Are Zoos and Aquariums Beneficial or Just for Entertainment?

Zoos and aquariums are a great place to go to spend time with your family. Many exciting features such as different types of animals that children and adults can learn about and view in person without being at risk of an attack. Although people are educated by some animal facts, some may not know the full reason to why zoos and aquariums exist. Some also believe that aquariums and zoos are holding back conservation and are keeping different types of species in jail.

Are zoos and aquariums really conservational havens or are they just a money and entertainment scheme?

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (Credit to Zachary Spears)

The Upsides of Zoos and Aquariums

Zoos and aquariums have many benefits and they can impact conservation attempts in a positive way. One example is that an endangered animal can be rescued and taken in by a zoo. This may seem like stealing but when the endangered animal is taken by an organization like a reserve, a zoo, or an aquarium, risks such as poaching, pollution, deforestation, and more are not a problem to worry about. It also is a lot easier to research these endangered animals when they are held captive in zoos and aquariums which can lead to more discoveries such as animal habits, vulnerabilities, and methods that can lower the risk of these animals when they are ready to be released into the wild back into their native habitat. Zoos and aquariums can also increase awareness to different types of risks and different endangered species. Since aquariums and zoos make research much easier than researching different species in their native habitats, more research can be done which can resolve different issues much faster. This also leads to possibly reintroducing the species back into the wild a lot faster and much less riskier.

The Downsides of Zoos and Aquariums

Even with the many benefits, people still think zoos and aquariums are a cash grab and use animals to maximize profits. This may be true in some countries because they may be corrupt and want to exploit selling animals and enclosing animals in unlivable habitats. In these countries, people also sell rare animal parts such as bones, hide, ivory, and more in order to get money and boost their status. When someone has a necklace with ivory or the fur of an endangered species, people know that it is expensive. Some people may also think that zoos are used to expose animals to people and media which can put stress on certain animals. People also are concerned if zoos or aquariums neglect their animals. An example of animal neglection is the orca scandal at Sea World. Many people were protesting and speaking up about the amount of space the orcas had and the way that Sea World brought Orcas to their facilities. 

While there are still negatives that harm wildlife conservations for land and sea animals, zoos and aquariums are very beneficial if they are executed correctly. In the United States, zoos have to follow the legal requirements in order to sustain animal welfare and long term living. Modern zoos and aquariums in most countries are striving to protect wildlife from different ecological dangers. When they are managed correctly and ethically, zoos and aquariums play an important role in wildlife conservation. They combine protection, education, research, and rehabilitation which can ensure a species ability to survive in the wild when they are ready.