Are Animal Zoos Unethical? (Essay Sample)

Are Animal Zoos Unethical?
Name:
Institution:
Are Animal Zoos Unethical?
Zoo is a short form for a zoological garden or park whereby animals are enclosed for the purposes of breeding, conservation, exhibition, and research. An animal zoo can take the form of a birdcage or a large safari park spanning hundreds of acres of land. Majority of exhibition parks are found close to towns where there is a large influx of visitors. However, animal rights crusaders are often against the idea of enclosing animals arguing that this hinder their natural freedom. Despite their claims, animal zoos are ethical because they offer for breeding, preservation, and research opportunities.
An animal zoo is designed with conditions that replicate a natural habitat. The only difference is the fact that it is possible to control the breeding patterns in a zoological garden. The conditions in a natural habitat mean that some animals might find it hard to find their mates. In addition, the young ones of some animals might find it hard to survive in the natural habitat (Lin, 2014). Therefore, animal zoos are used to breed these animals, which are later releasing them to the natural ecosystem. It is also possible to check the breeding level of some animals by enclosing over surplus species in the zoo.
Animal zoos are also attributed to the role of saving endangered species. An endangered species in this case refers to specie, which faces extinction in the global natural habitat. Animal zoos offer the perfect solution for saving these endangered species whereby they are brought together for purposes of security. This eliminates the threat of poachers, predators, starvation, and extinction through natural evolution. An animal zoo makes it possible to safeguard the health and safety of these species and thus efforts should be made to identify endangered species and have them transferred to nearby zoos (Lin, 2014).
Animal zoos are also important facilities for research purposes on various animal species. Majority of renowned world’s zoos are meant for scientific, research, and educational purposes. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) advocate that all accredited animal zoos make research their core priority. Animal research helps in understanding the physical, behavioral, physiological, and genetic traits of animals. Consequently, scientists can come up with strategies aimed at improving these traits to the expectation of a typical natural habitat (AZA, 2014). It is also possible to conduct research on some of the diseases that affect animal specifies thereby developing much-need