Some people think that zoos are all cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion.

Sample 1:

While some people believe that zoos play an important role in protecting wild animals, others feel that keeping animals locked up in such places is cruel and unnecessary. Personally, I agree with the idea that animals should not be kept in zoos and that zoos should be shut down.

On the one hand, many people feel that zoos are useful in some regards. Firstly, zoos can help to preserve endangered animals by keeping them safe from poachers and other threats, such as habitat destruction and the spread of urbanisation. Some zoos also run breeding programs in order to try and increase the numbers of some endangered species to avoid them becoming extinct. Secondly, by keeping animals in zoos, people can learn and understand more about them, and this can help to raise awareness amongst the public in order to help preserve certain species.

However, while the abovementioned ideas may be true to a certain extent, I believe that zoos are unnecessary for the following reasons. To begin with, zoos can only hold small numbers of animals and therefore cannot protect the large majority of species from being hunted or their habitats from being destroyed. I believe it is the responsibility of each government to create and fund conservation programs that help to stop the destruction of the habitats of endangered species so that animals can live in their natural state rather than be locked up in cages for their entire life. Furthermore, in many zoos, animals are being mistreated as they are often provided with insufficient food and medical care, which has so far caused many animals in zoos to die because of starvation and diseases.

In conclusion, though some zoos may have some positive impacts on the conservation of some certain animal species, overall, I think they are cruel places and do more harm than good.

Sample 2:

There are many people who have protested the conditions of zoos and demand that they should be shut down, as animals are subject to appalling conditions inside artificial captivity, while others believe that the institution of zoos can be beneficial to the conservation of wild animals. In my view, zoos may be the last resort for many species as the practice of poaching continues to threaten their survival, and should therefore be maintained.

On the one hand, many animal activists do have a point in arguing that zoos can be cruel. They are often mockeries of the animals natural habitats, and far too small to accommodate the animals that inhabit them. A lot of the animals in zoos are not as in shape as they would be in the wild, since they have regular feeding hours and no longer have any need to hunt. This in turn leads to them becoming unhealthy and living shorter lives. Many captive gorillas, for example, have been observed to have a lower lifespan than their free-roaming counterparts.

On the other hand, zoos prevent poachers from killing more animals, for they provide security that would not exist in the wild. Poaching has been a huge issue in recent years and has contributed to a number of species going extinct. Zoos, meanwhile, are controlled places where the animals are under observation and protected by security at all times. Many zoos are currently being used in Africa in order to protect endangered species of rhino, for example, and as they have been shown to save many species from the cusp of extinction, they are a necessary evil for wildlife to continue to exist.

On the whole, I argue that although there are certain moral problems to keeping animals in zoos, the alternative of them potentially getting poached means that the existence of zoos is morally justified.

Sample 3:

Numerous individuals have voiced concerns regarding the conditions within zoos, calling for their closure due to the inhumane treatment of animals in artificial enclosures. However, others argue that zoos play a crucial role in wildlife conservation. In my opinion, zoos serve as a last resort for many endangered species threatened by poaching and should, therefore, be maintained.

On the one hand, animal rights activists have valid reasons for claiming that zoos can be cruel. These facilities often provide inadequate representations of the animals' natural habitats and are typically too small to house them comfortably. Many zoo animals are not as healthy as their wild counterparts since they have scheduled feeding times and no need to hunt for food. As a result, they may become unhealthy and have shorter lifespans. For instance, research has shown that polar bears in captivity generally have shorter lifespans compared to their wild counterparts, as the diet provided to polar bears in captivity is often insufficiently varied and lacks the nutritional balance they would receive in the wild.

On the other hand, zoos offer protection against poachers by providing a secure environment that is unavailable in the wild. Poaching has become a significant issue in recent years, leading to the extinction of various species. Zoos are controlled environments where animals are constantly monitored and protected by security personnel. In Africa, for example, zoos have been used to safeguard endangered rhino species, successfully saving numerous species from the brink of extinction. Thus, zoos can be considered a necessary evil for the continued survival of wildlife.

In conclusion, while there are moral concerns surrounding the confinement of animals in zoos, the potential threat of poaching justifies their existence. In my opinion, they should be preserved and promoted as this is one of the only ways we can help species on the verge of extinction.

Sample 4:

Zoos’ contribution to our modern society has been a hotly debated topic. Many people are of the opinion that all zoos should be shut down due to their cruelty, while others think that zoos are the best places to shelter endangered animals. In this essay, these two views will be discussed in depth before giving my justification on why zoos are necessary for the protection of animals.

