, plastic can be converted into fuel. Not only does this recycle the plastic, it also reduces the amount of fossil fuels that have to be extracted from the earth. Not only does this reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel extraction, but can also help keep fuel prices low.

5. Plastic is Long Lasting

Whether it is used in plastic molding or as a drink container, plastic is a very long lasting material. Because of this, there is less need to continually throw away plastic components. This not only reduces the amount of trash that is generated, but also reduces the need for the production of replacement components. Because of this, the durable nature of plastic reduces both waste and production related pollution.

6. Plastic can be Easily Compressed Into a Small Package

A major problem facing America is loss of available recycling and landfill space. However, because plastic can be easily compressed, it are well suited to efficient storage, whether the goal is for permanent disposal or temporary storage before the material's recycling for another purpose, such as use in an injection molding process.

7. Using Plastic can Help Improve the Nation's Fuel Economy

Finally, light weight plastic compounds have helped to dramatically improve the fuel economy of the nation. Whether it is increasing a car's mileage by using a plastic body, or simply reducing the weigh of a truck's cargo, plastic helps reduce the amount of energy needed to get people to work and goods to market.

Don't Bash Plastics - They Can Be Helpful!

Ultimately, plastic is an excellent tool to help reduce mankind's impact on the environment. In fact, in many respects plastic is far more environmentally friendly than any other material commonly used by man. If you'd like to recycle plastic and bring a design to life using plastic molding techniques, contact Superior Plastics - we'd love to be a pert of your environmentally friendly, creative process!

Bring Your Design to Life with Superior Plastics!

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7 Ways Plastic is Helping the Environment | Superior Plastics Molding

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Contrary to many uninformed individuals, plastic can actually help the environment in a wide variety of ways. While it's common knowledge the plastic can be recycled and reformed through plastic molding techniques, there are still many more ways plastic is better for the environment than traditional materials such as paper or wood.

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Sesame Street: Murray Visits a Recycling Center | Murray Had a Little Lamb

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Plastic retail bags - the kind you get from your grocer or at the corner store - are being targeted for bans and taxes in communities around the country, regardless of the unintended consequences. Bans and taxes have a negative impact on working families and seniors on fixed incomes, but they don't help the environment in any meaningful way-in fact they can cause bigger problems.

Banning and taxing recyclable, reusable products doesn't make sense, even in the most well-intentioned scenarios. Keep reading to find out why.

Environment
Plastic bags are the most environmentally friendly option at the checkout. Find out the surprising green truth for yourself.

Recycling
Plastic bag recycling is simple and effective, thanks to thousands of recycling drop-off locations across the country.

Jobs and Economy
Bag bans and taxes make trips to the grocery store more expensive, especially for low- and fixed-income families - with no meaningful impact on the environment to back them up. They also threaten thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs.

Health
Be mindful with your reusable canvas and non-woven bags. Without frequent washing and appropriate storage, reusable bags can harbor dangerous bacteria.

Reuse
Nearly 90% of Americans reuse plastic bags. What do you do with yours?

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Bans and taxes have a negative impact on working families and seniors on fixed incomes, but they don't help the environment in any meaningful way-in fact they can cause bigger problems.

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The Extreme Sports Addiction [Infographic]

