Isn it true that zoos make valuable contributions to conservation?
Zoos argue that their role as educators influences public interest and support for conservation. But, it is actually difficult to say how much influence the exhibits and work of zoos really have on their visitors – reports and papers on this subject go in both directions. Zoos also argue that they support elephant conservation projects directly. And while some zoos play an important role in in situ conservation, for most the support offered is minimal. Substantial amounts of money are used on captive elephants and their exhibits in zoos every year. It has been estimated that it costs about $100,000 to maintain one elephant in a zoo each year. Furthermore, elephant exhibits, however inadequate, run $6-25 million to construct. Just imagine how many elephants (and other species) this kind of money could protect in the wild? For example, Amboseli National Park was the one elephant population in Kenya that did not suffer from ivory poaching in the 1980s. This population was spared the slaug
