Given that they don't get preyed upon by another animal/bird, do animals live longer in captivity or in wild?

I always thought that (wild) animals were happier in their natural habitats %26amp; thus, lived longer in the forests until I read somewhere that animals live much longer in captivity.





So, even if the conditions are favourable in the forest, the animal got its food and water (with of course a little bit of struggle), does it live 8-10 years less than its average life span in captivity?





To ignore the predator factor, let us talk about the topmost predators like Tigers, Lions, Panthers and Leopards etc.

Given that they don't get preyed upon by another animal/bird, do animals live longer in captivity or in wild?
If I might, I'd like to give an answer and then ask a rhetorical question...





Cheeta is a chimpanzee. He starred in Tarzan movies in the 30s and 40s. He is presently retired. He enjoys a pastime of leisure activities, including painting.





Cheeta is the world's oldest living non-human primate. He is owned by Dan Westfall and will turn 74 years old on April 9th. In the wild he would likely have lived to be about 40 or 45 years old. I would say that being in captivity has helped Cheeta live longer than he would have in the wild.





In the meantime, countless other chimpanzees have suffered immeasurable cruelty in the hands of humans who have no clue how to care for a wild animal, let alone a chimp. In addition, many, many, many of these beautiful animals have grown too old to care for in a traditional "pet" situation and have been sent on to research facilities where they are tortured and die premature deaths. In these types of situations, does captivity increase [or even improve] their life expectancy?





My answer then would be "yes" and "no." And I give better odds for a happy existence in the wild.


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OK. Sorry for getting sidetracked. You touched on a pet project of mine.





Now, about the California Mountain Lion... According to this site ( http://www.395.com/index.shtml?/generali... ) the California Mountain Lion lives an average of 12 years in the wild and 25 years in captivity. In this case, the lion lives TWICE as long in captivity. That seems like a significant improvement on life expectancy.


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One more thought...


What is the most dangerous predatory animal in existence today?





Humans! http://www.isabelperez.com/select/predat...





For dolphins? Man. http://thedolphinplace.com/QandA.html#5


For the great apes? Man. http://www.marginalrevolution.com/margin...


For sea turtles? Man. (and sharks) http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215242/...





etc...
Reply:Ty = Thank You [Had to abbreviate it because of the character limit.] By the way, Calimecita, Raj and Sqeakers were equally deserving too. Really, thanks a lot to everyone who answered. Report It

Reply:I agree, Batman. This was a hard one. I found all of the answers thoughtful and interesting. I am honored that my answer was chosen. Thank you. Report It

Reply:Welcome :) Report It

Reply:It was a good question, one of the kind that really contributes to this site. There were really good answers and an opportunity to think about this issue. Thanks! Report It

Reply:Welcome Cali! I'll be trying to bring more such stuff now %26amp; as I said, your answer too was equally deserving! Keep it up! Report It

Reply:Thanks Batman,for concidering my answer. (Wow!) I'm sure you had a hard time choosing,but the answer you chose,was far more; "The Best Answer". I gave it a "Thumb's-up"!. Report It

Reply:Squeakers, thanks for the "Thumbs Up!" You theories are good. I guess life in captivity depends a great deal on who the person is that has the responsibility for that animal's care. I was surprised to learn that the lion does so much better in captivity. Report It

Reply:You're welcome, Squeakers. Keep it up! Ditto what H.S.Mother said :-) Report It

Reply:I went to the zoo last summer, and noticed the same thing stated on the desciptions of each animal. It stated the life expectency both in the wild and in captivity. After pondering the same questionfor a time, I asked the zookeepers for an explanation, and they confirmed what I suspected.





