Are Zoos A Good Thing

Are zoos a good thing?
How do you feel about keeping animals in zoos?
Activity 1. Read both sides of the argument to help you decide.
Zoos are hugely popular attractions for adults and children alike. But are they actually a good
thing?
Critics of zoos would argue that animals often suffer physically and mentally by being enclosed.
Even the best artificial environments can't come close to matching the space, diversity, and
freedom that animals have in their natural habitats. This deprivation causes many zoo animals
to become stressed or mentally ill. Capturing animals in the wild also causes much suffering by
splitting up families. Some zoos make animals behave unnaturally: for example, marine parks
often force dolphins and whales to perform tricks. These mammals may die decades earlier
than their wild relatives, and some even try to commit suicide.
On the other hand, by bringing people and animals together, zoos have the potential to educate
the public about conservation issues and inspire people to protect animals and their habitats.
Some zoos provide a safe environment for animals which have been mistreated in circuses, or
pets which have been abandoned. Zoos also carry out important research into subjects like
animal behaviour and how to treat illnesses.
One of the most important modern functions of zoos is supporting international breeding
programmes, particularly for endangered species. In the wild, some of the rarest species have
difficulty in finding mates and breeding, and they might also be threatened by poachers, loss of
their habitat and predators. A good zoo will enable these species to live and breed in a secure
environment. In addition, as numbers of some wild species drop, there is an increased danger
of populations becoming too genetically similar. Breeding programmes provide a safeguard:
zoo-bred animals can be released into the wild to increase genetic diversity.
However, opponents of zoos say that the vast majority of captive breeding programmes do not
release animals back into the wild. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos but also to
circuses or hunting ranches in the US or South Africa, where some people are willing to pay a
lot of money for the chance to kill an animal in a fenced enclosure. Often, these animals are
familiar with humans and have very little chance of escaping.
So, are zoos good for animals or not? Perhaps it all depends on how well individual zoos are
managed, and the benefits of zoos can surely outweigh their harmful effects. However, it is
understandable that many people believe imprisoning animals for any reason is simply wrong.
Zoos: cruel or caring?

Activity discussion
Last weekend I visited a zoo with a friend. Whilst there, we debated whether or not zoos were a
good thing. When I was little, I loved going to the zoo. Now, aged 20, I still enjoy visiting them.
However, I am aware that there are lots of people who don't support these establishments.
Animal welfare is a growing concern in today's society. There are many people who believe that
zoos are unethical. They argue that it is cruel to remove animals from their natural habitat and
keep them in cages for the public to look at. An animal kept in a zoo will lead a different life to
an animal that lives in the wild, for example animals in zoos don't have to hunt for food.
Furthermore, some animals become unhappy in zoos because there isn't enough space. Zoos
feature animals from places all over the world and animals must therefore adjust to different
climates and seasons, depending on the location of the zoo in relation to where the animal
comes from.
On the other hand, a trip to the zoo can be an educational experience. When students learn
about endangered species and are able to see them in a zoo, they are more likely to support
projects designed to save these animals from extinction. Zoos are involved in many
conservation projects: supporting zoos provides essential funding for these projects. Due to
threats such as poaching, there are arguably many species which would be extinct if they
weren't kept in zoos. In addition, many zoos attempt to replicate an animal's natural habitat: a
range of materials is used to create a space that is similar to what would be found in the wild.
Lots of toys are usually put in exhibits to prevent animals from getting bored. Animals that live in
tropical countries - especially reptiles - are typically housed indoors in warm, heated tanks which
are kept at a temperature similar to that of their natural habitat.
Every zoo has a slightly different approach to animal care and welfare, but overall I think zoos
are a good thing. Seeing animals in their natural habitat isn't always possible and I think zoos
offer a good alternative. A trip to the zoo is both educational and fun - I'll definitely continue to
visit zoos!

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Are Zoos A Good Thing

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Are zoos a good thing?

How do you feel about keeping animals in zoos?

Activity 1. Read both sides of the argument to help you decide.

Zoos: cruel or caring?

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