Advantages and disadvantages of Zoo life

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  Have you ever wondered if zoos are a benefit or determent to the safety of animals in captivity? There are various diffracting factors which can be broken down into benefits and drawbacks of the zoo environment, allowing room for open conversations on this dividing topic.  Advantages of Zoo’s Include: ·        Zoo can help protect endangered species through providing a safe environment. Zoos have been able to bring multiple animal species back from the brink of extension. There are over 230 AZA credited zoos which collaborate allowing breeding and reintroduction program to take place, this allows species such as the black-footed ferrets and red wolves to be breed in captivity until the species can be safely reintroduced into the wild without the risk of extinction. ·        Zoos allow for a comfortable environment for animals who would be variable in the wild due to injury or illness, a safe environment to reco...
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Belfast Zoo Vs Dublin Zoo

Options, facts and views of Belfast and Dublin Zoo

In the UK all operating zoos they must meet the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 which was first implemented in 1984. The legislation (Zoo Licencing Act 1981) states that all zoo’s must; “accommodating their animals under conditions which aim to satisfy the biological and conservation requirements of the species to which they belong”. 


Within this Blog I will compare two local Zoos on how effective they have been to providing for their inhabitance. The two local zoos which I will be investigating will be Belfast Zoo and Dublin Zoo. To conduct effective primary research, I visited both Zoos I the last 8 months. This primary research allowed me to get a first-hand look at the environment the zoo provides for their animals. 


The first zoo I visited was Belfast Zoo located on the Antrim Road, Belfast. This zoo has over 55 acres 

of grass and woodland, which over 40 acres are dedicated just the enclosures of their 1200 animals. 

With over 120 species, I personally noticed that some of the smaller animals such as the pigs, goats, horses and meerkats seemed to have a lower maintenance enclosure with less space, more animals and fewer activities. However, the larger animals such as the elephants and giraffes had a substantial amount of room, which was decorated to replicate the living environments which they would be custom too in the wild. When walking around the zoo I had spotted many enclosures which were unoccupied for example the otters and tiger. The Sumatran tiger enclosures in particular was empty due to the 2018 European Breeding Programme, which is a program dedicated to helping repopulate the endangered Sumatran tiger. This unoccupied enclosure could allow Belfast Zoo to accommodate animals who needed a more appropriate enclosure. I would also like to see Belfast Zoo have a more information around the Zoo on their animal well fare objectives.




Dublin Zoo located at Phoenix Park Dublin, Ireland. Was the second zoo location which I visited. When first arriving at the zoo, I noticed the zoo was larger in comparison to Belfast Zoo at an estimated 70 acres (Visit Dublin Zoo). The larger land space proved to be a benefit to Dublin Zoo as every enclosure was being used and had been specifically tailored to meet each animals needs. Wile walking around the park I noticed that Dublin Zoo had a few animals which they let free roam around the park such as the peacock. I found this appealing as the animal was free to go where it wished and seemed friendly and happy to interact with visitors. Dublin Zoo also had not one enclosure which was not being use, all enclosures where in habited by different animals. In compassion to Belfast zoo, Dublin Zoo had a far greater range of animals for visitors to look at and throughout the park they had information boards on every animal including if they are endangered as well as what the zoo does to ensure the animal is happy and some even protected from the wild due to how endangered the species is. Dublin zoo has over 400 rare, exotic and endangered species all which I believe to be in the best care possible for their circumstances. 




In conclusion, overall I believe that Dublin Zoo has been more efficient in providing not only substantial information on their animals but also insure all animal enclosures have been specifically tailored to their biological needs. As well as allowing visitors to get a in life look into over 400 beautiful creatures.

-Amy- Leigh Barclay


References 

Zoo Licencing Act 1981, c. 37. Available https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/37 (Accessed: 16th October 2022). 

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Advantages and disadvantages of Zoo life

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  Have you ever wondered if zoos are a benefit or determent to the safety of animals in captivity? There are various diffracting factors which can be broken down into benefits and drawbacks of the zoo environment, allowing room for open conversations on this dividing topic.  Advantages of Zoo’s Include: ·        Zoo can help protect endangered species through providing a safe environment. Zoos have been able to bring multiple animal species back from the brink of extension. There are over 230 AZA credited zoos which collaborate allowing breeding and reintroduction program to take place, this allows species such as the black-footed ferrets and red wolves to be breed in captivity until the species can be safely reintroduced into the wild without the risk of extinction. ·        Zoos allow for a comfortable environment for animals who would be variable in the wild due to injury or illness, a safe environment to reco...
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