"The more fearful a certain sport makes you, the greater the release of chemicals. The greater the release of these chemicals, the greater the addiction-like symptoms." -Dr. Marvin Zuckerman, Professor Emeritus, University of Delaware CHASING THE HIGH WHAT IS THE E TREME SPORTS ADDICTION? What is it that drives risk-takers to pursue dangerous situations willingly and repeatedly? Who are they and what makes them keep going back for more? Does this "addiction factor" contribute to the advancement of action sports as well? Krush takes you behind the scenes of the extreme sports addiction to give you some answers! WHAT ARE THEY ADDICTED TO? THE ADRENALINE RUSH Adrenaline, aka Epinephrine A hormone released from the adrenal gland in the body when faced with stressful or dangerous situations (fight or flight response), elevating your heart rate and giving you a boost of energy and alertness. It can give people a sense of superhuman strength, HO speed, and other abilities that allow them to respond to traumatic situations. OH но The release of adrenaline (the adrenaline rush) stimulates the brain's reward system, triggering the release of dopamine... THE REWARDING BUZZ Dopamine A chemical in the brain that is responsible for the "high" or euphoric feeling you experience when you overcome danger or perceived extreme risk. When dopamine is HO released it provides feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Chronic risk-takers or extreme sports enthusiasts tend to have a higher saturation of dopamine in the brain. HO DOPAMINE LEVEL IN RISK-TAKERS VS. NON RISK-TAKERS Normal Level Risk-taker -the amount of dopamine released in the brain due to a rewarding experience + "In high novelty-seeking individuals, the brain is less able to regulate dopamine [thus releasing a greater amount], and this may lead these individuals to be particularly responsive to novel and rewarding situations that normally induce dopamine release." -Dr. David H. Zald, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University THE EUPHORIC FEELING DOPAMINE GIVES EXTREME SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS WHEN IT FLOODS THE BLOODSTREAM WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE ? "TYPE I" 10-15% | * Type T (for thrill-seeking) personality types of the population are classified as Type T. can be described as "risk-takers and adventurers who seek excitement and stimulation wherever they can find or create it." (Psychologist Frank Farley) * These types of people tend to seek out unique experiences, the theory being that they need to stimulate low dopamine levels. Sensation-seeking trait is about bU% genetic THE DANGEROUS SIDE OF TYPE T PERSONALITIES DRUG ABUSE ALCOHOL ABUSE GAMBLING Using stimulating drugs such as amphetamines or cocaine synthetically raises the amount of dopamine in the brain, producing a short-lived artificial high. EXTREME SPORTS ADDICTION LEADS TO PROGRESSION THE ENDLESS PURSUIT... * Sensation seekers can become addicted to the "high" they get from the adrenaline and dopamine rush. This addiction drives them to chase the next high repeatedly. * Tolerance builds as the body gets used to the same rush over and over, which is why extreme sports athletes are constantly pushing the envelope and upping the ante. "You need risk to trigger reward and the body gets used to risk. In other words, just like drug addicts who need to take more and more of a substance to get back to the level of high they desire, action sports addicts need to up their danger quotient to achieve the same effect." -Dr. Greg Berns, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Neuroeconomics at Emory University THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT BIG THING, THE NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE TRICK, IS WHAT DRIVES THE CONSTANT PROGRESSION OF EXTREME SPORTS A FEW EXAMPLES... THEN NOW fmx 2X WHAT'S NEXT Ist Backflip Double Backflip 2006 2002 skydiving WIHAT'S NEXT Became a sport BASE Jumping Wing Suit Flying 128,000 ft. jump mid-1950's 2012 snowhoarding Double Alley-Oop Rodeo & Double McTwist 1260 2012 McTwists & 1080's 720's & 900's 1998 2005 3.5x SPINS 2x FLIPS WHAT'S NEXT 15 IL 11.5 t HALFPIPE WALL HEIGHTS HALFPIPE TRICKS & AIR HEIGHT WITH EXTREME SPORTS ATHLETES CONTINUING TO CHASE THE ELUSIVE HIGH AND PUSH THE BOUNDARIES, IT'S NO WONDER WE VE SEEN THE TRICKS BECOME INSANELY MORE TECHNICAL AND THE LEVEL OF RISK RAPIDLY INCREASING. WE CAN ONLY WONDER, WHERE WILL THE EXTREME SPORTS ADDICTION TAKE US NEXT? SOURCES KRUSH K http://www.jneurosci.org http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7802751.stm https://dana.org/media/detail.aspx?id=23620 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748420/pdf/nihms85634.pdf https://dana.org/media/detail.aspx?id=23620 http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-177868123/action-sports-participation-consumer.html http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1869106,00.html?iref=werecommend?id=perma_share http://www.livestrong.com/article/532699-dopamine-sports/ http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2008/12/risk-takers-drug-abusers-driven-by-decreased-ability-to-process-dopamine-69546/ -seekers-chasing-a-craving/ w.