Should Animals be Kept in Zoos?

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The African elephants that came to the San Diego Zoo and the Lowry Park Zoo in 2003 were elephants that had been designated for a culling operation in Swaziland. This means that wildlife officials in Swaziland had decided that there were too many elephants in the area for that ecosystem to support, and that some elephants would have to be removed. Instead of being killed, which is what usually happens to elephants designated for culling, these 11 African elephants not only have continued to thrive at San Diego and at Lowry Park -- they now have an opportunity to motivate US zoo visitors to support wildlife conservation. And motivating zoo visitors is something that we know they will do. Again, as a recent Harris poll pointed out, 95 percent of zoo visitors felt that seeing an elephant in a zoo helped people learn to appreciate elephants more. Furthermore, 85 percent of the respondents to the same poll felt that visiting a zoo encouraged people to donate money or time to support wildlife conservation projects. Recognizing the important role that they play in inspiring people to support wildlife conservation, 61 AZA member zoos in North America have either recently expanded or have committed to expanding or completely rebuilding their elephant facilities in the near future.

As with any controversial topic –global warming, taxes, poverty – people feel strongly about the way these issues should be handled and addressed. “Facts” can back up most arguments and approaches – opinions vary across a long continuum. Although there are no clear cut answers, it has been my experience that those working in the zoo community are committed to doing what is best for the animals and are trying to learn new ways every day to ensure they receive the finest care.