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Pros and cons of zoos

Zoos are quite popular in a lot of different nations throughout the world. It might be enjoyable to visit a zoo and observe a variety of animals, especially if you have kids. Zoos provide a lot of significant benefits, but also come with some drawbacks. Let us read more and learn about the 20 pros and cons of zoos in detail here.

The top 10 pros of Zoos include

  1. Educational tool
  2. Numerous different animals are seen
  3. Zoos use trained professionals to care for the animals
  4. Most zoos employ veterinarians and collaborate with degree-holding specialists
  5. Zoo preservation programs can stop extinction events
  6. Universities and zoos are collaborating to create comprehensive degree programs
  7. Zoos can also be an economic resource for a community
  8. Zoos are quite popular
  9. Multiple types of zoos
  10. A desirable location for school trips

Top 10 Cons of Zoos include

  1. May alter the behavior of animals
  2. Holding any animal in capacity has questionable ethics
  3. Breeding programs create dependencies
  4. Zoo critics assert that they are cruel
  5. The majority of zoos are regarded as leisure facilities.
  6. Animals are kept trapped in unnatural environments
  7. Conversion is a goal that isn’t always sought
  8. Animals in zoos have shorter life expectancies
  9. Some few zoos are quite crowded
  10. Lack of regulation of zoos in many countries

Top 10 Pros of Zoos

First of all, let’s have a look at the pros of zoos and these are as follows:

Educational tool

When people go to the zoo, they not only get to see real, breathing creatures for enjoyment but also pick up a lot of useful knowledge. Modern zoos frequently offer guided tours, and informational kiosks, and actively work to teach the next generation of kids about the significance and value of biodiversity and conservation. People and kids can read books on animals and conservation, but a genuine understanding of animals’ predicament only comes from directly engaging with them.

Numerous different animals are seen

The ability to view a variety of animals in one location is a significant benefit of zoos. In fact, many large zoos house hundreds or even thousands of different animal species, so chances are good that you will discover any unusual species you are looking for there, even ones that would never exist in your neighbourhood. Zoos will likely be quite useful for you if you are an animal enthusiast and want to view as many animals as you can in a relatively short amount of time.

Zoos use trained professionals to care for the animals

For the animals maintained on the ground, zoos offer specialized care. In an effort to satisfy each animal’s innate impulses, the natural habitat is being replicated in place of confining them in tiny cages. To maintain the greatest standard of safety, every individual serving in a caretaker capacity is highly educated and trained to understand the mannerisms, medical requirements, and features of the animals. The frequency of attacks and accidents has significantly decreased as a result of these measures.

Most zoos employ veterinarians and collaborate with degree-holding specialists

The Smithsonian zoo is one of many instances where local universities collaborate with national organizations to develop programs at every post-graduate level to guarantee the long-term protection of animals. The problems that may arise can be treated at a high-level thanks to residency programs, veterinary internships, and a range of additional educational options.

Zoo preservation programs can stop extinction events

Zoos from all around the world collaborate to protect unique and critically endangered animals. With the use of these links, a pair of these creatures may be brought together to start a mating relationship in order to preserve the species. The outcome may be drastically different if these endangered species were forced to meet in the wild. Zoos have helped animals including the Arabian oryx, golden lion tamarin, Puerto Rican parrot, and freshwater mussels from extinction.

Universities and zoos are collaborating to create comprehensive degree programs

One of the organizations that have collaborated with regional colleges and universities to provide comprehensive degree programs at the graduate and doctoral levels is the Smithsonian national zoo. In order to teach veterinarians to become specialists in zoological medicine, the national zoo offers a training program for fourth-year veterinary students as well as a 3-year residency program for another institution.

Zoos can also be an economic resource for a community

Zoos offer more than merely provide a home for animals. They are a location that generates employment, develops tourist attractions and sometimes even serves as a community economic hub. The yearly budget for Seattle woodland park zoo surpasses $36 million and they pay $17 million in salaries. The zoo was founded in 1898, and now, individual donations and zoo visitation provide for 70% of its earnings.

Zoos are quite popular

Zoos are also pretty popular in a lot of different nations throughout the world. In light of the fact that zoos are socially acceptable in the majority of the world nations, you don’t need to worry about going to the zoo from a social standpoint.