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-playing-field/200803/the-addicitve-nature-adrenaline-sport .ca/2012/01/thrill- http://www. http://www. http://www.summitpost.org/living-on-the-edge-extreme-sports-and-their-role-in-society/214107 http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13126284 http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7578873352trx0g/ http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/extreme-sports-whats-appeal?page=2 .charlatan. "The more fearful a certain sport makes you, the greater the release of chemicals. The greater the release of these chemicals, the greater the addiction-like symptoms." -Dr. Marvin Zuckerman, Professor Emeritus, University of Delaware CHASING THE HIGH WHAT IS THE E TREME SPORTS ADDICTION? What is it that drives risk-takers to pursue dangerous situations willingly and repeatedly? Who are they and what makes them keep going back for more? Does this "addiction factor" contribute to the advancement of action sports as well? Krush takes you behind the scenes of the extreme sports addiction to give you some answers! WHAT ARE THEY ADDICTED TO? THE ADRENALINE RUSH Adrenaline, aka Epinephrine A hormone released from the adrenal gland in the body when faced with stressful or dangerous situations (fight or flight response), elevating your heart rate and giving you a boost of energy and alertness. It can give people a sense of superhuman strength, HO speed, and other abilities that allow them to respond to traumatic situations. OH но The release of adrenaline (the adrenaline rush) stimulates the brain's reward system, triggering the release of dopamine... THE REWARDING BUZZ Dopamine A chemical in the brain that is responsible for the "high" or euphoric feeling you experience when you overcome danger or perceived extreme risk. When dopamine is HO released it provides feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Chronic risk-takers or extreme sports enthusiasts tend to have a higher saturation of dopamine in the brain. HO DOPAMINE LEVEL IN RISK-TAKERS VS. NON RISK-TAKERS Normal Level Risk-taker -the amount of dopamine released in the brain due to a rewarding experience + "In high novelty-seeking individuals, the brain is less able to regulate dopamine [thus releasing a greater amount], and this may lead these individuals to be particularly responsive to novel and rewarding situations that normally induce dopamine release." -Dr. David H. Zald, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University THE EUPHORIC FEELING DOPAMINE GIVES EXTREME SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS WHEN IT FLOODS THE BLOODSTREAM WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE ? "TYPE I" 10-15% | * Type T (for thrill-seeking) personality types of the population are classified as Type T. can be described as "risk-takers and adventurers who seek excitement and stimulation wherever they can find or create it." (Psychologist Frank Farley) * These types of people tend to seek out unique experiences, the theory being that they need to stimulate low dopamine levels. Sensation-seeking trait is about bU% genetic THE DANGEROUS SIDE OF TYPE T PERSONALITIES DRUG ABUSE ALCOHOL ABUSE GAMBLING Using stimulating drugs such as amphetamines or cocaine synthetically raises the amount of dopamine in the brain, producing a short-lived artificial high. EXTREME SPORTS ADDICTION LEADS TO PROGRESSION THE ENDLESS PURSUIT... * Sensation seekers can become addicted to the "high" they get from the adrenaline and dopamine rush. This addiction drives them to chase the next high repeatedly. * Tolerance builds as the body gets used to the same rush over and over, which is why extreme sports athletes are constantly pushing the envelope and upping the ante. "You need risk to trigger reward and the body gets used to risk. In other words, just like drug addicts who need to take more and more of a substance to get back to the level of high they desire, action sports addicts need to up their danger quotient to achieve the same effect." -Dr. Greg Berns, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Neuroeconomics at Emory University THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT BIG THING, THE NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE TRICK, IS WHAT DRIVES THE CONSTANT PROGRESSION OF EXTREME SPORTS A FEW EXAMPLES... THEN NOW fmx 2X WHAT'S NEXT Ist Backflip Double Backflip 2006 2002 skydiving WIHAT'S NEXT Became a sport BASE Jumping Wing Suit Flying 128,000 ft. jump mid-1950's 2012 snowhoarding Double Alley-Oop Rodeo & Double McTwist 1260 2012 McTwists & 1080's 720's & 900's 1998 2005 3.5x SPINS 2x FLIPS WHAT'S NEXT 15 IL 11.5 t HALFPIPE WALL HEIGHTS HALFPIPE TRICKS & AIR HEIGHT WITH EXTREME SPORTS ATHLETES CONTINUING TO CHASE THE ELUSIVE HIGH AND PUSH THE BOUNDARIES, IT'S NO WONDER WE VE SEEN THE TRICKS BECOME INSANELY MORE TECHNICAL AND THE LEVEL OF RISK RAPIDLY INCREASING. WE CAN ONLY WONDER, WHERE WILL THE EXTREME SPORTS ADDICTION TAKE US NEXT? SOURCES KRUSH K http://www.jneurosci.org http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7802751.stm https://dana.org/media/detail.aspx?id=23620 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748420/pdf/nihms85634.pdf https://dana.org/media/detail.aspx?id=23620 http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-177868123/action-sports-participation-consumer.html http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1869106,00.html?iref=werecommend?id=perma_share http://www.livestrong.com/article/532699-dopamine-sports/ http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2008/12/risk-takers-drug-abusers-driven-by-decreased-ability-to-process-dopamine-69546/ -seekers-chasing-a-craving/ w.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-playing-field/200803/the-addicitve-nature-adrenaline-sport .ca/2012/01/thrill- http://www. http://www. http://www.summitpost.org/living-on-the-edge-extreme-sports-and-their-role-in-society/214107 http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13126284 http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7578873352trx0g/ http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/extreme-sports-whats-appeal?page=2 .charlatan.

