30.06.2025

Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answer.

Zoological Revolution

The role of the zoo has undergone a dramatic shift. The growing recognition that zoos ought to be in the vanguard of the fight against the devastation of the natural world began in the 2000s with Jersey Zoo was set up to breed endangered species. As such, its concept is completely science-led, with researchers studying specific conditions needed to breed animals in small populations. Nonetheless, the impact of captive breeding programmes on the outlook for endangered species is probably minimal.

Changing Zoos

Zoos today are re-evaluating their purpose following growing awareness of the need for a greater role in conservation. This rethinking involves captive breeding of endangered species but, owing to the rapid disappearance of wild habitats, there is little hope for a widespread release of these animals. Only that the existing stock of endangered species may be maintained. Moreover, because of the cost and limiting impact of captive breeding, zoos should drop their breeding programmes and focus on protecting animals in their wild habitats. Thankfully, in-situ habitat protection is becoming a major part of the work of many zoos.

Write your answer in 240–280 words on the separate answer sheet.

Breeding endangered species in zoos. Is it worth the while?

It is an unfortunate fact that animal habitats are vanishing in our word of intense industrialization, leading to the disappearance of biodiversity. However some zoos implement captive breeding programs in an attempt to preserve them. But how viable is this solution in the long term?

As the first text mentions, many zoos are now making concerted effort to help animals multiply, while avoiding inbreeding. Naturally, this is done with the aim to release these animals back to the wild. I celebrate this idea because apart from ethical concerns, I believe these species like any others are part of the ecological cycle that keeps our nature whole and functioning. But I agree with the reservations regarding this measure expressed in both texts. First of all, the rapid disappearance of animal habitats means that more species will invade zoos and once they multiply, there will harrdly be anywhere to release them. This problem exacerbates by the high cost of captive breeding, as mentioned in the second text. Namely, would the means justify the end?

Controversial breeding programs might be, I believe that they should be balanced with a brader scheme of preservation programs. First of all, zoos ought to reduce breeding practices to limited amounts. Secondly, they should create conditions for long-term captive care until animal habitats are restored. And last but not least, authorities should allocate funds to protect animals in the wild. I think that abandoning captive breeding altogether and focusing solely on conserving wildlife in their habitats, as the second author mentions, would be a too radical measure.

To conclude, while captive breeding programs in zoos are crucial for protecting biodiversity, they are only part of the equation that solves the problem of gradual extinction. For this should be combined with creating artificial environments and preserving animals in their native ecosystems.