THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ZOOS

The world is populated with many wonderful species besides human beings ranging from elephants and great apes to Galapagos turtles. However, the only species most of us are lucky enough to become acquainted with are farm animals and household pets. Seeing and getting to know these animals is a universal desire: they are intriguing, wondrous and awe inspiring. This desire has led to the establishment of zoos, places where numerous species are housed in cages. Zoos have always been a popular attraction for children and adults yet they have both advantages and disadvantages.

There are undeniable benefits of zoos. Firstly, by enabling the public to become more familiar with various species, zoos are able to raise awareness of the plight of the said animals in the wild. Habitats are shrinking, poaching is rife, the illegal pet trade is booming. Sympathy generated by growing familiarity helps tackle these problems. People used to fear and hate sharks and whales until they discovered that they are not, in fact, aggressive animals and have vital roles in the food chain. Secondly, shrinking habitats and changing environments mean the certain loss of various valuable species which can only be preserved in zoos. Some animals, like the Giant Panda, have very restricted diets and are in danger of dying out if they are not kept in zoos. Pandas are currently the biggest visitor attraction in most zoos. Therefore it is obvious that zoos are not only for entertainment; they serve a useful purpose as well. Yet is this the whole picture or is there another side to it?

Zoos do have some undeniable drawbacks especially from the point of view of animals. First of all, most large mammals require large habitats where they can roam freely. Zoos, however, restrict this habitat by imprisoning the animal in a cage or small enclosure. Elephants roam over miles and miles of territory; no enclosure is going to be big enough for them. Places like Water world are also a case in point as they imprison highly intelligent species like dolphins and condemn them to a life of servitude. Many modern zoos now enforce certain standards to improve the quality of life of the animals they have on show. Second of all, forced culling is widespread in zoos as there is a lot of inbreeding. Officials will kill off animals and get others to vary the gene pool thus playing God; something they have no right to do. It is obvious that zoos are not the havens they are cracked up to be.

In conclusion, in the current age, with all the damage we have done to the environment, zoos do seem inevitable unfortunately. The best that we can hope for is ensuring that certain standards are adhered to and the animals are well cared for. Natural parks and reserves like the ones in Kenya and Namibia should, however, be prioritized.