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The Extreme Sports Addiction [Infographic]

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What is it that drives risk-takers to pursue dangerous situations willingly and repeatedly? Who are they and what makes them keep going back for more?

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A dangerous stunt led to the death of two daredevils

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Comparing Head Impacts in Youth Tackle and Flag Football | Concussion | Traumatic Brain Injury | CDC Injury Center

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What is a concussion?

Concussions are a surprisingly common occurrence in sports. High school athletes suffer thousands of concussions every year, most often in football, ice hockey, and soccer. Concussions do not always involve being "knocked out" or a loss of consciousness. A concussion occurs whenever a child's mental status changes as a result of trauma (usually a blow to the head). A child who shows signs of mental confusion or is "dinged" by a blow to the head has suffered a concussion.

What happens after a sports-related concussion?

Sports-related concussions often result in mental and physical symptoms (e.g., inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, headache, fatigue, dizziness). For many athletes, the symptoms disappear after about 10 days, and they typically do not last more than several months. In some cases though, concussions lead to persistent complaints of physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, sometimes referred to as post-concussion syndrome. We do not know whether persistent post- concussive symptoms result from primarily medical or psychological causes. In rare cases, when repeated concussions occur over a brief interval, athletes may suffer from second impact syndrome, a pathological response of the brain that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Parents should seek careful evaluation and management of any sports-related concussion.

How should a sports-related concussion be evaluated?

Concussions are typically managed according to their severity. Immediately after a concussion, medical evaluation is needed to determine a child's vital signs, level of consciousness, and to rule out any other injuries, such as those to the spine. Recent guidelines indicate that any child who loses consciousness as a result of trauma during a sporting event should be evaluated by a hospital emergency department immediately. In cases of less severe concussion, athletes are typically evaluated on site rather than in hospital emergency departments. There are a variety of approaches to the "sideline" concussion assessment. Guidelines are also available to assist in deciding when a child is ready to return to play after a concussion.

Can neuropsychological assessment help?

Neuropsychological assessment is widely regarded as the most sensitive way of detecting disturbances in brain function associated with concussion. The National Football League and the National Hockey League have both instituted systematic programs of neuropsychological testing, as have many colleges. Athletes are administered brief tests of attention, memory, and speed of information processing before the season. Athletes who sustain concussions are tested again, typically within 48 hours of the injury and at regular intervals afterward. Recovery to baseline levels of performance is typically required before athletes are allowed to return to play. Similar cooperative programs can be instituted for organized athletic programs at the high school level. In the absence of programmatic testing, athletes who complain of persistent post-concussive symptoms should be considered for a more comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.

What can be done to prevent or treat concussions?

Changes in the rules for athletic competition have reduced the number of sports-related concussions. After the National Collegiate Athletic Association made use of the head while tackling illegal in 1976, the annual number of head and neck injuries in football declined by about 50%. The required use of helmets in many contact sports, as well as advances in helmet design, has also resulted in fewer head injuries. Improved conditioning of young athletes, especially strengthening of neck muscles, may also help to prevent concussions.

If a child sustains a concussion, parents should seek appropriate medical care. They should request a description of symptoms indicative of worsening brain injury and of common post-concussive symptoms, as well as guidelines for return to play and for medical follow-up. For athletes who experience persistent difficulties after a concussion such as headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, sleep disturbances, or dropping grades, an effective treatment plan will often combine education, cognitive rehabilitation, psychological support, and in some cases medication.
Consult your primary care physician for more serious injuries that do not respond to basic first aid. As an added resource, the staff at Nationwide Children's Hospital Sports Medicine is available to diagnose and treat sports-related injuries in youth, adolescent, and collegiate athletes. Services are available in multiple locations throughout central Ohio. To make an appointment, call (614) 355-6000 or request an appointment online.
How should a sports-related concussion be evaluated?

