Do you have any concerns with zoos? I have a niece who always wants to go, and I want her to learn about animals, but I am fully opposed to the zoo in our area and its conditions. I don't mind some zoos, but overall I do not believe they should be an attraction in any city that wants one. Thoughts?

I mean I get it, but you should just bring her to the zoo. She’s a kid. I feel the same exact way as you do, but I have 2 kids and I do take them to the zoo from time to time in the summer so they can see the animals. It excites them! You can always educate your daughter as she gets a little older on zoos and the truth about them though.

(Not trying to tell you how to parent by any means!!! Just suggestions here as a mom who works in vetmed who shared the same zoo beliefs as you)

I am pro "good" zoos. Welfare seems to vary a lot, and some countries in particular seem to have almost no regulations.

However, zoos can play a really important role in research, conservation, and public engagement, and there will always be animals who cannot live in the wild.

I love zoos but I am very picky about them. The exhibits need to be very large and there has to be visible animal enrichment activities in the enclosures. Zoos are for education and research, IMO.

Look. Humans are running a lot of species into extinction. Some zoos have specific breeding programs that release the offspring back into the wild (Smithsonian zoo front royal being an example ). Some animals are extinct in the wild and depend on captivity to bring their numbers up before they go completely extinct.

I know I will get downvotes for my opinion, and so be it. But I have learned a lot about animals, conservation, endangered species, and the importance of research through zoos.

Yes, I struggle with the zoo, feeling that animals should not be held captive and should be free to roam. I feel some zoos are much better than others in regards to taking care of the animals. She is a child though and every child loves the zoo so i put my feelings aside and i have taken my kids and nieces to the zoo many times.

Seeing animals that aren't well-cared for can be painful and triggering. If you feel your zoo isn't properly caring for the animals, I'd recommend finding the right avenues to report that. I understand that it can be a massive moral conflict. You must do what you feel is best for yourself & your niece. But, as others have said - she is a child, and the zoo is a memorable experience for kids. So again, if it's too much for you, maybe she can find someone else to take her?

I support zoos that operate ethically and do good conservation work. Some animals are better taken cared of there IMO.

I think zoos for the main sake of entertainment shouldn't be a thing. If I wanted to know what animals looked like or see them in action instead of just staying inside their I'd look em up. Zoos that serve to house endangered species or protect wildlife while also being able to showcase them, I'm all for it. I haven't been to the zoo in forever.

I think it depends on the zoo. I've been to some wonderful zoos that take great care of the animals and keep them in an enclosure as close to their natural habitat as possible, and I've also been to some terrible zoos where the animals are kept in tiny enclosures that are not well maintained and those animals often look or act like they are very unhappy there.

I think zoos can absolutely be a good thing if done right, but can be cruel to animals when done wrong.

Zoos and wildlife parks that are very involved in conservation and work to make as few animals needed for this as comfortable as possible, within a naturally designed enclosure, are generally okay.

Places purely for entertainment, that host animals that in no way need protecting, are wrong.

Places that allow interaction with non-domesticated species are imo wrong on so many levels, and usually have a lot of bad things going on behind the scenes (see every TripAdvisor offer ever, which they have just recently started to restrict!).

Rehabilitation and rescue centres are okay in certain circumstances. Saving animals that have been poached at a young age and so cannot be released for example I would consider ethical.

I have very mixed feelings. It often depends on the kind of enclosures they have for the animals. The zoo in Amsterdam has a savannah enclosure which is big and open and the animals get plenty of space. However, their polar bear enclosure is tiny and the animals there looked like they were miserable and suffering. Then there's some places like Monkey World in England which rescues primates from all over the world and tries to rehabilitate them and breed endangered animals - they're doing good work. Other places though seem cruel and unnecessary.

I am fine with zoos. Most of the zoos have to meet certain qualifications to operate. I think that the animals are taken care of and will have a higher chance of survival rather than being released in the wilds. However, I respect that animals should be released to their own natural habitat because that's where they truly belong.