Your three-year-old cousin is coming to visit. She wants to go to the zoo. You have just read an article about zoos where the animals live under bad conditions …

• Using some of the aspects below discuss with your partner the pros and cons of zoos.
• Discuss if it’s ok to go to the zoo.

Note:
Please note that these solutions are only suggestions. There are various possibilities for argumentation.

Possible arguments for and against going to the zoo

• Pro:
• Children see animals: Zoos allow children and families to experience animals up close, which they normally only see in books or on TV.
• Educational projects: Modern zoos often run programmes that teach people about nature, conservation, and endangered species.
• Endangered species survive: Zoos help protect animals that might disappear in the wild by breeding and caring for them.

• Contra:
• Animals are bored and depressed: Many animals do not have enough stimulation and can develop unnatural behaviour.
• Little space and small cages: Even in modern zoos, animals often don’t have as much space as in their natural habitat.
• Mimic natural habitat: Zoos try to copy nature, but it is never fully real, so the animals cannot live exactly as they would in the wild.

Is it ok to go the zoo?

• Pro:
• Work with scientists: Zoos support research that helps us understand animals better and improve their protection in the wild.
• Educational impact: Visiting a zoo can motivate people to care more about animals and the environment.
• Survival of endangered species: By visiting, people support the zoo financially, which helps to save animals from extinction.

• Contra:
• Animal suffering: Going to the zoo means supporting a system where animals may live in boredom or stress.
• Small cages: Many visitors ignore the fact that animals often have far less space than they would in nature.
• Entertainment vs. ethics: Going to the zoo may be seen as putting human fun above the animals’ right to freedom.

Short summary