Zoos also say that they save the endangered animals, but all they really care about is how much crowd the animal draws. Life expectancy is controlled by both the mental and physical health of most animals. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [9] [41], According to a study of 26 zoos worldwide published in Conservation Biology, visitors to zoos increased their knowledge of biodiversity and specific individual actions to protect biodiversity. Proponents of zoos point to the fact that they educate the general public, are beneficial for scientific research, and work toward conservation efforts and captive breeding. Animals in the wild are naturally shy to humans. As people became more interested in science and natural history, zoos served as a way to display and study animals. Even if the animals are being fed well, the lack of freedom can cause them to be stressed. Animals are often bored and, as a result, some become aggressive and can lash out at other animals or zookeepers. Good luck with that! ], ProCon.org, "Zoos Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Zoos Top 3 Pros and Cons. [15], Zoo research is used in other ways such as informing legislation like the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act, helping engineers build a robot to move like a sidewinder snake, and encouraging minority students to enter STEM careers. Visitors to AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums can see many species listed on the IUCN Red List as threatened with extinction, some of which are being managed under AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs. Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): [Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries. Modern zoos act as a place for observation and research to study issues such as animal disease or infection and to help develop treatments. 1. Deem, Zoos and Public Health: A Partnership on the One Health Frontier,One Health, Nov. 23, 2016, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, 10 Endangered Species Saved from Extinction by Zoos, medium.com, May 18, 2017, Association of Zoos & Aquariums, AZA and Animal Program Conservation Initiatives, aza.org (accessed Apr. The Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institutes Conservation Ecology Center develops new and advanced analytical tools to study and model how ecosystems and species interact with their environment and how these systems respond to global changes. After the famous wildlife conservationist Geral Durrell opened a zoo in Jersey in 1959, zoos all over the world have embraced the mission of. There are many reasons why animals should be kept in zoos. Animals also lose their genetic diversity especially due to inbreeding. In 1992, the first condors bred in managed care were released into the wild in California. But is there a reason why animals should not be kept in zoos? 38.1k views. . The owners of such zoos are focused on maximizing profits even at the animals expense. Some of these behaviors included rocking back and forth, tearing out their hair, self-mutilation, and the drinking of their urine. ProCon.org. These actions can change the behavior of the animal to create complacency, aggression, or unpredictable results. The zoos attract over 181 million visitors annually, which is more than the approximately 131 million yearly spectators of the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB combined.