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Cage

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A cage is a specific type of enclosure designed to confine, contain, or protect. These structures are often built using mesh, wires, or metal bars.

Hamstercage
Hamstercage

Cages serve a wide variety of social and practical purposes. They can be used to keep animals or people in captivity. They can also be used to capture subjects or display animals in zoos. Additionally, cages protect valuable objects from theft or physical damage. Because many cages hold living beings, their construction must be very specific. They must include structures that allow for the entry of light and air. This is often achieved by using bars spaced closely together or by using mesh windows.

Melons in cage, Russia
Melons in cage, Russia

Animal management is one of the most common uses for cages. Many people keep small pets, such as rodents, birds, or reptiles, in cages.

Hamstercage
Hamstercage

Some cages are specially designed to meet the needs of a specific species. Because of this, different laws exist to govern how animals are kept. For example, Swiss legislation defines minimum absolute internal dimensions for pet cages. However, the Swiss Animal Protection organization (PSA) notes that legal minimums may not meet a species' actual needs. They argue that occupants need much higher vital space to ensure their well-being. Animal protection groups also advocate for better transport conditions and bans on battery cages for egg-laying hens.

Hamstercage
Hamstercage

Cages have been a part of human culture since ancient times. Historical records and art show their long history of use. An Ancient Greek vase from 490 B.C. depicts a boy with a rabbit. In the background of this vase, a cage with an open door is visible. The Bible also contains references to cages in various contexts. The Book of Jeremiah compares a tribe to "cages full of birds." The Book of Ezekiel describes a scene where captors pull a lion into a cage to bring it to the king of Babylon.

Hamstercage
Hamstercage

Beyond pets, cages have also been used as trapping tools. While poaching is illegal, some use cages to capture or hold animals for a time. Even U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt used a cage to capture a bear.

Throughout history, cages have also been used for human punishment. This is a darker side of the enclosure's history. In medieval England, King Edward punished supporters of Robert the Bruce by encaging them in public. During the Vietnam War, captives were kept in enclosures referred to as "tiger cages." In these instances, captives were sometimes chained in uncomfortable positions to increase their suffering.

Hamstercage
Hamstercage

This demonstrates how the same basic structure can be used for very different, and sometimes very harsh, human purposes.

In the world of sports and entertainment, cages create excitement or maintain order. Cage fighting involves combatants, often using mixed martial arts, inside a cage-like structure. This setup creates an image of fighters trapped together. In Australia, a ban on using cage-like enclosures for these events was lifted in 2014. Professional wrestling also uses steel cages as one of its oldest enclosure types. The first "steel cage match" occurred on June 25, 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia. That specific match used chicken wire to surround the ring. This was done to keep the athletes inside and prevent interference from others.

Hamstercage
Hamstercage

Modern engineering utilizes the "cage" concept for safety and technical functions. In automobiles, a roll cage is a frame built around the cab to protect passengers. Divers use shark-proof cages to remain safe in the ocean. In civil engineering, a gabion is a cage filled with coarse gravel or rock. These are used for landscaping, military applications, and road building. Other technical examples include the Faraday cage, which is an enclosure used to block electric fields. Even in computing, a cage can be a separated enclosure used in a colocation centre.

Finally, cages are used in many small but important ways in daily life. A fruit cage protects fruit bushes from being eaten by birds.

Melons in cage, Russia
Melons in cage, Russia

You might also see a spherical cage used to contain watermelons in Russia. Other examples include batting cages for baseball practice and bottle cages for bicycles. Even clothing has used the concept, such as the cage crinoline, which is a type of petticoat. From protecting tiny insects to securing large fruits, the cage remains a versatile tool in human design.

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