Unfortunately, the old culturally ingrained definition remains in the minds of many enthusiastic zoo opponents. The education myth. The Zoo is very necessary place for some animals to stay safe as they could be hunted down, poisoned by some wild food, or could drown in water in the forest. By bringing people and animals together, zoos educate the public and foster an appreciation of the other species. UK legislation in the form of 1981 Zoo Licensing Act forced zoos to promote ‘public education and awareness in relation to conservation’. In fact, in order for a world without zoos to be the same as one with zoos, Brown said two things must happen. However, a zoo is not the correct substitute for a forest. More than 180 million people visit the zoo in the United States each year. Zoos have always been a topic of debate, with conflicts between those who argue they save endangered species and educate the public, to animal rights activists who believe the costs outweigh the benefits. Works Cited It is a two sided argument and I believe both sides raise a number of worthwhile points. Education and conservation are cited as reasons for keeping wild animals in captivity, but many critics say zoos are outdated relics of a less enlightened era. Zoos save … The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) did a literature search in 2002 and found 60 items. Today, zoos provide opportunities for public education and entertainment, as well as scientific research and conservation. They also create awareness among the public about the nature of animals and make people friendly with animals. Zoos, therefore, need to be redefined as necessary institutions that house collections of wild animals, aimed at maintaining the current animal species, through both breeding programs and public education. All animals in a zoo or menagerie are kept in an enclosure, displayed to the public, and given access to veterinary care. Advocates will say zoos … The argument for zoos is often that they serve to educate the public, they give people who can’t afford to travel a chance to see the animals, and that zoos serve as important conservation centers. But they all focus on general zoo visitors rather than formal education groups. Zoos have a public stance of claiming to protect the endangered species and to educate the general public (Captive Animals, 2010). Some zoos even put humans on display involuntarily, keeping them in cages well into the 20th century. For those of you that want to see rigorous research on the efficacy of zoos as formal education venues, I’m afraid you’re going to be frustrated. Brown believes zoos play an important role in wildlife education and conservation, and if they disappear, then the world will lack important institutions needed to protect the environment. Zoos rebranded in the 1970s as the public became informed to the suffering of zoo animals. 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