Concussions are typically managed according to their severity. Immediately after a concussion, medical evaluation is needed to determine a child's vital signs and level of consciousness and to rule out any other injuries, such as those to the spine. Recent guidelines indicate that any child who loses consciousness as a result of trauma during a sporting event should be evaluated by a hospital emergency department. In cases of less severe concussion, athletes are typically evaluated on site rather than in hospital emergency departments. There are a variety of approaches to the "sideline" assessment of concussion. Guidelines are also available to assist in deciding when a child is ready to return to play after a concussion.

Can neuropsychological assessment help?

Neuropsychological assessment is widely regarded as the most sensitive way of detecting disturbances in brain function associated with concussion. The National Football League and the National Hockey League have both instituted systematic programs of neuropsychological testing, as have many colleges. Athletes are administered brief tests of attention, memory, and speed of information processing before the season. Athletes who sustain concussions are tested again, typically within 48 hours of the injury and at regular intervals afterward. Recovery to baseline levels of performance is typically required before athletes are allowed to return to play. Similar cooperative programs can be instituted for organized athletic programs at the high school level. In the absence of programmatic testing, athletes who complain of persistent post-concussive symptoms should be considered for a more comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.

What can be done to prevent or treat concussions?

Changes in the rules for athletic competition have reduced the number of sports-related concussions. After the National Collegiate Athletic Association made the use of the head when tackling illegal in 1976, the annual number of head and neck injuries in football declined by about 50%. The required use of helmets in many contact sports and advances in helmet design also has resulted in fewer head injuries. Improved conditioning of young athletes, especially strengthening of neck muscles, may also help to prevent concussions.

If a child sustains a concussion, parents should seek appropriate medical care. They should request a description of symptoms indicative of worsening brain injury and of common post-concussive symptoms, as well as guidelines for return to play and for medical follow-up. For athletes who experience persistent difficulties after a concussion such as headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, sleep disturbances, or dropping grades, an effective treatment plan will often combine education, cognitive rehabilitation, psychological support, and in some cases medication.
Consult your primary care physician for more serious injuries that do not respond to basic first aid. As an added resource, the staff at Nationwide Children's Hospital Sports Medicine is available to diagnose and treat sports-related injuries for youth or adolescent athletes. Services are now available in five locations. To make an appointment, call (614) 355-6000 or request an appointment online.

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A concussion occurs whenever a child's mental status changes as a result of trauma (usually a blow to the head). A child who shows signs of mental confusion or is

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Tony Hawk on the Dangers of Extreme Sports

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Tony Hawk on the Dangers of Extreme Sports

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Tony Hawk on the Dangers of Extreme Sports

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Overconfidence and a lack of training and a habit of not wearing safety gear, especially helmets, help cause more than 40,000 head and neck injuries nationally a year in sports like skateboarding.

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/ CBS News

Extreme sports bring excitement, and are starting to draw big bucks.

But are the athletes putting too much on the line?

The daring participants say extreme sports are all about the thrill, the rush of adrenaline they get. They're climbing higher, jumping farther and moving faster, all in the name of personal glory.

Still, when things go wrong, they pay a heavy price.

Humans aren't supposed to fly, but Jeb Corliss comes pretty close.

His extreme exploits have a huge following. One video of him in action alone has gotten almost 9 million views.

Corliss hurt in stunt jump
Uncertainty clouds recovery of skiier Sarah Burke

On Monday, Corliss was seriously injured on Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. Moments after he stepped off a cliff -- a 3,500-foot drop -- he hit the wall, breaking both his legs. He had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital.

Only a day before that, another extreme athlete, ice climber John Roberts, died after a 60-foot fall in Colorado.

And last Tuesday, free-skier Sarah Burke was critically injured during a training run in Utah.

All of these athletes take risks and are at the leading edge of extreme sports -- a one-time bit player on the sports scene that has exploded in recent years, thanks in part to social media and TV coverage.

The extreme athletes known as "Birdmen" even attracted the attention of "60 Minutes" in 2010.

Sponsorships have helped extreme athletes soar to new heights. Corliss has eight sponsors, including camera company GoPro.

GoPro CEO Nick Woodman says what Corliss does is risky, but not nearly as risky as most people would think, because he's so good at it.

Corliss jumped without permission from South African authorities, a jump that not only put him in danger, but his rescuers, as well -- one of the many reasons why big brands tend to shy away.

"A lot of big brands, (and) rightly so, don't want to take that chance. You don't want to see blood spattered all over a logo that you've invested millions and millions of dollars in," says sports marketer Joe Favorito.

