There is a school of thought that the concept of zoos should altogether be scrapped, whereas there are other quarters of people who opine zoos serve their purpose. I think zoos should be continued because they have benefitted us substantially, although there are controversies about it.
Zoos are one of the ways to connect to the natural world in this materialistic lifestyle. They are supporting the children of cities to expand their imagination and provoke their creativity. For instance, if we take children to the zoo, they will be curious about the animal’s habitat, their lifecycle, their food, etc. That makes them kind to wildlife. One of my cousins who recently visited the zoo is asking for a pet with his parents. He wants pet pandas at home.
Apart from entertainment, zoos are very significant for research purposes as well. Many scientists are working on animals’ bodies and their behaviors to understand their emotions and how feelings change the physical health of species, which would be very beneficial for humans as well.
Despite many positive impacts of wildlife parks, negative impacts can not be ignored. Ethically, we are violating animals’ rights to enjoy their natural habitat in the name of research or recreation. Animals are born to live freely, but we are limiting them inside the cage, which tenses them, although some animals enjoy staying near humans. Researchers have also found that animals in zoos are facing problems of anxiety and depression as they are away from their natural habitat and friends. Additionally, keeping jungle inhabitants in a closed room might change their natural ability to run, breed, and hunt, which may lead to genetic changes in the long term.
Taking everything into consideration, zoos can be operated with great care for feral animals as they are assisting mankind in new innovations as well as in fun and mental refreshment.