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Dr. Tara Harris spent four years in Uganda studying the Colobus Monkey, even

though the monkey is not on the endangered species list Dr. Harris took what she learned form

the study to help endangered species. Christine Graf uses the examples from Harris’s research

and work with the black-footed ferret and wild tigers to prove that breeding programs have

helped with the population of both species. In the case of the wild tigers, they went from 10,000

to fewer than 4,000. With the breeding program their numbers are increasing. Like with the black

footed ferret there was only a few handfuls left and now their numbers are over 1,000. Graf

writes that Dr. Harris is also a firm believer in educating future generations and mentoring.

In a more rounded article on the Gales Opposing viewpoints online collection this article

looks at both sides of the coin. The article talks on many points, like the importance of

organizations such as Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoological Association of

America (ZAA) and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). How zoos are in a good

position to educate people on the pressing issues affecting animals, then it covers the research

done by sone scientists that prove that being in captivity has some negative consequences on

certain species of animals. Species such as dolphins, orcas, whales, and elephants, in the research

on elephants it was proven that elephants in the wild live longer and are happier than elephants

that are held in captivity. In a similar article by Stephen Bennett, he talks about how

constraining animals can keep them from acting out on their natural instincts (178). Both articles

have very good support for arguments against zoos, but they also take a look at opposing

arguments that support the idea of zoos holding animals for research.
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On the Cincinnati Zoo website, they have a page dedicated to both field projects and

conservation studies where they raise money for conservation. On the field project page, they

have links to several different animals where they explain what they are doing to help preserve

the species and the organizations they are working with to help the endangered species.

Organizations such as Red Panda Network, The Ruaha Carnivore Project, and The Cat

Ambassador Program. Along with this the zoo also explains what they are doing to assist with

the efforts to help the endangered species list. The website has good resources and information to

explain what they do and how they help other organizations and conservations outside of the zoo.

In the documentary Endangered director Steve Greenwood follows several different

researchers in the field to see what is being done on the conservation side of things. Each

different researcher is going to great lengths to help whatever endangered species they are trying

to help. Although the documentary covers many different species and follows different

researchers, it is not set in a zoo setting, however it can show what is done on the conservation

side of things.

Chinaedu Samrose Iwuchukwu, Aboh James Ajang, and Samuel Bassey talk about how

zoos have evolved into scientific bodies and places of education. They go on to state that

education is the mission of the Association Zoo and Aquarium. They believe that social climate

change has something to do with modern zoos shifting their focus to more conservation focus.

Zoos provide good research opportunities for animals that may be difficult to study in the wild

(334). However, they also say that zoos may be a laboratory where humans restrict animal’s lives

(328).

There are many good articles, most of them support what zoos are doing to help prolong

the life of endangered species. A few of the articles give good arguments on both sides. There is
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scientific proof that some animal species have benefited from the efforts put forth from zoos, and

then there is proof that in some species there has been nothing but negative consequences from

the containment of their species.

Works Cited
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Bennett, Stephen. “Are Zoos and Aquariums Justifiable? A Utilitarian Evaluation of Two-

Prominent Arguments.” Journal of Animal Ethics, vol. 9, No. 2, Fall 2019, pp 177-183

Graf, Christine. “Zoos: Fighting to Save Endangered Species” Faces. Feb. 2019, Vol. 35, Issue 5,

pp. 12-15.

Iwuchukwu, Chinaedu Samrose, Ajang, Aboh James, Bassey, Samuel. “Confinement for

Conservation: An Ethical Overview of Zoos.” Bulletin of Pure & Applied Sciences-

Zoology, Vol. 39A, No. 2, July 2020, pp. 327-37.

“Zoos and Aquariums.” Gale, a Cengage Company, 2019. Gale Opposing Viewpoints online

Collection, pp 1-4.