Zoos have become an important site for the preservation and protection of wildlife resources, (1) ________ those species that are endangered. (2) ________ , many zoos displayed live animals for public entertainment. Presently some zoos have become scientific and educational (3) ________ that have contributed to the understanding and conservation of wild animal populations. (4) ________ the challenges facing modern zoos are the cost of upgrading old facilities, the struggle to obtain (5) ________ operating funds, and the need to attract more visitors (6) ________ new and entertaining exhibits.
Many (7) ________ zoos in American cities have undergone renovation during the last decades of the twentieth century.Among the recent trends in zoo (8) ________ is the construction of new enclosures that resemble natural habitats. The replacement of steel bars and concrete floors (9) ________ appropriately designed surroundings improves visitor appreciation of the (10) _____. Such renovations may (11) ________ stress on animals and allow them to interact with one another (12) ________ naturally.
Several major zoos conduct captive propagation programs. A captive propagation problem includes the breeding of (13) ________ zoo or wild animals to obtain offspring, usually for release to (14) ________ or for transfer to other zoos.Captive breeding is one method of (15) ________ some species from extinction.
Zoos have expanded and improved public education programs also, with education departments that develop programs (16) ________ to zoo exhibits. Public activities include in-school programs, zoo tours, special events, and websites. The Zoological Society of New York, for example, conducted a (17) ________ project with a Western African to monitor an elephant herd (18) ________ it moved throughout its range.
The importance of zoos will increase as natural habitats are diminishing. Through their efforts (19) ________ conservation, education, and environmental advocacy, zoos (20) ________ continue to play a critical role in wildlife preservation throughout the world.