Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

Some people argue that

zoos

help to preserve wild creatures,

while

others say that they are inhumane and should be abolished.

While

the development of breeding programs contributes to the preservation of endangered species, I believe that the poor conditions that many animals held in captivity are kept in make the existence of

zoos

unacceptable. On the one hand, there are many projects in existence in zoological parks around the world where species facing extinction have been successfully bred in captivity and their numbers have increased substantially.

This

is important for ensuring the survival of animals under threat from poaching and the destruction of their natural environments. A good example of

this

is the golden lion tamarin from Brazil which nearly died out because of logging and mining activities that are destroying its habitat. Today, a third of wild golden lion tamarins are raised in captivity.

On the other hand

, a significant percentage of

zoos

house their animals in cramped cages with very little space to move around or behave naturally.

This

can lead to them becoming distressed and depressed

as well as

suffering physically through lack of exercise. A friend of mine recently visited a wildlife park

while

on holiday abroad and was very upset to see the lions pacing up and down in a narrow, bare pen and eagles in enclosures so small that they were unable to fly. In conclusion,

although

zoos

do help to safeguard dwindling populations of particular species, the suffering experienced by many captive creatures

due to

unsuitable living conditions amounts to cruelty and they should not be allowed to exist. (267 words)