by Adam Thorn

Created on: October 25, 2010   Last Updated: October 26, 2010

There are many pros and cons surrounding zoos and captive animals. In the 19th century, the condition animals were kept in at zoos was extremely poor. Much of the time the zoos would need a regular supply of animals because they kept dying. These days the quality of the zoos and the way the animals are kept have improved dramatically (although not in all cases.) Many people think that zoos regularly go out and catch these animals from the wild. This does happen, not nearly as much as people think but. In most zoos, animals are bred at the zoo or born at another zoo and transfused to a different zoo. Statistics show that over 70% of the animals at Sea World, were actually born there and a lot of the remaining animals were transferred from other marine parks.

Many people think that the animals on display at a zoo are there just for the benefit of the visitors. This is not entirely true. Zoos all over the world take part in breeding programs and education programs to better understand certain species of animal. They also take part in endangered species breeding programs to try and repopulate certain species of animals, which are critically endangered or actually extinct in the wild. Zoos also trade animals. For example, if one zoo has a one Giant Panda, and another zoo has another Giant Panda. One zoo will make an offer to trade the panda for another animal. This then creates breeding programs for the species.

 Zoo breeding programs have saved many animals from extinction. Adelaide zoo, in Australia actually saved a species of Wallaby from extinction just from their breeding program. This is just one of many examples, of the good that zoos actually do.

The education, which zoos offer to the public, is very valuable. Zoos offer behind the scenes tours, education programs and many more sources of information on what the public can do to help preserve and protect the animals not only at the zoo but animals in the wild too. When people experience the wonderful animals at the zoo. There is an amazing sense of awe and bewilderment (well there is for me). When people love something they automatically want to protect it. This applies to animals also. Zoos offer close up experiences with the animals and offer the public a chance to fall in love with these fascinating and incredible animals. 

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