Buzzword Alternative

sick - ill

hurt - injured

captured - acquired

cage - enclosure

tank - aquarium

captivity - controlled environment

wild - natural environment

tricks - behavior

sex - courtship behavior

Other words to avoid:

dead, die - If people ask you about a particular animal that you know has passed away, please say "I don't know."

kill - This word sounds very negative. Say "eat" or "prey upon."

play, talk, enjoy - Anthropomorphic, they give human traits to animals

evolve - Because evolution is a controversial theory, use the word "adapt."