There has always existed a great controversy around animals being kept in zoos. But there are more reasons for having animals in zoos. Zoos are safe places for animals to live in and help keep them away from predators. Zookeepers can bring endangered animals to their zoo and help them reproduce. Animals should be kept in zoos because of these reasons, and because they are an important part of animal education and a source for jobs.
Primarily, zoos will entertain and teach people. Children who are visiting the zoo for a field trip can learn about different types of animals by how they look, act, and live. In addition, biologists and scientists who want to observe and learn about certain animals can go to the zoo instead of traveling far away to search for an animal. For instance, if scientists want to do a quick study on African elephants, they wouldn’t have to travel all the way to Africa just to study them. Also, people who have never seen animals in real life can immediately go visit the zoo and see animals there.
Zookeepers can capture endangered animals to bring to their zoo and help them live longer and reproduce more animals. Some people believe that placing animals in zoos is cruel. However, zoo employees support and do the best they can to take care of their animals by feeding and sanitizing them daily. For example, I read in an article that a polar bear named Knut was abandoned by his mother and was unable to take care of himself. Knut would have died if it were not for Thomas Doflein, a zookeeper who nurtured Knut and gave him the love and attention he needed.
Many people want to observe different types of dangerous animals up close to see what they are like. Also, if I wanted to see the face of a dangerous animal near me I could go to the zoo and do that. For example, when I visited The Los Angeles Zoo, I went to the gorillas and I saw them very close to me for the first time. This reason is a great benefit for tourists who are visiting zoos.
In my opinion, having animals in zoos is going to keep the world safe like the way it is now. Additionally, animals in zoos right now will be comforted with care from zoo employees. Keeping animals in zoos is the best plan since it will entertain and teach people, will allow animals to live longer by preventing other animals from preying on them, and will enable us to observe animals up close.
Yuna Baek, Grade 12
Sage Hill School
