Hard, concrete floors and towering walls. That’s all most zoo animals may learn to see. Some were born free, but that freedom was ripped from their hands as soon as they were taken into a zoo. There are several debates on whether zoos are beneficial to wildlife, but the facts are clear. Misuse of money, poor animal wellbeing, and insufficient education are just a few reason out of several. Zoos are self-indulgent, and should not exist.

Zoos damage the physical and mental wellbeing of animals. Some of them are even driven neurotic due to extreme boredom. Readworks’ “Debate: Are Zoos Bad?” states evidence of “Monkeys and parrots ‘grooming’ themselves until they have no fur or feathers left.” This is unnatural behavior for animals. They are harming themselves because they have lack of nourishment, and it has taken a toll on their mental state of mind. Furthermore, most zoos do not meet the social and physical needs of the animals. Several of them even abuse the animals. National Geographic reports, “An animal welfare group has flagged hundreds of zoos affiliated with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) for mistreating animals.” The WAZA is a trusted organization, and even within it are several cases of abuse. Keeping animals in such horrid conditions should be illegal. 

It doesn’t take long to find a zoo that cares more about the money than the actual animals. In fact, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums states that around half of the zoos in AZA are for-profit, meaning the money goes to benefit the government, not conservation. This shows that several zoos are just keeping animals as another way to earn money. Additionally, zoos that are not for profit spend more than 1 million dollars on a single exhibit, states article “Should We Have Zoos?” That money could go to preserving the actual habitat, instead of creating an artificial one. 

There are many arguments for zoos, but most of them are untrue. A common argument is that it helps with conservation to save species. But this is arguing for conservation sites, not zoos. An interviewed zoo conservationist on BBC asserts that the ideal zoos should be closed to the public. Instead of spending money on making it look appealing to the eye, they can use those funds for nourishment to the animals without the stress of visitors. Another frequent claim is that zoos help save endangered species. But it is proved that removing animals from the wild can further endanger them, due to the genetics not being as diverse. Financially, BBC states that only “4% of revenue goes back into conservation.” That’s hardly anything. Some pro-zoos say that it helps educate the public, but in reality, there is no significant change in behavior or interest in visitors, Britannica writes. 

Zoos do more damage to the wildlife than they do help. Several zoos care more about the profit than the actual animals, being shown with the poor living conditions, misuse of finances, and insufficient education that zoos provide. As time goes on, zoos continue to pose a threat to the environment, and one day, it will be the downfall to Earth’s delicate ecosystem. But instead of watching as zoos continue to harass animals, you could help make a difference! There are several petitions that you can sign to help take down zoos. Together, we can save wildlife.