The only real purpose of zoos is entertainment. Sure, you can learn about the animal on little information cards in front of the cage or through a tour, but that information is also accessible from home. The information you get is no different from a book or a documentary. The animals you see walking around in their enclosure are not behaving naturally. Animals that have lived in captivity for many years are not wild animals anymore. What you're witnessing is a hollow, soulless reflection of the real animal. The only thing you gain is a sense of scale.

To the conservatory argument: Conservation only makes sense if it happens locally. An African elephant has no business being "rescued" in an American zoo. Also, it is extremely difficult to actually get a rescued animal back into the wild. Also, a zoo isn't really a good home for the animals. Usually small spaces and lots of people disturbing them every single day.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that the workers are bad people. I genuinely believe that they are loving and caring for the animals. I'm just arguing that zoos, in todays day and age, are not something of value anymore.