I work as a Zookeeper, and the previous answer was close-minded and uninformed. The animals that are housed in reputable zoos are healthy, engaged, and very, very happy. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums along with the USDA inspect AZA recognized zoos (of which there are around 229) regularly to ensure the health and emotional well-being of the animals in their care.
Some "zoos" treat their animals poorly, but that is not a reflection of all zoos. Not at all.
Zoos are extremely important, as it brings conservation to the surface for anyone who visits. Some of these animals actually don't have a habitat to go back to (tigers, white rhinos, elephants. etc.) and displaying them in a high quality zoo is a fantastic way of letting people who would never see them or care about them see them in all of their natural beauty, and even inspire some to become involved in their conservation.
The main purpose of a Zoo is to house animals that are endangered or threatened in order to maintain the species' existence if it ever becomes extinct in the wild. The visitors are an awesome perk, as they contribute to the funding, upkeep, diets, and renovations of the zoos they visit.
Ultimately it is important to realize that Zoos as a whole are an important asset to conservation, and organizations that black-ball ALL Zoos based on the actions of a few are doing far more damage to conservation of endangered species and habitats than the worst zoo that ever existed.
I hope that one day we will have a respect for nature and wildlife that eliminates the need for Zoos, and keeps all wildlife species stable instead of exploiting and killing them for unnecessary reasons, or just because they happen to be living where we want a parking lot to be. Until then, until we decide as a community to genuinely care how we decimate the biodiversity of the planet, Zoos will be an integral part of the conservation of the wildlife that we have threatened with our progress and expansion.
Support AZA recognized Zoos. Boycott the Zoos that are run by amateurs just to gain a profit.
No, they are not, animals in captivity normally live shorter lives because staying in captivity they get lazy knowing that their meal come to them because the people who work at the zoo will bring it to them normally and so next time you go to the zoo
have a look at them are they being lazy and laying down or are they chasing their own food?
- ignore above answer, animals in captivity live longer due to constant food supply and less stress. zoos and wildlife parks are committed to enrichment programs which aims to match the natural behaviour of the animal that would be found in the wild.
however in my opinion wildlife parks are much better than zoos and animals should only be placed in captivity if endangered in the wild and strong breeding programs are set up to help the populations.
yes. the people that take care of them are called zookeepers.
Yes, an animal being in captivity means that they are animals that are usually wild but are not in the wild. So yes animals at the zoo are in captivity.
It depends on your own point of view because endangered species could be preserved in a zoo and can prevent it's extinction. On the other hand animals need to be free.
yes they do nearly all of them do
Zoos educate people about wild animals and their care. They also take in and/or rehabilitate animals that have been injured, or care for animals that would not survive in the wild.
Some people view zoos as bad because they feel animals are detained. Some zoos are no trained properly to care for the animals they own. Zoos who provide proper medical care, proper diets, and proper living facilities are safe for the animals. Some zoos actually house many injured animals, and care for the ones who could never be returned to the wild.
Some people say "As our world is changing animals are becoming engendered, so in order to stop them from being extinct people breed and care for animals in zoos." But really it is because people are ignorant and can't let them live the life they want. Everything happens for a reason so if there ment to go they will if not they will continue living. Not in zoos.
Most zoos don't favour the animals that attract more people they care for each and every animal. Some other zoos only do it for the money but everything depends on the owner.
Cause people don't care about them and just want to make.....$ -Porchefreckles23
zoo keepers
As with all places, it depends on the zoo. There are zoos that take good care of their animals, and some that are wicked.
the pros of a zoo is that many zoos cure animals with diseases or sicknesses. they also help care for orphaned animals until they are ready to go out in the wild on there own. some zoos also have breeding programs to try and save endangered species of animals.
By letting the public actually see animals and know how wonderful they are. It can convince people to care more for animals and even possibly get them to be interested in helping out or participating in efforts for the conservation of wildlife.
No
by eating a few apples
Yes! Zoos are more for people than animals. The animals are kept on display so the kids can learn more about them.