Is zoo attendance declining?

Although 700 million people worldwide visit zoos and aquariums each year, many zoos have found their attendance numbers going down in recent years.



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Globally, 700 million people visit zoos and aquariums every year, or about 10 percent of the world population. Zoos and aquariums are positioned today not only to take a leading role in conservation, but to educate the next generations about the importance of Earth's animals.

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Many zoos have improved enormously; the better ones being crucial in saving species that would have otherwise gone extinct. Nonetheless, for some people the mere word zoo carries impressions of old zoos, bad zoos, circuses, and theme-park shows that many find distasteful. Good zoos know they must innovate forward.

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The Economic Impact of Zoos The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos drew 183 million visitors to U.S. zoos and aquariums. AZA-member zoos in the States employed 198,000 people. The report estimated the total economic output of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums in 2018 to be $22.5 billion.

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Some animals in zoos are kept in enclosures far too small for them, while others are forced to perform degrading tricks. Even in the best zoos, under the best conditions, a lifetime of captivity is no life at all for wild animals.

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MYTH 4: Animals in Zoos are happy. Animals in captivity across the globe have been documented displaying signs of anxiety and depression. In fact, psychological distress in zoo animals is so common that it has its own name: Zoochosis.

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The development of housing exotic animals in zoos has progressed dramatically from pits, cages of metal bars, and fenced or concrete paddocks. Now these are being replaced with larger enclosures that attempt to reproduce the animal's natural habitat.

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Future zoos and aquariums will certainly embrace exciting technological promises. Four-dimensional (4D) theaters, simulators, Science on a Sphere, and virtual and augmented reality experiences all offer opportunities for people to experience nature and wildlife in ways they simply cannot in the wild.

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Should zoos be banned, we would certainly loose some species. This is particularly important in the case of endangered species. Due to the low density of the population of some animals in their natural ecosystems they struggle to find partners. Some populations in the wild are weakened by endogamy too.

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(Based on the most popular zoos by visitors in 2019)
  • San Diego Zoo — San Diego, California.
  • Saint Louis Zoo — St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Houston Zoo — Houston, Texas.
  • Brookfield Zoo — Brookfield, Illinois.


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Six Species Saved From Extinction by Zoos As of 2017, 1,000 animals had been restored to the wild, while thousands more were living in zoo environments. Przewalski's Horse: The only truly wild species left in the world, Przewalski's Horse is native to the grasslands of Central Asia.

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The report estimated the total economic output of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums in 2018 to be $22.5 billion. On top of that, in 2013 zoos contributed to an estimated $2.4 billion in before/after visit spending by the public and $5.4 billion in personal earnings.

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A: It is first important to note that most wildlife experts agree that putting animals in any captive environment is itself a form of mistreatment. This is because captivity enforces conditions upon wild animals in which they are not adapted to thrive.

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Do zoos help or harm animals? While some suggest that zoos exploit captive animals and that wild animals should be wild, these facilities also present wildlife conservation attempts and learning opportunities as well. Zoos may introduce trauma to animals, but they are also taken care of in zoos.

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What Are Some Pros and Cons of Zoos?
  • Animals Often Only Have Quite Limited Space. ...
  • Zoos Are Crowded. ...
  • Animals Are Trapped in Unnatural Environments. ...
  • Confinement May Alter the Behavior of Animals. ...
  • 'Surplus' Animals Can Be Killed. ...
  • Animals Are Often Mistreated. ...
  • Animals Don't Like Being Visited. ...
  • Animals Struggle to Form Connections.


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What Are Some Alternatives to Zoos for Seeing Wildlife?
  • Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. ...
  • Bird Observatory Center. ...
  • Farm Animal Sanctuary. ...
  • Explore a River Nearby. ...
  • Visit an Eco Park. ...
  • Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality.


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AZA and AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums frequently partner with other organizations, including government agencies, to protect endangered species and their environments. Zoos and aquariums are an essential part of the recovery program for many endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

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