Zoos: Should they exist in the modern day?

Zoos: Should they exist in the modern day, is an ongoing exploration into the benefits and detriments of zoos. The controversial subject of zoos is loaded with socially important and philosophically complex questions. Many people have visited zoos at some point in their lifetime, but few delve deep into the ethics behind them. Through visits to the zoo as a child, I left questioning the ethics of keeping animals in captivity. It is the zoos' aim to encourage education and instil a love for animals, in the hopes to inspire the next generation of conservationists. For some, this may be the case. Zoos have contributed to many conservation projects and breeding programmes. However, the overarching question that my project highlights is; are zoos the best way of doing this?