We no longer need to have animals kept in zoos, so zoos should be closed. Do you agree or disagree?
We no longer need to have animals kept in zoos, so zoos should be closed. Do you agree or disagree?
Never in history did the voice for animal rights become so widespread as in our modern time. With the firm belief that animals should be free and independent in nature, many people strongly protest the operation of zoos. I, however, find this opinion may cause more harm than good for the process of animal preservation.
One of the most important roles of zoos, which many people fail to see, is that zoos, not nature, are among the safest places for animals to live. Living in nature, animals have to cope with numerous threats from both humans and nature itself. Illegal hunting and muggling have brought many species on the brink of extinction, while climate change and natural disasters have destroyed the homes of millions. There is no denying that nature used to be the safe home of wild creatures, yet today, for some endangered animals, it is no longer the case. Take pandas as an example, it is a fact that most pandas today are living under the care of human. Under the destruction of natural habitats and illegal hunting, wild pandas have nearly disappeared. The only reason why they still survive up to now and gradually increase in number is because of humans helping hand. Without humans and such places like zoos, by no means can such animals like pandas exist.
Another reason to support zoos is its roles in education and financial contribution. Obviously, zoos attract millions of visitors, which provides great opportunities for people to acknowledge more about natural animals thereby educating them about animal preservation. Not only that, revenue from zoos is an enormous financial aid for animal protection activities all over the world. Not only do zoos bring modern humans closer to the natural world but they are also an effective method to raise public awareness about animal preservation. While tight budgets and lack of awareness of animal protection are two obstacles against animal rights, zoos are a powerful weapon to combat them.
It is not to say that we neglect the drawbacks of zoos. Notwithstanding such advantages, zoos can never replace the natural habitats of animals, not to mention there still exist zoos where animals’ living conditions are horrible. However, in a world full of deadly threats to animals, especially for those who are endangered, living in zoos is the best option. Maybe in a future where humans and animals can live in peace, a place like zoo is no longer necessary, yet in the present and in the near future, zoos still play a vital role in the process of animal preservation.
