[Discussion] The role of zoos

Some people think that zoos are all cruel and should be closed down. Others however believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

People’s views differ about the necessity of zoos. While some are of the opinion that zoos play an indispensable role in wildlife conservation, I would contend that as such establishments are associated with the mistreatment of wild animals, they should be consequently shut down. 

On the one hand, advocates often put forward the role of zoos in deterring poaching, which is one of the major culprits of dwindling wildlife populations. Behind steel cages and concrete walls, zoos shield wild animals from not only poachers but also natural predators and diseases. It is within such confinements, they believe, that species would be well taken care of, with all their specific needs catered to. Along with this, proponents often talk about their pioneering roles in conservation initiatives, as these establishments enable zoologists and scientists to have controlled environments where endangered species can be monitored, incubated and raised, as exemplified by the case for the Galapagos tortoise. More ambitiously, such initiatives may one day lead to reintroduction programs with the aim to preserve and restore biodiversity in the wild. 

Despite acknowledging valid points from the previous school of thought, I believe otherwise. Zoos have limited resources, and as such the number of species as well as specimens that they can carry at any one point in time would also be limited. Because of this, conservation efforts by these institutions would be insufficient when taking into account the massive number of species deemed endangered in the wild. Furthermore, there has been concrete evidence of mistreatment from these inherently profit-driven establishments. For example, the Siti Botanical Garden and Zoo has faced numerous allegations that species often have had to survive on donations from patrons, despite being publicly funded. This is further reinforced by pictures taken by tourists of malnourished black bears circling on social media platforms. What is more, the zoo offers evening tours, which not only negatively affect many species’ sleep schedule, but also exacerbate the exploitation of the species kept there. 

In conclusion, despite many claiming that zoos play a paramount role in the protection of endangered animals, I believe that these places are primarily entertainment and profit-focused establishments, and that their limited success in conservation does not justify the suffering of the species they confine.