KEEPING WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY – TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT OR MODERN CONSERVATION APPROACH?

Abstract

Growing global populations are increasingly dependent on natural resources, such as food, water and land to supply their demands. At the same time, urban environment has made its population curious of their surrounding nature, including wildlife. Zoos appear to be an appropriate tool to introduce wild animals to people in a safe and interesting way, providing new experiences and even education to several generations. With the development of animal ethics and nature protection, zoos started to play another important role as centres for wildlife conservation. International regulations were set in order to ensure standards for proper treatment of zoo animals. However, there are still places where wild animal welfare is in question. This paper aims to discuss the arguments for and against keeping wild animals in captivity and to emphasize the impact zoo conservation programmes could have on both animals and humans.