On the one hand, it is often argued that all zoos should be permanently banned for their heinousness. To be more specific, animals are kept in limited living space in cages, and they could not have the freedom like they do in their natural habitats. As a result, their instinct may be seriously affected as they could lose their hunting and survival ability. In addition, animals could face the risk of being mistreated by zookeepers. To elaborate, some wildlife parks would not feed the animals to seek profit from the tourists buying animal food from the zoos. Furthermore, many zoos have insufficient funds to maintain the food supply for their animals, which leads to cannibalism in some species.

On the other hand, I believe zoos play a critical role in preserving endangered animals whose habitats are in danger by virtue of human activities. Firstly, despite the artificial environment, zoos are better shelters for them with sufficient food and drink supply compared to their original ones. The risk of exotic animals being attacked by poachers would also be eliminated with the guarding and care from zoos. Hence, zoos are good places to ensure the safety of the animals and an ideal environment for their reproduction. Secondly, animals are given prompt medical care in case of emergency by experienced veterinarians, which they may not have access to when injured in nature. Additionally, scientists and biologists can observe and study the animals’ behaviour more easily if they live in zoos that are equipped with good facilities.

To sum up, while others blame zoos for their cruelty, it seems to me that endangered species are best protected in wildlife parks.

Sample 5:

Zoos remain popular places for people to visit for entertainment and to learn about wild animals. Although some people are of the opinion that zoos can provide a sanctuary for endangered animals and so should be kept open, I believe that the cruelty that animals suffer outweighs this benefit, and that they should be shut down.

These days, animals are under threat from humans in many ways, seen for example in the way that their habitats are being destroyed through the cutting down of rain forests, or through poaching. Following on from this, the argument is that zoos can protect some of these animals that are under threat. The reason is that they are in a safe environment managed by trained staff who can ensure the animals are looked after and can produce offspring. There are examples of successes in this respect, such as with Pandas, which have been endangered for many years but have been protected.

However, there are more convincing arguments for why zoos should be shut down. Firstly, even though some species are under threat, there are lots of animals which do not fall into this category and who are there just for the entertainment of visitors. While it may be fun and educational to see them, animals are not meant to be caged, and their distress can often be seen in the way many of them pace back and forwards all day. Not only this, if the prime reason for zoos is to protect animals, this could be done in other environments such as wildlife parks where the animals have more freedom.

In conclusion, animals should be protected but this does not have to be in zoos. Zoos are cruel to animals, not similar enough to their natural habitat, and they should be closed down. 

Sample 6:

Although many people think that zoos should be closed as it is cruel to keep animals in zoos, I think that zoos play a key role in wildlife protection.

First, it is believed that keeping wild animals in captivity might deprive them of their freedom. Wild animals are caged in a limited space and fed by humans while they long for a natural way of life. Therefore, many of them might suffer from boredom and confinement. Second, many governments might see zoos as an opportunity to make money. For example, many wild animals are exhibited and perform to entertain and attract visitors to the zoo. Many people claim that we have no right to use animals for entertainment and profit, so they think that zoos should be closed down.

However, those who are against zoos might ignore the important role of zoos in protecting wild animals. In fact, most of the animals kept in zoos are endangered as they are unable to survive or experience difficulty finding mates and reproducing in the wild. Zoos are the only safe environment to protect them from poachers, predators, or help them breed. Furthermore, these animals are saved by scientists working at zoos to study closely animals and their behaviour to help with environmental protection. As this type of research is often carried out away from the public, many people might not realise the useful purpose of zoos in wildlife protection.

In conclusion, the view that zoos keep wild animals in a cruel way is reinforced with a lack of awareness about the role of zoos in protecting the habitat. I think that zoos should allow people to view what they are doing in wildlife protection to gain appreciation from the public.

Sample 7:

Zoos have been around for centuries, even London Tower used to be one, providing refuge for animals and entertainment for humans. Going to a zoo is always a fun day for children as well as being educational, although I’m not sure that the animals, who find themselves severely restricted, would agree.

Zoos started as purely a curiosity for citizens, bringing exotic animals from hitherto unknown regions was a major attraction, even though few of the animals survived long, due to a lack of knowledge of what the animals needed to survive and unsuitable conditions. Moving on to the last 50 years or so, during which zoos have become far better homes for wildlife, with specially trained zoologists ensuring they have everything they need to live a long healthy life. In fact, they usually live longer than they do in the wild.

A lot of scientific research is performed in zoos as well, this can help zoologists to better understand the needs of the animal in the zoo and in the wild, thus helping to keep numbers up worldwide. For children, a day trip to a menagerie is especially exciting because they get to see creatures they’ve only seen in 2D previously. Nothing compares to being only a few inches away from a fearsome predator such as a leopard.

