Do zoos really help to save animals?

IT SEEMS that Kumbuka the gorilla tried to escape from London Zoo to get out of the public’s view, only to become the centre of attention. I would choose to see such wonderful animals in their natural habitat, not locked up as though they had committed a dreadful crime.

JANET CUMMINGS, Rugby, Warks.

WE FEEl awful for Kumbuka the gorilla, who, like any living being, longs to be free. But we’re grateful that unlike an American zoo which recently shot dead a gorilla, london Zoo acted in a humane manner. While this gorilla is still alive, spending the rest of his days in confinement isn’t much of a life, as even the best artificial environments can’t come close to matching the freedom animals have in their natural habitats. The salvation of these endangered species lies in habitat conservation, not a life spent behind bars — hardly any captive-born gorillas are released to their natural jungle homes. Instead, they’re bred to be high-earning living exhibits until the day they die. It’s time we stopped paying to see animals in captivity and instead worked on solutions to help them thrive in their natural environments.

JENNIFER WHITE, London N1.

THE escape of the silverback gorilla at London Zoo has once again raised questions about keeping wild animals in captivity. A spokesperson from the Born Free Foundation suggested they should be conserved only in the wild. I have great respect for the work carried out by Born Free, many of whose projects are aimed at working with local people and giving them a stake in conservation. Where I differ from it is in the notion that the only method of conservation is protecting species in the wild. Zoos are often criticised, but they have an important role in safeguarding gene pools by pairing suitable individuals for breeding. This inter-zoo cooperation is crucial. I urge Born Free to accept that zoos and advances in biological techniques are important to save our wildlife. We really must adopt an inclusive approach rather than concentrate solely on in situ conservation. Hopefully, the attempted escape by Kumbuka will inspire people to seek information about our fragile eco-systems and the plight of many iconic creatures.

DON TOWNSHEND, Chelmsford, Essex.