Not long ago most zoos were little more than urban prisons for animals.
In cities all over the world, wild beasts were confined to small cement cells.
Left with nothing to do , these animals became poor imitations of their wild relatives.
Under these conditions , many animals developed strange behaviors, and most had very low reproduction rates.
fortunately, this is beginning to change. As kurt Benirscke of the San Diego Zoological society stated . " We are assuming custody of the endangered species.
Zoos are the last bastion for the propagation of exotic species , and if we don't help, then a lot of animals won't make it through the twentieth century."
New zoos around the world are being constructed to imitate the open country of the wild.
In these zoos, animals are free to wander large areas, and compatible species are grouped together. Zookeepers know that most animals thrive when surrounded by their own kind, so the new
zoos stress greater numbers of one kind of animals rather than one or two of many species.
Of course, these zoos are not withour barriers. But instead of bars and cages, animals are isolated by bodies of water.
cliffs, and large rock formations. Fences are well-hidden, and the feeling is one of freedom and space . Visitors may watch only from species trams or protected trails. Are animals benefiting from this approach ? Zookeepers report that reproduction rates are rising dramatically in these zoos. Many of our endangered species may yet have a chance for survival.