Climate Questions: Should Animals be Kept in Zoos?

Comment Editor Weronika Bialek and damges surrounding animal captivity.

Most people have been to a zoo at least once in their lives and the conversations surrounding the ethics of zoos have been around for as long as zoos have. The way animals are kept in zoos has changed a lot since their rise in the 18th century, but are modern zoos ethical and should we keep supporting the industry by visiting them?

Should we support the existence of zoos?

The main argument for keeping animals in zoos is that zoos save endangered species and take care of animals which wouldn’t survive in the wild, such as injured animals. Some species that have been saved from extinction by animals, which means that the animal will eventually be released back into the wild, allowing it to live a happy and fulfilled life which may have been cut short if not for the help of a zoo. zoos include the Arabian Oryx, the Eastern Bongo and Golden Lion Tamarin. Zoos also allow for the rehabilitation of injured or ill

Another argument in support of zoos is that they educate the public and create empathy towards animals which may encourage people to do more volunteering and scientific work which will help animals in the future. Many veterinary and zoology careers have begun in zoos, as children get to finally see creatures which had previously only existed to them in books and cartoons.

Lastly, it can be said that even though there are bad zoos which don’t provide enough freedom and comfort for their animals, there are also good zoos which give their animals a good life. Organisations such as BIAZA team up with zoos to provide conservation, education and research, and so looking for zoos which are BIAZA accredited can be a good option when wanting to visit more ethical zoos.

But do the positive impacts outweigh the potential damage?

Despite some accomplishments in the saving of endangered species, according to PETA, most animals in zoos aren’t endangered and aren’t being prepared for release into natural habitats. Moreover, animals which are captive-bred cannot be released back into the wild. A 2015 study pub- ades ago, it cannot be ignored that which try their best to give their animals a happy life is clearly aever, maybe in the future we will be able to move away from With the growth of virtualing with animals and learning about them through simulations is becoming increasingly likely, and with the advancements in tracking technology and medicine, taking care of animals in their natural habitats rather than in enclosures is becoming a more accessible and