Activity

The purpose of zoos must be changed to PROTECTING VULNERABLE ANIMALS rather than exhibiting animals or breeding endangered animals who have little chance of being returned to a rapidly-shrinking wild. For centuries, zoos existed for pure entertainment. Then, as a more enlightened populace began to express disgust with miserable animals in cages, zoos in first-world countries began to upgrade facilities and claimed an educational mission. As preservation of species began to be important to the public, many zoos claimed “conservation” in an expanded mission, joining Species Survival Plan programs that led to breeding for genetic “fitness” or to expand gene pools. These programs lead to animals who have made sufficient contributions to the gene pool being no longer desirable as zoo specimens, and the programs also lead to surplus and “redundant” animals being born at zoos. Once newborn animals get older and cease to draw crowds at zoos, they are often killed, or they join the unwanted breeders in being traded to other zoos, or being sold to animal dealers. Once in the hands of animal dealers, they are almost certain to end up in sub-standard facilities or in canned hunts, where they will be offered for sale to hunters. Zoos have been re-purposed before, and it can happen again, if the public demands it, and it is quite obvious today that the public has begun to expect captive animal facilities to put animal welfare first.
http://www.humansandnature.org/emphasizing-animal-well-being-and-choice