IELTS Writing Task 2: Should Zoos Be Banned? (Band 9 Sample)

Few institutions divide opinion as sharply as the zoo. To some, confining wild animals for human amusement is indefensible; to others, zoos are a vital ark for endangered species. In my view, while the cruelty of poorly run zoos is undeniable, well-managed modern zoos do enough good to justify their existence.

1. The case against zoos

There is real force in the argument for closure. Many animals evolved to roam vast territories, and no enclosure, however spacious, can replicate that freedom. Confined for life, intelligent creatures such as elephants and big cats often show signs of severe distress, pacing or self-harming out of boredom. Keeping them merely so that visitors can gawp at them is, at best, ethically questionable.

2. The case for keeping them

That said, the best zoos have moved far beyond the cramped cages of the past. Reputable institutions now run breeding programmes that have saved species from extinction, fund conservation work in the wild, and educate millions of children who might otherwise never care about wildlife at all. For a child, seeing a real tiger can spark a lifelong passion for protecting nature.

In conclusion, although zoos that prioritise profit over welfare deserve to be shut down, I believe those genuinely committed to conservation and education are worth preserving. The answer lies not in abolishing zoos altogether, but in holding them to far higher welfare standards.