Zoos - a good thing or not?

Image from Pixabay
United Kingdom
December 30, 2018 7:36pm CST
Most of us have visited a zoo at one time or another. What was your impression of the animals there? Did they seem happy? Did they seem well fed? Did they seem healthy? Many people don't like zoos because of the perception that wild animals should not be cooped up in cages but should be allowed to roam free in their natural habitat. But what's the point of that if they will be subject to poachers after ivory or skins or if they are driven from farmland because they eat the crops. Zoos have improved immensely in the past few years and now offer an enriched life for their animals and protection from the many man-made hazards they would face in the wild. In fact, zoos offer the last hope for some species who are on the brink of extinction in the wild. Zoos are helping to keep species viable and some are actually reintroducing certain species back into the wild. Overall I think zoos are a good thing.
14 people like this
13 responses
• Cleveland, Ohio
18 Jan 19
Zoos are absolutely a good thing, paws down.
1 person likes this
• United Kingdom
18 Jan 19
@PeachieMew Provided they are well run and the animals are well kept I agree with you
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111164)
• El Paso, Texas
4 Jan 19
I prefer the sanctuaries and rescues. I guess it's all just perception but I always feel like those poor creatures in zoos, although well fed and cared for, couldn't possibly be as happy as they would be in the wild ..... I dunno, I just don't see a pack of wolves being happy if they can't run after deer for miles and miles. I would think most zoo creatures lead a more sedentary life style which I believe to be unhealthy, just look at all us obese humans sittin round watching TV or just putzing on the internet ..... just sayin is all.
1 person likes this
@JWMILLER (3280)
• Westmoreland, Tennessee
5 Mar 19
I agree with you.
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 19
I am in favour of zoos and as you say most are much different to what they once were. Some species are only being kept from extinction by breeding programs in zoos.
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
30 Jan 19
@ThreeTeddies I like to visit our zoo in Jerusalem. I believe that the animals are taken care of.
@porwest (78761)
• United States
31 Dec 18
Overall I agree with you. But I DO get a little depressed sometimes looking at the animals and wondering if they would prefer to be able to roam free.
1 person likes this
@mayka123 (16584)
• India
31 Dec 18
I like the idea of having zoos but I have not liked the way the animals are looked after in some of them.
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
31 Dec 18
Some zoos are good, the animals have large well designed spaces that seem to re-create their natural habitat. Some zoos look like "lagers" and should be shut down. In a whole the animals look stressed.
@RasmaSandra (73407)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Dec 18
I love zoos as long as the animals are well cared for and live in their natural habitats and not trapped in little cages. After all where else would see all kinds of animals if there were no zoos.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
31 Dec 18
Some species have been saved from extinction thanks to zoos.
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
31 Dec 18
Nah I was just reading that article about here in the USA in the Carolinas..some intern got eaten killed with a lion..dont think it is a good idea to have zoos I think anyway
• New Delhi, India
31 Dec 18
My zoo emperience says that I always saw animals ignoring visitors. They simply would look at the other side of the vsitors to avoid them. Yes the animals were mostly irritated.
@a_jerobon (2304)
• Eldoret, Kenya
31 Dec 18
I think zoos are good for wild animals. It prevents them from being destructive, they get a great habitat and food and they act as a tourist attraction site hence earning revenue for the country.