But, Favorito adds, athletes who are determined will find a way. "What they're trying to do is offset costs and take it to another level as, quote, a professional athlete," he said. "And people think, when you're associated with sponsors, that makes you a professional. Sometimes, it makes you become a little more risky."

Professional skier and base-jumper JT Holmes knows how dangerous extreme sports can be. He knew Burke, and watched his close friend, Shane McConkey, die after jumping off a 2,000 ft cliff. Holmes was also the subject of the Steve Kroft "60 Minutes" story on "Birdmen," and was a stunt man for the film "Transformers." Holmes insisted on "CBS This Morning" that he engages in extreme sports because they're "just good, clean fun." He admitted he thinks about the possibility the activities could kill him. "Certainly," Holmes said. "Every single jump, every single ski run, you have to be aware of the (possible) consequences and, if you're going to choose to put yourself in these perilous situations, you need to be prepared."

To see the entire interview, click on the video below.

Trending News

Jeff Glor

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They've become big business, but a death and some injuries have led some to question whether they're worth the money, thrill

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Do you like the excitement of extreme sports? If so, you might be an 'adrenaline junkie'. Find out more about white-water rafting and parkour in this video.

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Is your kid obsessed with becoming the next X Games star, Olympic medalist, or YouTube stuntman? Young kids often have no fear when it comes to taking risks, but are extreme sports like dirt bike riding and bungee jumping dangerous for kids?
Related: Sports Safety Tips for Your Child
Though traditional sports like football, basketball, and hockey aren't exactly going out of style, the world of extreme sports is growing in popularity. Kids and adults alike are participating in increasing numbers in these risky-if not sometimes downright dangerous-sports. But why?

From skateboarding and snowboarding to BMX biking and rock climbing, pop culture and social media have collided to amp up physical activity and make super-sized stunts seem like the norm. Long gone are the days when peer pressure from classmates, neighbors or older sibs drove younger children to drop into a half-pipe or launch their bike off a crazy incline.

Today's kiddos are also influenced by...well, influencers. YouTube stars, TikTok creators, and even Olympic athletes have turned extreme sports from something that only the wildest child would attempt to everyday activities.

If your littles are begging to do extreme sports and you're totally new to these types of activities, read on for more info on the risks, benefits, times to encourage your kiddo, and when to flat out say a big 'ol, " NO."

Extreme Sports Growing More Popular with Kids

Some kids are happier riding their skateboards than dealing with the structure of soccer practice. Others like cruising around on their BMX bikes until their legs just quit, surfing themselves silly, or spending the entire weekend learning new tricks on their inline skates.

Of course, young kids are also attracted to extreme sports because they're cool. And who doesn't like being on the cutting edge? Snowboarding, the bad-boy little brother of skiing, was legitimized by sports traditionalists when it became an official Olympic event at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Fast-forward to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were actually held in 2021 thanks to the pandemic) and skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing became legit gold, silver, and bronze events!

Studies Show Fewer Kids Are Joining School Sports Teams

Have the days of dribbling a ball down a court or passing a puck gone the way of the dinosaurs? According to stats from Project Play, in 2021 the most popular youth sports for children ages six through 12 were bicycling, basketball, and baseball. Even though more than 5.2 million children biked in 2021, this was a significant change from way back in 2008.

The Project Play statistics show that only 18 percent of children reported bicycling in 2021, while a whopping 27.7 percent got active on two wheels in 2008.

Basketball team play dropped from 16.6 percent to 14.5 percent participation and baseball from 16.5 percent to 12.6 percent between 2008 and 2021. The number of children playing other popular team sports, such as soccer, tackle football, and flag football, also dropped during the same time frame.

Basketball is Less Popular But Bicycling is Big with Teens

The same downward trends didn't happen for teen participation in all traditional sports. Bicycling participation grew from 16.8 percent to 21 percent between 2008 and 2021 and baseball play rose from 8.2 percent to 9.5 percent.

What could account for the overall downward trend in team and individual youth sports play? There isn't one reason. But some of the possible explanations include an increasingly competitive climate, the high cost of intensive travel sports (such as hockey), or interest in other activities -such as extreme sports.

Dangerous Sports: Kids in BMX, Climbing, and Bungee Jumping?!

We spoke to Paul Vail, 29, a BMX freestyle bike rider for more than 14 years to learn more about the kinds of extreme sports kids are trying.

