Negative Effects Of Zoos

Superior Essays
According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, there are over 10,000 zoos worldwide. It is amazing that there are so many organizations out there that are completely dedicated to the well-being of these incredible animals. Zoos are well loved by children and adults all over the world because of their exotic wildlife, but, in reality, zoos do much more than just take care of animals. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into these organizations, and they have become a crucial part to today’s generation. By keeping animals in captivity, zoos have a positive effect on both society and their animals because they protect species from extinction and habitation loss, entertain and educate the public about zoology, and care for …show more content…
These people, zoologists and researchers, are trained to handle exotic animals with care and it is their job to make sure that these animals are living healthy, impactful lives. Studying to become a zoologist is no easy task; these people earn a 4-year bachelor’s degree by studying areas such as calculus, biology, chemistry, and animal behavior. Not to mention, they participate in internships at animals sanctuaries, animals camps, and veterinary hospitals. When handling these exotic animals, zookeepers do it with care as they were trained to so. These zookeepers maintain the animals’ habitat and also engage them in activities. Care has improved a lot over the last few decades mostly because of the improvement in education that zookeepers attain. They now understand that animals need to be kept busy and active in order to prevent boredom and mental deterioration. This is why animals in zoos are seen playing with toys or sometimes hunting their meal (Horton). These activities can help to stimulate brain growth, which, in turn, leads the animal to a healthier, happier life. Once again, the in-situ research that zoos conduct proves valuable; the researchers can learn what activities the animals do in the wild and recreate them to the best of their abilities. Zookeepers have also proven extremely valuable to animals’ health because they can tailor research and care specifically to the individual. If one animal is particularly in need, keepers and researchers can conduct an assessment of animal welfare; this can include behavioral monitoring, and psychological analysis. As animal welfare studies develop, there is a greater chance that these animals are living happy, healthy lives (“Five Facts…”). Zookeepers and researchers do all that they can in order to provide the best life possible for these wild animals. Also, all zoos have extremely educated veterinarians to help with

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