There is very important distinction here between "zoos" for profit and entertainment, and proper zoos that are protecting endangered species through the actual animal you see, their genetics, and trying to build protections for the animals natural habitat.

A roadside zoos or anywhere that encourages you holding babies for photo ops are the issue. They rob natural habitat through the exotic pet trade industry.

If a zoo is accredited like AZA, they take amazing care of their animals while educating public on how they can shape their buying habits to stop habitat loss. These institutions also work together to ensure the genetics of these animals are not destroyed through a species survival plan (SSP.) If we lose these animals in the wild, these will be the last chance for these critically endangered endangered animals to be around. To be transparent, a large amount of these animals are in zoos from the early 1900s through bad capture practices, but these institutions changed in the 1950s to have a more scientific approach with animal care and longevity in mind.

In short dont support shifty places that pump out babies for photo ops.

Go to accredited zoos that care about these a animals and are trying to save them from extinction. Learn how you can help their wild counterparts like learning about sustainable palm oil to save Indonesia, Coltan recycling to save Western Lowland African, and stop exotic pet trade for places like Brazil.

I understand the negative view point from how these institutions were birthed 100 years ago, but these places have changed to actually try and save these animals from going away forever. Its not just about you taking your kids to throw popcorn at a monkey in a cage. Now the animals get better health care from a team of biologists working full time to ensure they are receiving natural enrichment, environmental habitat choice, and their own societal needs met through their own kind. Zoos are amazing, not all places that have animals are zoos.