Animal lovers often express indignation about how zoo animals lose their freedom, but I am of the opinion that animals should be kept in zoos.

Keeping animals in zoos offers a myriad of benefits, one of which is the chance for city dwellers to have encounters with animals in person. When people understand that animals aren’t just abstract entities that they only see in books and documentaries, they will be more inclined to want to safeguard animal welfare.

Another benefit is that many zoos actually play a leading role in animal conservation, thereby rescuing animals from the brink of extinction. The Singapore Zoological Gardens, for instance, channels a portion of its earnings towards region-wide conservation efforts, thereby safeguarding the populations of critically endangered species such as the sunda pangolin. If zoos play such an active role in animal conservation, we should support the keeping of animals in zoos.

For these two reasons, I agree that animals should be kept in zoos.