Zoos: For or Against Canada’s aging zoos are at an interesting juncture. They face immense pressure from both sides: animal rights advocates, who view them as cruel; and people who simply enjoy the feeling of vicariously experiencing the world’s unique and endangered animals. To these two sides, zoos must now add the consideration of providing an educational experience.
On one side of the argument, those against zoos take issue with the idea of keeping animals in such artificial environments. The bigger the chasm between their natural habitat and the zoo, the bigger their distress. For example, the polar bear, native to the Arctic atmosphere of Nunavut and Greenland, is now required to adapt to the balmy, man-made terrains of Toronto and Quebec. Overall, it has been argued that wild animals should remain in the wild in order to ensure they stay healthy both physically and mentally.
On the other hand, those in favor of having zoos stay open point to their ability to protect the world’s unique and endangered animals from extinction. Furthermore, zoos provide a unique opportunity for the public to have a real-life experience with animals, allowing them to learn about their behavior and preserving their curiosity for their cause. For example, many zoos source animals from specialized breeding programs that are specifically aimed at providing habitats for endangered species and teaching the public about their conservation.
In addition, zoos can provide an educational experience for children. Zoos have become somewhat of a cultural staple for childrens entertainment as families flock to them for a fun day out. While this may indeed teach children something about animals, typically, the primary emphasis is not to inform the public, but to simply entertain them. While this is a legitimate activity, it is worth noting that not all children’s trips to the zoo are educational.
Ultimately, it is impossible to talk about the issue of zoos without touching on the elephant in the room: animal rights. The question of whether or not animals should be kept in cages or given the freedom of their natural habitats is an ongoing debate among animal rights activists. It is true that no matter how advanced zoo technology has become, a zoo can never replicate the experience that animals get from living in the wild. The extent to which zoos make attempts to rectify this problem, for example, providing larger habitats and engaging educational activities, is a different matter altogether.
Despite the persistent argument surrounding zoos, there is a way to merge the best aspects of both sides: creating conservation parks. A conservation park is a mix between a zoo and an animal sanctuary. Its primary goal is to provide habitats for endangered species and serve as a tool of education. Conservation parks share the same overarching goal of zoos—that is, to provide habitats for animals—yet do so in a more natural environment.
In conclusion, it is clear that the debate over zoos will continue to rage until a solution on how to preserve animals’ rights in a humane and sustainable manner can be reached. Until then, it is important to continue to strive for a balance between animal rights and the education of the public. A conservation park is one such option that is worth exploring, as it offers the chance to provide animals with a humane habitat while still maintaining the entertainment factor that draws people to zoos.
