I think that the question about whether or not zoos are beneficial is disputable. These days, this issue is more relevant than ever before. A lot of people think that a zoo is an important source of knowledge about nature. Masses of people, (both) young and old, visit zoos to see wild animals. However, there are some people who believe that there isn’t much information about the real life of the animals, and that it’s much better to see them in their natural habitat.
On the one hand, children get an opportunity to learn about wild animals not only from books and on television, but to see them in real life. Some animals they can even pet and feed. Children obtain more information through contact with animals. It’s an exciting adventure for a child! For adults, a zoo is the perfect place to see rare animals that they couldn’t see anywhere else but in the wild.
On the other hand, I often wonder how animals benefit from being in zoos. Unfortunately, I haven't found an answer to this question. I think that wild animals should live in their natural habitats. Moreover, sometimes, it would be more interesting to see animals on television, than to search for them in the wild jungles or the desolate, boreal woods. Also, I strongly believe that animals aren’t toys and they have their own needs. Certainly, there are zoos where animals have reasonable accommodations, but a zoo can’t provide freedom.
I'm of the opinion that animals mustn’t be kept in captivity. Personally, I'd prefer to see a tiger in its native jungles of India on Animal Planet for example than in a cage or zoo enclosure. And what’s your opinion?
Well, that is a controversial question indeed. I personally think zoos should have never existed in the first place. Now that we already have them, we should stop the reproduction of the population and bring them to an end. Many people say that without zoos many species would be already extinct. And, yes, that may be right. But is it any better to keep animals in, more times than not, inadequate and unnatural environments, just so us humans can go there to watch them in our free time? Many animals in zoos and aquariums lead a miserable life and most of them show some kind of stress behaviours. Is it worth it? If you ask me the answer is a resounding no.
Very interesting post, Roman! I love that you used so many contractions. I have a love-hate relationship with zoos. I love the joy of seeing exotic animals up close, but I prefer to see them in a large enclosure than in a cage.
Title: Do We Really Need Zoos? || When we ask a question with "or not," it sounds impatient and pushy: Do you want a beer or not? (I've offered you beer three times and you haven't said anything -or- I put a beer in front of you and you haven't touched it)
@Montse: Yes, this is a good idea to breed rare animals at zoos but it's very important to let them out into their natural habitat to form a stable population.
@CocoPop: It depends on accommodations of course. I still can't forget a scrawny fox and a lame ostrich I saw in Moscow zoo more than ten years ago.