Zoos

"Hamadryas Baboon Exhibit, Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia- Singapore Zoo." ZooChat, www.zoochat.com/community/media/hamadryas-baboon-exhibit-great-rift-valley-of-ethiopia-singapore-zoo.53596/.

I think zoos should play a role in conservation of animals. Zoos should bring in orphaned and endangered animals, allow them to grow and then release them back into nature. In order for zoos to be able to do this, they must have large exhibits and provide animals with real "wild" like surroundings. I also think zoos should play a role in education. Zoos should be interactive and provide a lot of information about the animals in the exhibits. Some people may have knowledge about certain animals, only from which zoos provide for them. It is important that zookeepers and exhibits educate people about animals in the zoo and provide an abundance of information to the people.

I think it is ethical for animals to live in zoos. However, the animals must be treated correctly and be  provided a healthy place to live. Animals must be allowed an environment that resembles their natural habitat. Zoos can play an important role in education, research and conservation of endangered animals. I believe zoos that must provide the animal with a large exhibit that is similar to their natural habitat and should never allow the exhibit to become over-crowded. I believe that animals should only be in zoos if they are orphaned or endangered. It is not ethical to take wild animals out of their natural habitat if they would be able to survive on their own. Also, I believe that the ultimate long-term goal for the animals should be release back into the wild once they are stronger and older.

This is a photo I took this spring at the Assiniboine Zoo. The upgrades the zoo has made to the polar bears exhibit have been positive. The zoo is working towards a better environment for their animals to live in.

I enjoy visiting zoos that treat their animals properly. It is nice to be able to see and learn about animals that I would normally never encounter in everyday life. However, I do not enjoy visiting zoos with small, over crowded exhibits, or seeing animals pace inside their unrealistic habitat.

An example of a very inhumane polar bear exhibit. 

"Argentina refuses to allow polar bear to be moved to Winnipeg." Daily Mail, http://www.dailymail.com.uk/news/article-20702022/Argentian-refuses-allow-sad-polar-bear-Arturo-moved-Winnipeg-despite-global-outcry-plight-depressed-animal.html