10 Reasons Why Accredited Zoos Are Good for Children and Adults

“Zoos have evolved significantly from simple menageries to become crucial centres for conservation, education, and research. They serve as links between the human and endangered animal worlds, offering unique and powerful benefits to visitors of all ages.”

This is the standard line used by many zoos, zoologists, and zoo owners. The following 10 reasons why zoos are good for you are valid to a greater or lesser extent. However, we would urge you to read other sections of this site to gain a better understanding of the opposite point of view.

A zoo may be good for you, but is it good for animals?

1. Education and Awareness

Zoos provide immediate, tangible learning experiences that books and videos cannot replicate. Visitors learn about ecology, biology, and animal behaviour by observing living creatures up close. For children, seeing an animal in 3D—its size, movement, and features—creates a deeper, more memorable understanding than any textbook lesson. Adults gain a better appreciation for the complexities of species survival and adaptation.

2. Promoting Conservation Action

A primary modern function of accredited zoos is conservation. Zoos often serve as the primary funding source for essential in-situ (in the wild) conservation projects worldwide, protecting habitats and combating poaching. For visitors, seeing an endangered species creates an emotional connection, transforming abstract threats (like habitat loss) into a personal call to action. This connection motivates people to donate, advocate, or change consumption habits.

3. Maintaining "Insurance Populations" (The Ark)

Zoos maintain genetically diverse captive populations of endangered species—the "insurance policy" or Ark Paradigm. These populations serve as genetic backups in case the species goes extinct in the wild. For adults, knowing that species like the Amur leopard and the black rhino still exist and are being managed by experts provides hope and reinforces the importance of global biodiversity efforts.

4. Facilitating Scientific Research

Zoos are hubs for non-invasive biological and veterinary research. Scientists study animal behaviour, reproduction, nutrition, and disease in controlled environments. The data collected is essential for improving care both in captivity and for wild populations. For students and adults alike, the presence of these research programs highlights the scientific method and the continuous study required to protect animal health.

5. Fostering Empathy and Respect

Direct encounters with animals foster empathy and compassion. Observing the parent-child bond in primates or the social dynamics of a wolf pack helps children recognise that animals are sentient beings with needs, families, and complex lives. This is a foundational ethical lesson that extends beyond the zoo walls.

6. Unique Family Bonding Time

Zoos are a rare space where multiple generations can engage in a shared, screen-free activity. They provide a neutral, stimulating setting for family conversation and shared discovery. Adults become teachers, and children become eager explorers, strengthening familial bonds through mutual learning and excitement.

7. Accessibility to Exotic Wildlife

For the vast majority of the global population, visiting the Amazon rainforest, the Arctic tundra, or the African savanna is impossible. Zoos offer a safe, accessible, and affordable gateway to global biodiversity. This democratises the experience of seeing exotic animals, allowing people of all socio-economic backgrounds to connect with species they would never otherwise encounter.

8. Mental and Emotional Well-being (Biophilia)

Exposure to nature and animals is proven to reduce stress and improve mental health—a phenomenon known as biophilia. A zoo visit offers a calming, yet stimulating, break from the pressures of urban life. For adults, this exposure provides a necessary mental recharge and a reminder of the natural world's inherent beauty.

9. Supporting Local Economies

Major zoos are often significant local employers and powerful tourist magnets. They create jobs, attract visitors who spend money at local hotels and restaurants, and contribute substantially to the local economy. For city residents, supporting the zoo often supports the wider community's financial health.

10. Rehabilitation and Rescue Work

Many zoos have dedicated programs for rescuing and rehabilitating local wildlife, often taking in injured birds, mammals, or reptiles before releasing them back into the wild. For animals that cannot be released, the zoo provides permanent, safe care. This visible commitment to rescue demonstrates responsible stewardship and conservation efforts beyond just exotic species.

What is it Like to Work in a Zoo?

The author of this site worked in a zoo. Sometimes, reading facts and figures can be boring. That’s why he wrote the novel - for young adults - about Jamie’s time working in a zoo and why he works there; to find out who killed his father. Jamie discovers what it is really like behind the scenes in a big zoo.