Response to PETA against Zoos

One of the primary sources of funding for wildlife conservation comes from the mouse in your childhood living room. In 2011 alone, The Disney Company distributed $2 million to conservation efforts. A large portion of these funds go to grants for those researching cures for animal disease or other research projects concerning conservation, supporting the name they earned in 2010 as “Disney Conservation heroes.” To spread conservation awareness and protect the animals in their care, the Disney Company set up an entire kingdom devoted to protecting animals. The Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom uses the features of a zoo for this effort.

When a zoo is poorly funded and the animals on display have no room other than a public pedastal for poorly spaced pacing then the zoo resembles the prison critics so often accuse zoos of being.  However, if zoos use the Animal Kingdom as an example then a zoo has the capacity to assist animals in a variety of ways. Poaching in Africa has led to the endangerment of many species. Breeding that takes place in zoos can again infuse these species with a healthy population. As children attend zoos they learn to love animals. They learn about an animal’s needs and how to take proper care of them in the wild. Many of these children grow up to participate in animal health as conservation specialists or veterinarians. In short, zoos, when funded properly, can be a great environment to provide endangered species awareness and animal health restoration.