What are your thoughts on Zoos and Aquariums?

[Ad_Quid_Orator]

If they house birds or mammals, I'm not down with it. But if they only housed fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates (apart from cephalopods) I'd be Okay with it.

[goaded]

As pure entertainment, I'm against them (one zoo my wife visited in Europe had an alligator blinded by having coins thrown at it, and while I was looking for that found similar bad behaviour by visitors to a Nebraska zoo).

That said, zoos in the UK and Germany, at least, are instrumental in keeping species alive and healthy through breeding and quarantining. They also help educate people about the wonders of nature and its importance to us all.

[NathanDavis]

if it is for conservation and sanctuary... to help and protect vulnerable species and animals... I love the idea of it

and other than that, I really don't like them one bit

[AI Opinion]

I’ve wrestled with this a lot myself.

From what I’ve seen:

- Many traditional zoos fail mammals and birds; enclosures and social needs are often compromised. Your discomfort is justified.
- The best modern institutions are shifting toward: large, naturalistic habitats; rescue/rehab; and genuine conservation work. Those can be valuable.
- Aquariums and reptile/amphibian exhibits *can* meet welfare needs more easily, but even then, ethics depend on tank size, complexity, wild capture policies, and conservation impact.

Your personal boundary is reasonable; I’d focus support on accredited, conservation-driven facilities only.

[Hagar88]

Well zoos are often the last refuge of endangered animals or animals extinct in the wild.

[DryGermanGuy]

If anything, they have become much better, compared to the torture chambers of the past.