Giraffe in zoo
The goals of zoos have changed dramatically since the London Zoo first opened to the general public in 1828. At that time, as many animals as possible were crammed into a small space. Now, good zoos try to mimic an animal's natural environment. Even so, it often leaves one to wonder if the animals are better off.
Longevity
Zookeeper and iguana
Zoo animals consistently live longer than their wild counterparts. This is because they have access to medical care, better nutrition and a lack of predators that their wild counterparts have to battle against. Elderly wild animals lose their strength, ability to find and digest food and often lose their social standing in their species social structure. Zoos are learning care for geriatric animals.
Boredom
Leopard in zoo enclosure
Combating boredom is a big problem in zoos and something animals in the wild do not have to face. Good zoos have replaced all metal barred cages for those animals used to roaming large territories. Being confined to such a small area produced boredom, which resulted in pacing. Good zoos provide companionship, toys and hide pieces of food so the animals have to search for it as in the wild.
Conservation
Endangered Scimitar-horned oryx in a zoo
For some species, living in zoos is the only way the species can survive. Case in point is the Przewalski's horse, also called the Asiatic wild horse. The species was hunted to extinction in the wild by 1969. The entire world population lived in zoos and nature preserves. The world's stud records are kept at the National Zoo in Washington, DC to prevent inbreeding. Herds have been released back into Mongolia. All of those animals were from zoo-born stallions and mares.
Publicity
Girl at the zoo
Animals living in the wild usually only come into contact with people through confrontational times. The animals may prey on livestock or eat farmer's crops. As a result, they are considered pests and are destroyed. In good zoos, people can see that these animals are not just capable of pesky behavior, but lead complex lives. This can help people to help save the animal and the habitat needed to keep the animal alive in the wild.
Breeding
Baby gorilla in a zoo
Wild animals often reproduce better when they are in the wild. However, some animals such as the female giant panda are only fertile three days in the year. Using artificial insemination has helped to raise the worldwide panda population. Also, by trying to recreate the animal's natural living conditions as much as possible, zoo animals will breed.
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