Zoos Are Sometimes Necessary But Are A Poor Alternative To The Natural Environment | IELTS Essay Samples
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Sample essay
In nearly all countries, there is a practice of keeping wild animals in zoos. Zoos serve several purposes. For example, they give visitors an opportunity to see wild animals from close quarters. They may also help to protect endangered species from extinction. Still, zoos cannot replicate the natural environment.
Some animals are on the verge of extinction. Keeping them in zoos allows us to protect them. The zoos provide a safe environment for them to live and reproduce. Several factors including human intervention put animals at risk. In a zoo, they are free from poaching. They also get fed on time and receive medical attention when they fall ill. Zoos serve an educational purpose too. Children, in particular, enjoy visiting zoos because in a zoo they can see a lot of animals up close. They enjoy it. Sometimes, animals that are not endemic to a particular region are brought from their native place and kept in zoos with the sole objective of entertaining visitors. For example, some zoos in India keep anacondas in enclosures. These reptiles are a native of the Amazon forests.
On the down side, a zoo is never a good alternative to the natural habitat of animals. In zoos wild animals are kept in captivity whereas in the natural environment they roam free. When animals are kept in tiny enclosures, they lose their vitality and natural instincts. Constant exposure to human visitors also causes much distress to these poor animals. Every living being desires freedom. Zoo animals are not different. They do not enjoy their life in captivity. Needless to say, zoo animals appear tired and distressed at all times.
Keeping animals in wild life sanctuaries and national parks is a much better alternative to keeping them in zoos. These are protected forests where hunting and poaching are not allowed. Consequently, animals are safe in them. Also, these forests provide them a natural environment. Of course, animals are not readily visible to humans in a wildlife sanctuary. That means they do not really serve the purpose of entertainment. Still, they are quite good at conservation.
To conclude, while there are some valid reasons to keep animals in zoos, they are never a healthy alternative to the natural habitat. Zoos protect animals from extinction, but zoo animals are not happy or content.
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