Animals In Captivity and Zoo Conservation

It has often been a source of great debate whether animals should be in zoo's or other forms of captivity. Particulary endangered animals. Or whether particular animals shouldn't even be in captivity. Please discuss and share your veiws.

Personally I feel that zoo's play a vital part in trying to conserve endangered animals and they should do their part in trying to put right what wrong man has done. Let's face it man DOES have alot to answer for!

As for animals being in captivity... well I feel they are a great tool for educational purposes. Providing they are kept correctly then I don't have a problem with that.

Plus while animals are in captivity there are usually breeding programs ongoing. This is great as they are either often sold to other approved organisations to educate others so wild caught animal numbers are reduced or for increasing endangered animals numbers in captivity and then go on toward releasing back into the wild.

I agree completely ...

Also in captivity these animals are provided with food when they need it, security from preditors, veterinary attention when needed !!!

I do think it's our job to make them as comfortable as we can and to create an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible.

More study and learning has taken place through animals being in captivity than in the wild.
Animals that are being threatened in the wild can be saved as a species by breeding in captivity and relocating back into the wild using zoo stock.
The fact that a zoo charges an entrance fee shows that it is a business and the animals are its tools. These animals also assist the general public in personalizing themselves with a live breathing animal rather than watching National Geographic or reading a book on the subject.

Many purists disagree with the fact that these animals are kept in captivity. I give snake educational awareness demonstrations and all the animals I use are in captivity. I may take an animal from the wild to use but how many do I save by using it to educate people that these are animals and not some evil myth to be destroyed on sight?

Well Said Shaun

Well done and well said.

Thanks but I am still expecting some "lunatic" animal rights groups to shoot me down. Information terrorists such as the PETA come to mind.

LMAO well yeah.... always some 'do gooder NOT' to screw the world even further!

Good zoos ..such as chester i think are needed today the way things are in the wild.