Jillian Evans

Period 2

Persuasive Essay

For the most part, the variety of animals one might see in their lifetime is determined

solely by their location; with many areas like cities simply not allowing for many wild animals

live close enough to make seeing them a regular occurrence. However, for many years, zoos and

aquariums have provided people of all ages opportunities to to see animals they might never

have otherwise. These animals are often exhibited alongside educational material to help viewers

gain a greater understanding of the animals they’re seeing; such as information relating to their

natural habitats, behavior, and various trivia. Some zoos and aquariums even offer more

interactive exhibits, such as areas where visitors might even get the chance to touch smaller

animals under the supervision of a handler. Many zoos and aquariums also take part in important

conservation measures, such as breeding programs for endangered species. While all of this

might make the majority of zoos and aquariums sound like perfectly respectable and invaluable

institutions, there are many who criticize them for various reasons, or believe that they should

not exist at all. However, the benefits of zoos and aquariums clearly outweigh their faults, and

these faults can be improved upon.

One point of view that can be taken on the existence of zoos and aquariums is that they

are simply too important to dissolve or replace. Many individuals involved with animal

conservation groups hold this opinion; including Laura H. Graham, founder and director of the

WRG Conservation Foundation and adjunct professor at the University of Guelph's Campbell

Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare. Graham argues that zoos provide endangered species
with a much-needed safe haven from external threats; such as poaching, starvation, and

predators. This allows for some captive populations to breed with a higher success rate than their

counterparts in the wild, and help stabilize dangerously small populations. She cites several

examples of successful zoo-based breeding programs to back up her claim, including the Amur

leopard, black-footed ferret and California condor (Graham). All of these species, according to

Graham, would have gone extinct without the establishment of captive breeding populations

within zoos. Successful breeding programs also help to minimize the effects of inbreeding in

small populations, as most zoos try to pair animals based on genetics. While this is not always

successful, it is an important step taken to prevent the loss of genetic diversity, which some

species simply cannot afford to lose. Many zoos, such as the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium,

also provide valuable funding towards conservation efforts outside of the captive setting.

According to Ken Kaemmerer, the zoo’s curator of mammals, states that zoos “provide more

funding for conservation than all the well-known conservation organizations, like the World

Wildlife Fund and others,” and that by supporting zoos and aquariums, visitors can “play a part

in conservation in the field” (McMarlin).

However, despite the important role that zoos and aquariums play in animal conservation,

there are multiple sides to every issue; and one alternative point of view in this situation is that

many animals would be better off if these institutions did not exist at all. This the opinion shared

by Liz Tyson, the director of the Captive Animals’ Protection Society. In an interview with Earth

Times, Tyson cites numerous reasons as to why keeping animals in captivity for human

entertainment is unnecessary. One reason given is that the educational value of zoos is irrelevant

today given the variety of educational resources available. Tyson uses the example of a tiger;
saying that the experience of seeing a tiger in a zoo does not teach the viewer anything beyond

what a tiger looks like, leaving important information such as how the tiger affects its natural

ecosystem for supplementary materials. “As such, the important messages are delivered via

mediums that the child could access without ever setting foot in a zoo and the presence of the

tiger becomes irrelevant” (Tyson). Another argument against zoos and aquariums is that the

needs of some animals simply cannot be met in a captive setting. This is a common argument

against the keeping of intelligent marine mammals, such as dolphins and varieties of whales.

Dalhousie University marine mammal expert, Hal Whitehead, used this argument in relation to a

2016 case wherein two beluga whales held in the Vancouver Aquarium passed away at a young

age due to unknown complications; pointing out that beluga whales, along with many other

marine mammals, are incredibly social and thrive off of complex migration patterns that cannot

be recreated in captivity. In Whitehead’s own words, “There is no way even the best captive

situation has even the slightest approximation to that" (“Smart animals' needs not met in

captivity” 2016).

