From zebras to penguins to snakes, there's only one place where people have the opportunity to see any animal they want in one day. The local zoo attracts families everywhere. It is not only a fun but also an educational activity, suitable for all ages. Not only do people benefit from zoos, but it also benefits animals. Zoos are a good thing and bring with them many positive aspects. Thanks to animals in zoos we have been able to do research to help improve the lives of animals. A study conducted in 2002 showed that zoos participated in over 2,230 conservation research projects in over 80 different countries. From these projects they have managed to find information that helps them develop new drugs and techniques to improve animal health. Without these animals being in zoos where they can be studied by their behavior and reactions to things, they could not be helped when they are sick or injured. Conservation efforts have also found ways to improve from the research they have gathered. The profits that many zoos have earned donate a portion to these conservation projects. Zoos also help preserve animal species that would otherwise be extinct. There are special breeding programs where zoos take these endangered animals and breed them to add to the population. Gerald Iles, a zoologist, once said that "Africa's animals have been reduced by 80% in the last hundred years... and 600 species of animals are on the verge of extinction." Zoos step up and make sure these animals don't go extinct so that people years from now can benefit from them as much as the world does now. Not only do they save animals but then… middle of paper… animals in zoos so people can see them can actually save the animals' lives. Often people “adopt” an animal or donate to a zoo to help fund these animals or save an endangered species. Without these animals in zoos, it would be difficult for people to know what these animals need or whether or not they are endangered. It can also be more difficult to convince people to care or be interested in rescuing or caring for an animal they have seen versus one they have had a close encounter with. Zoos have been a controversial issue for a long time. Sometimes opinions are formed before all the facts are shown. People need to take a step back and examine everything zoos do for animals, then consider how they feel. There are so many positives they have to offer. Zoos are a great experience and educational tool that the world would be missing without them.