Medical care. Animals in the wild do not receive vaccinations and other medical services as the captive animals do.
Reply:That is a very good question! My theory: (1) The wild cats you mentioned would survive in the wild,mainly because they were born and raised in those surroundings. They are fierce,and have no problem hunting food. I don't know of any other animal,that eats them (except Alligators or Crocodiles). Although humans of that region depend on these cats for food,clothing etc,it probably takes a lot of ingenuity to capture them. (2) If in Captivity,the cats were more then likely captured when they were Cubs. Not only were they raised with a certain amount of other cats of their type.(Lions in captivity,do not live with Tigers in captivity). These cats are raised by humans,and depend on humans to feed and bathe them. They do not go wild %26amp; crazy,when they see humans observing them in the zoo. MY CONCLUSION: I would say,these cats will survive longer in captivity,because they are not living amoung the dangers in their native land.
Reply:i ve heard that they live longer in captivity.. but thats in zoos where they get proper care..unlike most zoos of our country..get my point?
Reply:Interesting question. There are some animals that have lived extremely long lives in captivity. As you correctly point out, this could be related with the lack of predators.


But animals in captivity are missing more than their predators. For instance, top predators in the wild interact with many other species, be it parasites, commensals, and their own kind (eventual competitors). A caged animal has no competitors, no predators, and (if they have veterinary controls) not many parasites or diseases either. No accidents from hunting or fighting, or encounters with other predators (such as snakes).


The fact is that captive animals are subject to different stress factors that are not comparable to those of wild specimens. Some species adapt well to captivity, while others (dolphins come to my mind) don't.


But all in all, I don't think the numbers are comparable.


Check this table for mammal lifespans:


http://www.demogr.mpg.de/longevityrecord...


There's records for captive and wild individuals. In most cases there are no comparative data (lifespan records for captive animals are more accurate, for obvious reasons). Captive lifespans are significatively longer in many cases.
Reply:An Intresting Question!!!





There are many different aspects of this Question.





The general theory that animals live longer in nature can be justified by following points:


1. Imagine yourself trapped in a cage. You may be able to feel the Terror. As a universally known fact a Happy person lives longer than a sad or terrorized one.


2. In Nature, Predaters catch there own food. This is a good exercise. Otherwise they become weak.(Proven by scientists)


3. http://www.ccadp.org/napoleonbaezley-cag...


The above listed URL tells us about the topic vividly.


4. Do animals born in captivity know the same things that animals born in the wild know? Do they only have to depend on MAN to give them meat? Is thats why GOD made them?


5. In developing countries like India, Cativated Animals are put in cages in Zoos. Thus the KINGDOM (life) of the Royal Animals like Lions is just the small cage. Have they been given more space......





There are also some points that I'll like to tell,which support the idea of Animals living longer in captivity:


1. In "Mike the Tiger: The Roar of Lsu" the writer has shown with facts that 'In captivity, tigers do not encounter these threats, so they generally live longer.


Most tigers in captivity live about fourteen to eighteen years'


2.In Sancturies Animals are given a Mini-forest to live in. This helps them to live their life as in wild and still they are in captivity.





I don't think you asked about Tortoises. They survive longer in captivity than in wild by 100 years.





Lightly, why did you ask? Do you have Bats in captivity?
Reply:Sorry I don't know about the topmost predators, but they keep ravens at the Tower of London (their feathers are cropped, so they can't fly away, but they are outside), and the tour guide said they live around 7 years longer at the Tower than they do in freedom. He said they only keep male birds around the Tower and that their longer lifespan had something to do with not breeding (I don't know how they keep their livestock up), but I'm not sure if he was just joking or not.
Reply:I'd bet captivity because they don't have to worry about predators. As we all know that as we get older if we try to keep up in the race we tend to hurt ourselves....that's when the predators get in.
Reply:somtimes they live longer. All the wildcat etc.. they are born natural born killers, they dont belong in captivity. The zoos etc.. They dont have the facilities to give them their natural habitat. What im saying is that its in their nature, even if they are born in captivity they know that that is not their habitat. Wouldnt you rather live your life in your natural habitat than behind bars? I guess it depends on the diet etc... At least when they are in their own habitat they die naturally, the way nature intended.
Reply:well of course they are happier in their natural habitat, cos thats what they evolved in an that. but theres always gonna be food limitations, esp in adverse environmental conditions. its all so much more complex out in the natural habibat. everythings more controlled in captivity. we can give them food they love, give em extra suppliments if needed, stabilise environment, etc.
Reply:Just ask yourself a simple question... Would you prefer to be free to move about and do as you choose? or would you like being kept alone in a single location and having no independence?