Vail says that when it comes to extreme sports, "Today's kids who've been riding skateboards or BMX bikes since they were 12-year-olds will become the parents who say, 'Yes, skateboarding, bike riding -- perfectly acceptable sports for my kid to do. And don't tell me they have to play football or be on the basketball team to be accepted, because that's no longer true.'"

Vail balks at the term "extreme sports." "People have been skydiving, skiing, riding bikes, doing tricks, and taking jumps forever. I think the extreme sports label is a gimmick. I like the term 'alternative sports'."

Extreme or not, it's important to encourage kids to express themselves physically, whether their athletic tastes are trendy or traditional. Both solo and team-oriented sports can build self-confidence, relieve stress, and promote physical fitness -- all of which are vital to growing kids and adults alike.

Kids in "alternative" sports are expressive, highly skilled athletes. And sports like rock climbing, snowboarding, inline skating, surfing, skateboarding, extreme skiing, and mountain biking (to name just a few), require significant technical ability as well as strength and endurance. Plus, alternative sports can help your kids develop positive qualities like discipline, persistence, and determination.

Kids in Ski Jumping or Snowboarding

BMX, skateboarding, and bungee jumping aren't the only extreme sports kids flock to. Even though ski jumping might seem like a new adventurous activity, it made its Olympic debut way back in 1924.

Of course, this doesn't mean kiddos were climbing up mountains, whooshing down slopes, and flying into the air on two skis a century ago. While this soaring sport isn't exactly new, its youth appeal has spiked in recent years. According to Women's Ski Jumping USA, five to eight years old is the age average for ski jumpers to start the sport!

Like ski jumping, snowboarding is a winter-time extreme sport that has skyrocketed in popularity. Again, snowboarding became Olympic-official in 1998. Almost a decade later, in 2006, then-19-year-old Shaun White made his first bid for the gold. But White certainly wasn't the last teen to take this extreme sport up a level and put it center stage.

Seventeen-year-old Chloe Kim became the youngest women's Olympic halfpipe competitor to nab the gold in 2018 at the PyeongChang games. With role models like White and Kim to follow, a whole new generation is getting into the halfpipe!

Not only do today's kiddos follow these, and other top athletes, but during the Olympics, they can watch the extreme antics of snowboarders on YouTube, TikTok, and just about every other social media site.

Kids and Sport Injuries

How dangerous are extreme sports? As a parent, your child's safety is priority number one. And that's why you're not so sure about your kiddo's extreme activities. Even though extreme sports do often come with, as the name implies, extreme risks, these aren't the only athletics that can result in serious injuries.

According to Stanford Medicine Children's Health, each year over 3.5 million children (14 and under) are injured during sports play. This includes more than 775,000 kiddos who require ER treatment. The majority of the injuries requiring hospital-level care are the result of collisions, falls, overexertion (during informal recreational activities) or object-related impacts.

When it comes to the most injuries per sport, football takes the top spot-with nearly 215,000 five- to 14-year-olds treated in hospitals in one year. This number is higher than what you find with some extreme sports. But in general, more children play this type of traditional team sport than engage in extreme activity.

A 2015 study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine looked at the prevalence of head and neck injuries in extreme sports. The researchers found that between 2000 and 2011 there were more than four million total injuries from these types of activities (this includes adult injuries).

Over 11 percent of these were head and neck injuries. Of these head and neck injuries, the extreme sports with the highest number of incidents included skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, and motocross.

Fear is probably the number-one reason many of us avoid taking risks. For athletes in extreme sports, conquering fear is part of the adventure of sport. When a skateboarder is practicing tricks on a 15-foot ramp (commonly called a half-pipe), or a mountain biker is flying down a rock-strewn single-track trail, and he makes a mistake and falls -- well, it's going to hurt a little. Okay, maybe a lot.

But the athletes we spoke to didn't complain about injuries. In fact, most have enjoyed relatively injury-free experiences in their sports. Brian Krause, a competitive skydiver for the U.S. Army's Golden Knights, has taken thousands of jumps out of airplanes without so much as a sprained ankle.

But Matt Donovan, a pro downhill mountain bike racer from Massachusetts, said that when he first got serious about racing, his season was "very injury-laden. I had two concussions, a separated shoulder, a broken hand, multiple cuts, and lacerations. And I cracked a rib."

There are two kinds of sports injuries:

1. Chronic Repetitive or Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries can cause stress fractures, muscle tears, or progressive bone deformities.

