Should We Keep Animals in Zoos? Or Shouln't We?

For many centuries, various animal species have been kept in zoos to save them from extinction as well as to educate the public. Recently, animal right activists have been arguing that zoos outweigh their benefits and that the violation of animal rights is unacceptable. This brings up one question: “Should we keep animals in zoos?” From my own perspective, I would say that animals should not be kept in zoos for two reasons:

1.  zoo is a prison for animals
2.  zoo is actually endangering animals

Though for many people, the zoo is a source of childhood amazement - swinging monkeys, laughing hyenas and growling tigers – it is a prison for innocent animals. The major problem with zoos is that the animals are kept in enclosures, prohibiting them from living their lives in a natural way. No matter how big the enclosure is and no matter how beautiful the background is; these can't compare with the natural habitat the animals were meant to be in. The zoo animals have to spend day after day, week after week, year after year in the exact same enclosure, making them suffer from stress, boredom and confinement.

Further, removing animals from the wild will further endanger the wild population because the remaining individuals will have more difficulty finding mates. In addition, not all zoos provide the best living environment for animals. For example, in developing countries like Indonesia, zoos are not as pleasant as they are supposed to be. Indonesia is a corrupt nation; even some officials corrupt funds for zoo management. As a result, animals in Indonesian zoos get less food and healthcare. Many died from starvation and diseases.

Indeed, animals should be observed in their natural habitat, where they are living the live that they were meant to live. Children can learn about these amazing wild animals from books, television programs or even documentaries. It is simply not right to enjoy seeing these animals while they are living a horrible life. Simply stated, it is always the best to leave animals free in the nature.