Zoos Are Important to Animals
Zoos Are Important to Animals Many people have the wrong idea about today’s zoos. They think animals are yanked
survive out in the Arctic than you would. Some may wonder why zoos breed animals
from the wild and locked in small cages no
at all. The answer is simple: Wild animals
better than prison cells. Sadly, in the early years
are becoming extinct at an alarming rate.
of zoos, that was often true.
Within twenty years we could lose polar bears,
It is said that when we know better, we do
tigers, orangutans, and more due to hunting,
better. As the field of zoology has advanced, so
habitat loss, and other issues. Zoos represent
has the quality of animal care. Organizations
the best and perhaps only chance many species
exist to monitor member zoos and the care
have to survive.
do not use cages. Animals roam freely in enclosures that resemble their natural habitats. Many zoo animals have customized diets and enviable health-care plans. An entire field of behavioral enrichment has sprung up to make sure animals exercise both mind and body. O M P A N Y
Animals are given choices about food and play. C
Today, 96 percent of all animals in zoos were
D U C A T I O N
born in zoos. For example, Gus, the polar bear
E N C H M A R K
E
in New York’s Central Park Zoo, was born in
B
Toledo, Ohio. He would no more know how to
®
Persuasive Essays
3
animals receive. Many contemporary zoos
Photo credit: Daily News (New York) via Getty Images
© 2010 BENCHMARK EDUCATION COMPANY, LLC • GWP093
survive out in the Arctic than you would. Some may wonder why zoos breed animals
from the wild and locked in small cages no
at all. The answer is simple: Wild animals
better than prison cells. Sadly, in the early years
are becoming extinct at an alarming rate.
of zoos, that was often true.
Within twenty years we could lose polar bears,
It is said that when we know better, we do
tigers, orangutans, and more due to hunting,
better. As the field of zoology has advanced, so
habitat loss, and other issues. Zoos represent
has the quality of animal care. Organizations
the best and perhaps only chance many species
exist to monitor member zoos and the care
have to survive.
do not use cages. Animals roam freely in enclosures that resemble their natural habitats. Many zoo animals have customized diets and enviable health-care plans. An entire field of behavioral enrichment has sprung up to make sure animals exercise both mind and body. O M P A N Y
Animals are given choices about food and play. C
Today, 96 percent of all animals in zoos were
D U C A T I O N
born in zoos. For example, Gus, the polar bear
E N C H M A R K
E
in New York’s Central Park Zoo, was born in
B
Toledo, Ohio. He would no more know how to
®
Persuasive Essays
3
animals receive. Many contemporary zoos
Photo credit: Daily News (New York) via Getty Images
© 2010 BENCHMARK EDUCATION COMPANY, LLC • GWP093