Multiple types of zoos

Zoos are typically fairly unique, which is another appealing aspect of them. In reality, the general environment and aesthetic appeal of each zoo vary widely, so if you become tired at your preferred zoo, you can just visit another one.

A desirable location for school trips

Zoos may make for excellent field trip destinations. In fact, a lot of kids like coming to the zoo, and it can also be a fantastic place for school field trips because it is relatively risk-free and instructors won’t need to worry too much about it.

Learn more about the Pros and cons of owning a donkey

Top 10 Cons of Zoos

Now let’s discuss the cons of zoos and these are as follows:

May alter the behavior of animals

In general, animals raised in strange living situations eventually modify their behavior. As a result, it is very likely that zoo animals would change their behavior over time, and some of them may even turn out to be rather unpredictable and hazardous for the zookeepers.

Holding any animal in capacity has questionable ethics

A zoo could have educational value, but keeping animals in captivity presents an ethical conundrum. Some animals, such as the typical house cat, will flourish in capacity. Others such as orcas, perform terribly when kept in captivity. The average age of an orca kept in captivity is less than 30 years, and it is 17 years for a male orca. Orcas may live up to 100 years in the wild.

Breeding programs create dependencies

Wild animals find it difficult to adjust to a small space, yet many can even if it is imposed upon them. For the young animals that become a part of regional zoo breeding programs, the same cannot always be stated. The majority of animals born in a capacity that belongs to a predator species will perish if they are fed due to their need for confinement.

Zoo critics assert that they are cruel

Opponents of zoos sometimes assert that most zoos are cruel and ought to be shut down since the general living circumstances for animals in zoos are frequently fairly bad. Zoo animals don’t actually have enough room to walk around and can’t meet their basic needs in many nations in our world, which is in reality rather harsh.

The majority of zoos are regarded as leisure facilities.

Most zoos were founded in the 19th century, in both good and poor ways, to further scientific knowledge of the natural world that surrounds us. Over time it has altered to the point that people now just view zoos as entertainment centers. Established zoos cater to this mindset and defend it on the grounds that they require money to support ongoing research or preservation initiatives.

Animals are kept trapped in unnatural environments

Despite the fact that zoos have numerous benefits, their detractors frequently assert that they merely provide animals with abnormal conditions. Additionally, because they must remain in their cages and are unable to move around as they would in the wild, those animals may frequently feel confined.

Conversion is a goal that isn’t always sought

When it comes to animal species, conversion is the main objective of most zoos. Undoubtedly, there are success tales, like the Przewalski horse. Unfortunately, instead of acting as a legitimate goal statement, this purpose is frequently used as a marketing ploy. It is not unusual for children in one zoo to be transferred to another, sold to make money, or in the case of the giant panda employed as a financial asset for a whole nation.

Animals in zoos have shorter life expectancies

Animals in zoos have shorter life expectancies than those that live in the wild for a variety of reasons, including their greater mortality. This is a result of both the unusual living circumstances seen in zoos and the fact animals frequently become weary of living in zoos. In reality, many animals’ psyches play a significant part in determining how long they live, and if those creatures become weary of living in zoos, chances are that their general life expectancy will decrease as well.

Some zoos are quite crowded

While visiting a zoo may be a terrific way to pass the time, they are frequently fairly busy and popular. If you prefer to spend your time more leisurely, you might choose to engage in other activities or visit less popular zoos rather than packed ones.

Lack of regulation of zoos in many countries

Another problem with zoos is that they are frequently only inadequately regulated in many of the nations on your globe. In truth, many zoos are rather liberated in how they choose to care for their animals, and in certain nations, animals are even only seen as property rather than as living beings in need of appropriate legislative protection.

Thank you for reading this article. If you have any queries regarding our article on the Pros and cons of Zoos then do comment in the comment section below.

 

 

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Divya Chauhan
Divya Chauhan is an expert writer with 10+ years of experience as a content writer. They specialize in making complex topics like IT, Health, and general topic easy to understand. Divya has written over thousands of articles to help people with their content. Prior to joining Way2benefits’s editorial team in 2020, Divya worked as a Professor of BCA college and freelancer blogger.