Are Zoos Ethical?

About 180 million people visit zoos and aquariums in the United States each year. But many Americans have long questioned whether animals belong in those places at all.

Earlier this year, a 3-year-old boy fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio. Fearing for the child’s safety, workers shot and killed a 440-pound gorilla named Harambe. (The boy was unharmed.) The incident shocked the world and sparked a debate about whether it’s ethical to keep gorillas—and other wild animals—in captivity.  

Supporters of zoos say the institutions play an essential role in conservation, inspiring visitors to care about wildlife and protect the environment. They point out that for most ­Americans, visiting a zoo or an aquarium is the only opportunity to see many animals in person. In addition, zoos allow scientists to study a variety of animal species up close, so they can figure out how to better protect them in the wild. 

But opponents say zoos are cruel and that animals should be allowed to live in their natural habitats. They worry that zoo enclosures are too small for species that would normally roam free. Critics also cite studies that show that some ­animals can become bored and depressed in captivity. 

Are zoos ethical? Two wildlife experts weigh in.

Some of our favorite animals, including lions, cheetahs, and elephants, are at risk of vanishing forever because of the threats they face in the wild. But zoos are a safe haven, protecting animals from habitat loss, poaching, climate change, disease, and other dangers.

Most important, zoos allow scientists to study animals up close and learn more about them. Researchers don’t have that kind of access in the wild. Zoos also inspire tens of millions of visitors each year to take action in their own lives to help protect wildlife.

The ultimate goal of zoos is to help endangered species. Consider the case of the black-footed ferret: Many wildlife experts thought the species had gone extinct. But in the 1980s, a few dozen wild ferrets were discovered in Wyoming, and zoos began to take care of them. The zoos worked with the U.S. government to learn about and breed the animals, so they could be returned to their natural habitats. Today, more than 1,000 black-footed ferrets live in the wild—all because zoos prevented their extinction.

Zoos are returning other species to their native habitats too. Examples include the Przewalski’s horse (an endangered species of wild horse), the California condor (a type of bird), and the golden lion tamarin (a kind of monkey). U.S. zoos and aquariums spend $160 million each year to save various species.

If animals can’t live safely in the wild, we want to make sure they thrive in human care. With that in mind, zoos partner with researchers, governments, businesses, and nonprofit groups to protect animals and conserve their habitats. Saving species is an evolving and ongoing commitment. That’s why zoos are not only ethical—they’re critical. 

—Dennis Kelly
Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Washington, D.C.

Zoos are first and foremost about entertainment. And the stars of the show are unwilling participants: animals. 

Zoos cannot possibly replicate wild animals’ natural habitats. U.S. law requires only that animals in zoos be given enough space to stand up, lie down, turn around, and take a few steps. Animals who would normally roam or fly over vast territories are forced to exist in a world measured in square feet.

In addition, zoos provide animals with few opportunities to engage in their natural behavior. Virtually every aspect of their lives is controlled and manipulated to satisfy visitors. Under these artificial, restricted conditions, animals may have a mental breakdown. Some develop “zoochosis,” a condition that can cause them to sway or pace continually, chew on their own limbs until they bleed, or pull out their own fur or feathers. 

Zoos claim to provide educational opportunities. But visitors generally spend only a short time at each display. Many people report that they’ve learned nothing after seeing the exhibits. And how much can anyone really learn about the natural behavior of animals who are forced to live in an unnatural setting?

As for conservation, zoos tend to favor exotic or popular animals—who draw crowds—rather than threatened or endangered local wildlife. Most animals housed in zoos are not endangered. Those who are will likely never be released into their rightful habitat. Much of zoos’ research is geared toward finding ways to breed and maintain more captive animals. 

The bottom line is that forcing animals to live in cramped enclosures just so people can be distracted and amused for a few hours is unethical.

—Marta Holmberg
Senior director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns, peta2 (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)