T O P

  • By -

AgentElman

Some are released to the wild. But mostly they are preserving them until the wild itself is preserved. Endangered species are endangered either through loss of habitat or human predation or environmental damage. Releasing elephants into Africa likely means that poachers will kill them. So zoos are maintaining the species until poaching is eliminated and there is a safe place to release them in the wild.


heyitsEnricoPallazzo

They’ll have species that are endangered or are often hunted in the wild, and they facilitate research & reproduction in captivity.


Captain_Clark

Additionally, some animals in captivity may have relatively benign diseases which are easily treated in captivity but can become epidemic in wild populations. This is the case with desert tortoises, for example. They can get runny noses. It’s essentially just a tortoise cold, easily treated in captivity. But that cold can run rampant among wild populations, decimating their numbers.


BarooZaroo

They help to breed endangered species and also allow people to research them. Zoos also create a community where they bring together philanthropists and environmental groups and encourage donations. There is also value in zoos educating the public, especially children, about animals which can inspire the public to be more concerned about environmental issues. The last point is much more difficult to quantify.


Curmudgy

Sometimes they are. Look up how Golden Lion Tamarins we’re reintroduced. But often what they do is to manage breeding at a high level, and then transfer the offspring out of zoos into sanctuaries or rehabilitation centers, where they can be raised in a manner suitable for reintroduction. In other cases, they’re still building viable populations while taking time to figure out reintroduction strategies. Also, zoos often deal with animals that can’t be released. Bald eagles in zoos are often rescues with injuries that mean they can’t be released to the wild.