Grade 7 Writing Prompt: Zoos
Recent events at zoos have led people to question the existence and necessity of zoos. In
Cincinnati, a gorilla had to be put down after a child fell in. In Salt Lake, a leopard got out of its
enclosure. What do you think? Should we have zoos?
Write a letter to the editor explaining your position. Your essay/letter must be based on ideas,
concepts, and information from the “Zoos” passage set.
Manage your time carefully so you can
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Plan your essay;
Write your essay; and
Revise and edit yoru essay.
Be sure to
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Include a claim;
Address counterclaims;
Use evidence from multiple sources.
Do not over rely on one source. Type your answer in a new Word document.
Do We Need Zoos?
Depending on whom you ask, a world without zoos and aquariums is either a glorious heaven or
a gloomy dungeon. These opposing beliefs make keeping animals in captivity a controversial topic.
The issue has two sides: those who believe keeping animals in captivity promotes conservation
and education, and those who believe it supports animal cruelty.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) falls under the first category. AZA conducted a
study over the course of three years. They concluded that zoos and aquariums teach visitors about
nature. Zoos also give a memorable experience. This makes people want to protect the natural world. In
fact, 61 percent of zoo visitors were still able to talk about what they learned at the zoo 11 months later.
35 percent said the visit reinforced their existing beliefs about conservation.
The other side of the debate includes activists like Dale Jamieson. He feels that keeping animals
in captivity is immoral. He wrote an essay called, “Against Zoos.” He wrote that zoos restrict animals’
liberty by not allowing them to gather their own food or behave in their natural social patterns.
Also, zoos aren’t as successful in conservation and education as they claim. Jamieson accuses
some zoos of taking more animals from the wild than they replace. He also says that zoos breed more
animals than they need. This sends extra animals to individuals or institutions that don’t have the
necessary facilities to care for them. Jamieson also argues that there is little proof of zoos having
successful educational programs. He cited from Stephen Kellert's paper, “Zoological Parks in American
Society.” Kellert says that zoo visitors tend to know less about animals than backpackers, hikers and
other people who have an interest in animals. Zoo attendees sometimes only know a little more than
people who don’t have an interest in animals.
Rumbaugh, Andrea C. “Do We Need Zoos?” Web. http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/ar-needzoos.html. Edited for classroom
use 2016.
USDA Inspecting Lagoon after Zookeeper's Goring
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking into conditions at a Utah amusement park where a
zookeeper was gored by a wildebeest. The animal is one of an assortment of exotic animals it keeps on
display for a Safari ride.
A USDA spokeswoman spoke to the press. Tanya Espinoza said that investigators will look for
violations of the Animal Welfare Act. She said a formal investigation has not begun.
Lagoon amusement park is 15 miles north of Salt Lake City. The park insists that the zookeeper's
injury Sunday had nothing to do with any animal's condition.
The park says it has no information about what happened. However, a fire chief told The
Associated Press that paramedics attended to an injured 28-year-old zookeeper. Her leg had been
pierced while she fed a black wildebeest, a horned grazing animal native to Africa.
The woman was sent to a Salt Lake City trauma center in serious but stable condition,
Farmington Fire Chief Guido Smith said.
Lagoon officials said the zookeeper's stay in a hospital was brief and they expected her to
return.
The USDA has inspected Lagoon. Recently, they have had problems with dirty pens and
damaged fencing. In May, it was marked for a buildup of bird droppings at a shelter for 10 sheep.
Lagoon got a ticket for having dirt- and algae-encrusted water bowls inside an elk pen on July
10, 2012.
The animals Lagoon owns are on display for a Wild Kingdom train ride at the park.
The Utah Animal Rights Group has called for a boycott of the park, decrying conditions for the
animals. Activists are keeping up the pressure at the website Lagoonsucks.com.
John Fox says that Lagoon is no worse than any other zoo. He is an animal cruelty investigator
for the Utah Humane Society. He also said that they don’t get that many complaints about Lagoon. He
said that it’s mostly people who just don’t like animals in captivity at all.
Goy, Paul. “USDA Inspecting Lagoon after Zookeeper’s Goring.” KSL.com. Web. 21 Aug 2013. Edited for classroom use 2016.
Why Zoos Matter: Making a Difference
The world around us is changing fast. Species of wildlife are facing global extinction on a massive
scale. This includes 21% of the world's mammal species, 12% of the bird species, and 33% of all
amphibian species. Zoos are in a position to make a difference. Wildlife managers, field researchers and
other scientists value their research. Zoos research behavior, reproductive biology, nutrition, animal
health, and genetics.
Zoo professionals are experts on breeding small populations of endangered species. Nowadays
animals in wild habitats are often found in small, fragmented groups. This is because of agriculture,
logging or other human activity. Zoos have been working with small population management longer
than universities and other conservation organization. They also do it better than other research
facilities.
Zoos work well with others. They pool resources with one another in Species Survival Plans.
These plans manage endangered species for the best genetic variety possible. They cooperate with
organizations worldwide on conservation breeding, habitat preservation, community development,
public education and research.
In 2004, the Saint Louis Zoo established the WildCare Institute to work in conservation hotspots
locally and around the globe. The Zoo is taking a holistic approach to wildlife conservation from Missouri
streams to the Horn of Africa or the coastline of Peru. WildCare Institute addresses three key ingredients
in conservation success: wildlife management and recovery, conservation science, and support of the
human populations that coexist with wildlife.
People learn at zoos. They learn in our formal classes, lectures, camps, teacher workshops,
distance learning, zoo tours, overnights and outreach programs. Informally they learn from keeper
chats, docent volunteers, interpreters, signage and special exhibits. Most important, they learn from
observing zoo animals.
On a scale of 1 to 10, our visitors rate their educational experience at the Saint Louis Zoo as a 9.1.
Families matter! Zoos are a place where families can have unique experiences together every
time they visit. Today's families are more aware than ever of the need to teach their children about the
natural world and respect for living creatures.
People make an emotional connection with animals at zoos that can last a lifetime.
Why do zoos matter? Basically, because we care. Because we want to keep this planet's amazing
wildlife around for future generations.
St. Louis Zoo. “Why Zoos Matter.” Web. https://www.stlzoo.org/about/whyzoosmatter/ Edited for classroom use 2016.
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