Zoos surviving on two myths

WHILE I can empathise with SV’s views on saving species from extinction (Tuesday’s letters), may I remind him or her that much portrayed by those who support zoos is, in fact, myth.

Over the last half century there has been a large scale change in the perceptions we have about the importance of conservation and the need to preserve natural habitats.

With the growth of these concepts came the idea of using zoos as arks to preserve endangered species and to release them back into the wild at some later date.

However as time goes by we are confronted with overwhelming evidence this concept was flawed from the beginning and zoos today are continuing to function not because they are conservation centres but on the strength of their own myths.

Zoos have two myths with which they ward off criticism: that they aid conservation and that they educate about conservation.

Your reader is quite correct stating animals bred in captivity may not survive in the wild, however that is man’s fault not the animals. And yes animals have been saved from extinction, however this has been in proper animal sanctuaries that are specifically designed with releasing the animals back into the wild in mind.

KS