Some people feel that it is always wrong to keep animals in captivity, for instance in zoos. Other people say that there are benefits for the animals and for humans. Discuss both sides of this debate, and give your personal view. You should give reasons for your answer, and include ideas and examples from your own knowledge and experience..

Zoos

continue to be controversial, even now that they have evolved into ‘animal parks’ or similar facilities. Most people love

animals

, and there are strong views on both sides, which I will discuss now. People opposed to

zoos

highlight the unnatural way in which

animals

live in

such

places. For example, captive

animals

do not need to hunt or raise offspring, and

this

means that they are not living as nature intended.

Furthermore

, the anti-zoo lobby

point

Change the verb form

points

show examples

out that

animals

probably suffer mentally when kept in captivity, even if their surroundings are spacious and similar to

the

Change the word

their

show examples

natural

habitat

. Symptoms of mental issues range from repetitive behaviour to eating disorders, and these are often seen in captive

animals

.

Lastly

, it is often said that

zoos

add little to animal conservation, which is better served by preserving their

habitat

.

Conversely

, those who support

zoos

say that in most cases they offer a secure and peaceful setting for

animals

,

for example

in

high quality

Add a hyphen

high-quality

show examples

wildlife parks or reserves. They add that in many cases, the

animals

would suffer from loss of

habitat

or poaching in the wild, and in

captivity

Add a comma

captivity,

show examples

they are at least safe and able to breed successfully.

Finally

, zoo enthusiasts feel that

zoos

and animal parks are part of an integrated system of protecting

animals

, involving

habitat

protection, breeding programmes and disease control.

This

all helps to safeguard endangered species and

thus

preserve the global ecosystem for the future benefit of all life forms.

Overall

, I feel that

zoos

provide a valuable service to society and the animal world, as they help to protect many species.

This

outweighs their possible disadvantages, as long as they are properly staffed and maintained. (281 words)