2. Acute Injuries

Acute sports injuries occur as a result of trauma from contact with a major force. Acute sports injuries include fractures, broken bones, dislocations, and more serious spinal and brain injuries.

Is It Wrong to Let Children Do Extreme Sports?

Should safety concerns stop your child from trying an extreme sport? There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. If your adventure-loving kiddo is all about skateboarding, snowboarding, parkour, BMX biking, or any other high-octane activity, you will need to think about:

Your Child's Age and Developmental Level

Is your child developmentally ready to handle the challenge? What is their skill level when it comes to basic coordination and athletic tasks like running, jumping, and balancing? Can you trust them to act responsibly, follow an instructor's directions, and wear safety equipment correctly?

Your Child's Motivation

Does your child want to become the next Tik Tok star? If your tween has dreams of easily twisting a BMX bike around in mid-air like their fave influencer or thinks videos of teens crashing their skateboards into just about anything and everything is hilarious, they may struggle to stay safe while engaging in an extreme sport.

The Instructor or Coach

Who will teach your child about the sport? A YouTube video or IG video are not a substitute for the real deal. Only a qualified instructor or professional should instruct your child.

The Safety Equipment

Do you know what safety equipment your child will need? Will they wear it? You may need to learn more about the equipment standards before you allow your child to participate in extreme activities.

What types of equipment do children need? The specific items depend on the sport. These could include a helmet, shoulder pads, shin pads, elbow pads, or wrist guards.

According to Seattle Children's Hospital, skiers and snowboarders should wear a helmet that meets ASTM, CEN, or Snell standards. Skateboarders should wear one that conforms to the ASTM F1492 standard. Children who ride bikes or scooters should wear a helmet that meets CPSC or Snell standards, knee pads, and elbow pads.

When is an extreme sport too extreme? If you don't feel comfortable with your child engaging in the activity or don't feel that they can follow safety directions, it's okay to just say no. Some sports are not age-appropriate for younger kids, and you should wait until they're a bit older to try them out.

It's also okay to talk to ask questions, talk to a pro, or take your time gathering facts, stats, and any other info about the adventurous activity! Learn more about extreme sports by taking our quiz here.

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Kids and Extreme Sports: Should They Be Allowed?

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Should kids do extreme sports? BMX riders, snowboarders and X Game stars weigh in on the benefits and risks of kids doing extreme sports.

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Extreme Sports Facts

Check out our range of extreme sports facts.

Learn about the summer and winter X Games, different types of extreme sports, the surfaces and environments such as water, land, snow and air, as well as lots more interesting facts and information.

Extreme sports, sometimes called action sports or adventure sports, do not have an exact definition but are generally considered to be activities that are seen as having a high level of potential danger.

Extreme sports often involve high speeds, dangerous heights, the requirement for a high level of specialist technical skill, and highly specialized gear or equipment.

Success in extreme sports usually involves judging panels scoring athletes based on visual and technical criteria and completion of a 'trick'.

Height based extreme sports include Bungee jumping, skydiving, BASE jumping, paragliding and hang gliding.

Water based extreme sports include scuba diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding surfing, whitewater kayaking and rafting.

Wheel based extreme sports include BMX, skateboarding, mountain biking, inline skating, rally car and motocross.

Winter based extreme sports include skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobile.

Cliff and cave based extreme sports include rock climbing, ice climbing, caving, free diving, mountaineering and cave diving.

The X Games are an annual extreme sports event, organized by the U.S. sports broadcaster ESPN. Participants compete to win gold, silver, and bronze medals along with prize money.

The first Summer X Games were held in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island. The first Winter X Games were held in 1997 at Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake, California.

X Games are typically held in the USA. The winter games are held in January or February and the summer games are usually held in August.

X Games have also been held in Asia since 1998 and Europe since 2010.

The X Games competitions often makes heroes of those athletes who are talented and brave enough to pull of a new and exciting 'trick' such as Tony Hawk's 900 in skateboarding, Travis Pastrana's double backflip in freestyle motocross, Heath Frisby's first snowmobile front flip or snowboarder Torstein Horgmo's triple flip.

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Extreme Sports Facts - Information About X Games, Action Sports & More

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Extreme Sports Facts Check out our range of extreme sports facts. Learn about the summer and winter X Games, different types of extreme sports, the surfaces and environments such as water, land, snow and air, as well as lots more interesting facts and information.