In reality, though, zoos are not a natural environment for wild animals. Predators need to hunt, all animals need to mate freely, as well as have sufficient space to roam in as nature determines. Zoos are obviously severely restrictive to movement and all other natural actions of animals; this is deemed as cruel by most compassionate beings.

Overall, zoos are not the best thing for wildlife as they hamper their natural instincts. However, there are some intrinsic benefits that make it kind of ok to have zoos, provided they are run humanely.

Sample 8:

More and more concerns about animal welfare are being raised, causing heated debate recently. While some people claim that zoos are cruel, others believe that they offer society and wildlife a wide range of benefits. This essay analyzes both sides of the argument before my personal perspective is given.

On one hand, institutionalization of wild animals can, in some cases, put them at certain risk and in precarious situations that should be immediately stopped. First, the artificial and cramped environments in some zoos cannot serve sufficiently the animals’ need for room and space to grow fully and healthily. This would lead to several acute physical and mental problems, ranging from obesity to depression, for these caged animals. Second, animals living outside of their natural environment and social structure are deprived of the right to develop their natural instincts and sense of identity. Wild animals fed by zookeepers tend to lose their hunting ability and turn to depend on human support for survival.

On the other hand, there are strong reasons for some to believe that zoos are the main contributor to wildlife conservation. Nowadays, ever-growing industrialization and its consequences such as heavy pollution and deforestation are threatening natural species and putting them at a greater risk of extinction. Zoos can serve as wildlife conservation areas which provide endangered animals with shelter and food, and also protect them from illegal hunting and abuse. Furthermore, zoos are key to the mission of maintaining biodiversity through conducting breeding programs which ensure the reproduction of rare species. Such an attempt would contribute to preventing animal extinction and maintaining animal diversity around the globe.

In conclusion, both views have their own arguments. However, on balance, I am more convinced in the modern world where people pay more attention to animal welfare, most zoos are ethically run, so they are of paramount importance in aiding to conserve threatened animals. Therefore, these places should not be banned outright for any reason; otherwise, endangered animals left in natural environments would face more danger.

Sample 9:

Some consider zoos to be cruel and should not exist while others express trust in the protection of wild animals by zoos. This essay will clarify both viewpoints and emphasizes the necessity of zoos.

Zoos can be a harsh habitat for animals in captivity. Actually, the area in zoos is extremely limited compared to wide open national parks or forests; therefore, detained animals will definitely feel uncomfortable and unwell. Sadly, it is almost a guaranteed failure for someone to come to any zoo to take pictures of animals running around in happiness or enjoying being watched by humans. Instead, what they find is that the animals hide deep in their caves or tiringly and sadly walk or lie on well-worn concrete grounds. Small cages for animals are like shackles on our limbs that deprive them of the most precious right, the right for freedom. Moreover, some animals in zoos are trained and exploited in circus performances, which makes their lives even more miserable.

However, zoos are no doubt a haven for wildlife, especially for endangered animals. They provide safe and nutritious food together with fast medical responses for sick animals. That ensures animals can prolong their lives and avoid dangers of becoming preys for predators in the wild due to physical debilitation from old age, sicknesses or wounds. It is even more meaningful when zoos are considered as a genetic reservation for endangered animals when their counterparts at large may be subjected to catastrophes like severe poaching in African savannas or the vast bushfires in Australia in late 2019 and early 2020 that devoured millions of acres of forest and burned alive hundreds of millions of animals right in their natural homes. In such cases, a few animals in zoos will keep the hope of a reproduction program to save them from complete disappearance from the Earth.

In conclusion, although zoos are negative for animals in some ways, keeping them is apparently meaningful especially for endangered animals whose survival chances in the wild are low and risks of extinction are so alarming.

Sample 10:

While some people find it cruel for wild animals to be kept in zoos and consider that zoos should be shut down, others consider that zoos are a place where wild animals are usually kept protected from any kind of harm. The essay would discuss both opinions and I would provide my own opinion in the end.

Wild animals in zoos are mostly kept in cages where they are not protected but rather kept captive. Most importantly, these wild animals who are supposed to be taken care of, preserved and protected find themselves in a place where they become an amusement for the common people. Moreover, it is important to consider the fact that the survival skills of these wild animals become weaker because they are provided food, preventing them from hunting for their own food.

On the other hand, most people consider that zoos are helpful for protecting these wild animals from the hunters and poachers in the wild. Moreover, with deforestation being at its peak for more cities to grow, the wild animals are becoming more prone to the lack of natural habitat, endangering them on a high scale. Based on these aspects, people think that wild animals are more protected in zoos.

It is true that keeping wild animals in zoos can be cruel considering that they are held as hostages, with rapid urbanization and deforestation. In my opinion, given the current state of rapid industrial developments, zoos are the best place for the safety of wild animals.