Many of us may have visited zoos or sanctuaries, and caught (more than) a glimpse of wild animals. Are zoos and sanctuaries the same, and can the words be used interchangeably? If not, how are they different from each other? Come, let’s find out!
Zoos
Zoos, or zoological parks, are places where animals are kept for public viewing. Invariably, they are kept in cages, which means they are not in their natural homes or habitats. Since they are not in their natural habitats, it means they could have come from anywhere from another city, State, country, or continent, travelling very far from their original homes. Many of the acquariums in the world also do something similar – they house creatures living in water, for public viewing.
Sanctuaries
Wildlife sanctuaries are not created for exhibiting animals. These are places where the animals usually live in their original habitats, and they and their spaces are monitored (invariably) by the government. Which also means that the animals are not normally brought from other places. Places such as national parks and biosphere reserves also preserve and protect a region’s flora and fauna, among others.
Which is better?
Zoos were created several decades ago as a means of educating people about different kinds of creatures, especially animals, from around the world. It aimed to encourage people to watch animals up close and also understand their behaviour better. However, lately, the calls for closing down zoos across the world have been growing stronger among not just animal rights activists and conservationists but discerning public too. They say zoos violate an animal’s right to live in freedom and in its original habitat with its families, and often in places without adequate care, food, hygiene, or space. Also with technology bringing wildlife to even our mobile phones today, the reasoning that zoos educate people does not hold water anymore. Considering these factors, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks certainly offer animals much better spaces and life, protection and the liberty to live in their own habitats. While animals here are not exactly put in cages, several aspects, including habitat loss, encroachment, poaching, illegal trade, human activity, pollution, development projects, lack of planning, and government indifference are a cause of concern for sanctuaries and national parks today. Unlike zoos, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks have the potential to offer wildlife natural and safer spaces while helping humans understand their environment better.
Picture Credit : Google
