Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos?

Edited by Ella Byrne-Cabot

Yes

A zoo is a place where animals are kept for the public to see. Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. Zoos can come in handy when people want to observe or be educated on certain animals without having to go into the wild and disturb or encounter them. Zoos also save many endangered species, which allow them to be in safer environments away from starvation, predators, habitat loss, etc. A lot of zoos have special breeding programs just for endangered species, because in the wild, these animals may have difficulty breeding and finding mates, resulting in extinction. According to AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) “its accreditation guarantees that the organization has undergone strict evaluation by recognized experts to ensure the highest standards of animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition.” Pets/animals that have been abandoned or are no longer wanted have also been taken in by zoos. Most zoos that are well established provide a good habitat where the animals are never bored and have all the space they need!


No

There are many arguments that go against zoos. If you really think about it, from an animal's perspective, humans have no right to take or capture animals and breed them regardless if they are endangered or not. Even though many zoos provide enough entertainment and space, some animals suffer from boredom, stress, and even depression. Nothing compares to the freedom of the wild. That’s where animals belong. These animals may bring many visitors and money, but they also lead to overpopulation, which unfortunately means that some zoos have to sell them off to other zoos, hunting facilities, circuses, and some even kill them. Petting zoos also have had many incidents where diseases like the E. Coli infection broke out. Animals frequently have attempted to escape, which resulted in endangering other people as well as themselves. Many animals have been captured and abused just for the entertainment of people. Some places don’t even care about the animals or their well-being. As long as they make money through them they are happy.

Sources

https://www.treehugger.com/arguments-for-and-against-zoos-127639