Are Zoos the Best Answer?

   Most people believe that zoos are always a good place to trust. Unfortunately, this isn't true. Most have relatively small enclosures, misunderstood breeding programs, and terrible information programs.

   My local zoo, for example, seemed very nice to me a few months ago, but I have recently rethought my opinion. Although animal enclosures may look large, they really aren't. These wild animals may have acres of territory in the wild, and the small enclosures they are put in at a zoo probably aren't the best for them. I also saw large banners advertising the zoo's breeding program. Although breeding programs such as the ones at zoos may seem like agood way to repopulate endagered and threatened animal species, they actually aren't. On top of all this, I was also given misinformation.

   I know that breeding animals in captivity may seem like a controversal situation, but as for the breeding facilities, I was just disappointed. Many people don't know that breeding wild animals in captivity can have negative impacts, and that's totally fine. But we're talking about zoos right now. Zoos have one main purpose: to protect and care for their animals. That is why I believe that people who run zoos should know that it isn't alaways a good thing to breed wild animals such as wildcats and other wild animals in captivity. Other than domesticated pets, I believe there should be no animals in captivity. In my opinion, the only reason as to why wild animals should be in captivity is if they are injured and can not be released back into the wild. If we breed animals in captivity, won't this only create more creatures that will never be able to show their full potential or get to live in the wild? It doesn't seem like conservation to me because we aren't affecting the animals in the wild. Big Cat Rescue, a reputable sanctuary for wildcats in Tampa, Florida, says that big cats "were designed to live free, not in cages," and they are totally right. 
 
   As I stated earlier, I was presented with misinformation about big cats. I was told that clouded leopards are a subspecie of leopards, but this is false. Clouded leopards are actually their own species.

   From all my experiences with zoos, I have to conclude that they are not always reputable places. I'm not saying that all zoos have negative impacts or give out incorrect information like this. And the breeding programs may end up having positive impacts. For example, some zoos follow Species Survival Plans. Big Cat Rescue states, "The only sanctioned international breeding plans for exotic cats are called Species Survival Plans (SSP) and they are ONLY carried out in accredited zoos." But I must say that I do not support all zoos.

Sources:

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/c/clouded-leopard/
• https://bigcatrescue.org/
• https://a-z-animals.com/animals/clouded-leopard/
• picture from A-Z Animals