For many of us,the closest we get to wild animals is at a zoo.These places let us see amazing animals—from big cats to tiny lizards—and what they are like,It's an enjoyable and educational experience for us,but is it the best environment for these animals?
Long ago,people could only see wild animals as stuffed dead exhibits in a museum.Later on,live animals were captured by explorers,brought home and put on show to the public in menageries (野生动物园),Animal welfare was not a priority.Modern zoos,however,have transformed the living environments for animals, making bigger enclosures,removing bars,and— to some extent—copying their natural habitats.
Some people have questioned the cruelty of keeping animals captive(养的)for entertainment,but zoos are keen to show that they help wildlife by educating us about
conservation.In the UK,the introduction oftheZooticensingAetof19sLalso required zoos to educate the public—Well—managed zoos are now also involved in supporting and funding conservation programs.
Probably the biggest claim from zoos today is that they help protect species in the wild that are under threat due to climate change.Robert Young,Chair in Wildlife Conservation at Salford University said:"There are quite a lot of different species around the planet which we wouldn't have today if it wasn't for zoos."Some zoos have captive breeding(繁)programs which help to preserve the future of species that would otherwise face extinction.Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently praised Chester Zoo in the LK for its conservation work.It brought"a rare fish species back from the dead"after breeding and releasing a school of golden skiffia fish back into their native river.
While the debate about having zoos continues,new opportunities to meet wildlife are being explored,like virtual reality.Jon Coe,a zoo designer,told the BBC:"Taking a walk through a herd of elephants in the Serengeti,I think,is going to be possible pretty soon."