Upon analyzing both of these points of view, it is clear that the answer as to whether or

not zoos and aquariums are worth keeping around in this day and age lies somewhere in

between. Obviously, to dissolve zoos and aquariums entirely would be incredibly difficult, due to

the fact that it would create large populations of vulnerable animals to relocate; and additionally,

cut off valuable resources to conservation groups worldwide. That being said, however, it is clear

that improvements can be made to the vast majority of them; primarily when it comes to exhibit

quality and making the difficult call of deciding which animals are simply unfit for life in

captivity. David Grazian, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania

and author of "American Zoo: A Sociological Safari", discusses this viewpoint at length in his

submission to The Washington Post; having written his piece after volunteering at and visiting a

variety of zoos across the United States while conducting research for his book. Grazian

proposes a re-evaluation of how we exhibit animals; encouraging zoos and aquariums to step

away from the “Noah’s Arc” premise of exhibition, where quantity is prioritized over quality,

and instead focus on creating engaging exhibits that account for the needs of the animals being

displayed. This could be achieved, Grazian says, by putting less focus on easily recognizable,

cuddly animals, and putting the spotlight on smaller, but still fascinating ones. “Exotic insects

like the Madagascar hissing cockroach could teach visitors how dynamic ecologies work and still

let young people to encounter animal life up close. An emphasis on endangered amphibians like

the Panamanian golden frog would allow for a wide-ranging set of exhibits on the vulnerability

of delicate ecosystems around the world” (Brulliard). Grazian also makes a point of saying that

zoos and aquariums should reconsider holding highly intelligent animals, such as great apes,

elephants, dolphins, and whales. “--these animals require resources and commitments that reach

beyond what even wealthy zoos can afford. Retiring apes, marine mammals and elephants from

zoo life would be compassionate - and commonsense.” He cites multiple examples of

well-known institutions, such as the National Aquarium and Denver Zoo, retiring their intelligent

residents from zoo life to wildlife sanctuaries tailored to their care in favor of continuing to hold

them in their collections.

In conclusion, despite the varied opinions on the worth of zoos and aquariums, it is clear

that these institutions do hold immense worth, primarily in the field of conservation. There are

many important species that would have been lost to their increasingly dangerous habitats
without the help of captive breeding populations and conservation funding provided by zoos and

aquariums. Of course, it is also equally clear that zoos and aquariums need to take important

steps towards updating their exhibits to better support the animals they house, even if that means

parting with beloved species that are ultimately unfit for life in captivity. If these changes can be

made, it is almost certain that zoos and aquariums will remain a valuable resource for

generations to come; both as education and entertainment for visitors, and safe havens and

support for the animals who need it most.

Works Cited

Graham, Laura H. "A ban on captive animals could speed up extinction." ​Gale Opposing

Viewpoints Online Collection​, Gale, 2019. ​Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/PWRCWV081951579/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=OVIC&xid=adb3d

d56. Accessed 9 Nov. 2019. Originally published as "A ban on captive animals could speed up

extinction," ​The Conversation​, 29 Mar. 2018.

Lukasik, Jason Michael. "Is it time to break with colonial legacy of zoos?" ​Gale Opposing

Viewpoints Online Collection​, Gale, 2019. ​Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/PFFAWX675468088/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=OVIC&xid=935c4d

69. Accessed 9 Nov. 2019. Originally published as "Is it time to break with colonial legacy of

zoos?" ​The Conversation,​ 6 June 2016.

McMarlin, Shirley. "Zoos of the Future May Be Animals’ Last, Best Hope." Gale Opposing

Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/JLEEAI829551748/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=OVIC&xid=a84e232b.

Accessed 6 Nov. 2019. Originally published as "Zoos of the future may be animals’ last, best

hope," Washington Times, 4 Sept. 2016.

"Smart animals' needs not met in captivity; The recent deaths of two beluga whales in B.C.

highlights the need to reopen the discussion around confining creatures to cages." ​Globe & Mail

[Toronto, Canada], 9 Dec. 2016, p. S2. ​Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A473361633/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=OVIC&xid=b2147556.

Accessed 9 Nov. 2019.

Tyson, Liz. "Zoos Are Cruel and Unnecessary." Animal Rights, edited by Noah Berlatsky,

Greenhaven Press, 2015. Current Controversies. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010954223/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=OVIC&xid=909dd03a.

Accessed 7 Nov. 2019. Originally published as "Are Zoos a Force for Good or Just Plain Cruel?"

CAPS, 19 Aug. 2011.