Some people think zoos are all cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion.

Just like how a coin has two sides, the debate on whether

zoos

must be present is

also

two-sided.

While

some say

zoos

are torturous to

animals

, others believe that

zoos

are important for protecting

animals

, especially endangered

species

. I unequivocally believe that

zoos

must be present but must be used only during certain necessary circumstances. On the one hand,

zoos

are compared to human prisons.

This

is because the

animals

are stuck between four walls throughout their life and their movements are restricted.

Moreover

,

zoos

have reduced interspecies and intraspecies interactions, which are prevalent in the wild

hence

causing distress to

species

. In nature,

species

are dependent on each other and are connected via numerous food webs.

Subsequently

, if

animals

are removed from the wild, it causes an imbalance in the food web,

thus

affecting other

species

.

For example

, in 2020 when the Indian government started conserving otters, the alligator population faced a decline

due to

the fewer food sources available for them to consume.

On the other hand

,

zoos

have helped conserve threatened and critically endangered

species

such

as the Dodo bird and the Red Panda.

Due to

climate change, many

species

are finding it difficult to adapt to their changing habitat.

As a result

, their numbers are reducing.

Zoos

have helped these

species

by providing them with apt conditions necessary for their survival.

Furthermore

, the concept of getting killed by a predator is no longer a concern.

For instance

, the parrot population has increased by 50% over the past 10 years,

due to

captive breeding and reintroduction programs done by

zoos

. In conclusion,

zoos

can be a boon when used out of necessity and a bane when misused. In my opinion,

species

need to be free in the wild unless they are threatened with extinction, in which case

zoos

work wonders.