Zoos are prisons dressed up to look like something they’re not
By Staci-lee Sherwood
Zoos around the world have been getting a bad rap for decades, and deservedly so. Regardless of what country they’re in they all have one thing in common, they teach children and people the wrong message about conservation and wildlife. Wild exotic animals have been held captive by people for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians first started the trend of keep exotic animals around 2500 BC. The Greeks and Romans soon followed. The oldest zoo still in operation is the Vienna Zoo founded in 1752. During the 1800s there was an explosion of zoos, possibly linked to easier ways for people to travel and thereby expanding tourism by including public access. Up until then most zoos existed only for royalty and the elites.
For most people zoos just reinforce society’s view animals are things to possess, exploit for ‘sport’ and ‘entertainment’. They are not on Earth for our use, they don’t exist for us nor do they need to, to have value. Their lives are valued by their existence as species we share the Earth with.
Despite the word salad on websites, zoo’s are NOT about conservation. They’re a for profit business and that means exploitation for money. They can dress it up with fancy websites and posters but anyone walking around a zoo would have to ask themselves is this really conservation? None of these animal are released back into the wild so what exactly are they conserving and for whom? Other zoos?
Scroll through the photos. Look at the condition of the animals and tiny area they live on. Ask yourself would YOU choose to live like this? If you wouldn’t, what gives anyone the right to force animals to?
Zoo Miami – example of what passes as CONservation in 2026. Reality VS myth
This zoo touts itself as somehow better than most because the animals weren’t in cages. It’s better than zoo’s in China or Vietnam and what a pathetic standard to measure against. The enclosures were unbelievably small. The pictures show the optical illusion because you think the grass and trees in the background are available but they aren’t. The animals live on a moat with about a 10 foot sharp drop and little access to shade, grass and water. Some live alone with no mates or companions. Animals like the monkeys, birds, panther, eagles and black bear live in tiny areas surrounded by fencing. Others live more ‘free’ on an island moat. The first photo shows and describes what their zoo habitat is, the second photo shows how they live naturally as a comparison. Links to groups doing real conservation are listed. After several emails and phone calls no one at the zoo could explain what their Harpy Eagle or Flamingo breeding programs really entailed but the truth is shown by how they live.
On a hot day when the heat index was over 100 degrees I only saw one enclosure with a mister. I found most of the water foundations for people to be out of service and the signage was lacking to say the least. Of the dozen or so staff and volunteers none of them could answer simple questions and all seemed to be under 20 years old. For many staff English was clearly a second language.
Ron McGill is touted as some kind of savior of animals and conservationists. A trip to see for yourself how the animals live would prove otherwise. On his wall there are two skulls of wild animals normally found in Africa. This is something hunters do so what should we make of these on his wall?
Harpy Eagles
Zoo Miami says they have a breeding program for the Harpy Eagle. A very rare endangered species only found in the northern half of South America. They nest very high up in the ever disappearing rainforest. Because they’re so elusive it’s impossible to get accurate data on population other than its being destroyed on a daily basis at alarming rates. The largest of all Eagles they can grow to nearly 4 feet in length. The enclosure at Zoo Miami is smaller than your average studio apartment. This makes it impossible to teach any chicks they have to fly or hunt, they’re isn’t any room for that. Miami is hot, prone to droughts and not a rainforest so it’s not the type of habitat they naturally live in. The breeding program brings prestige but does nothing for conservation since any offspring could never be released back into the wild.
A male with a squirrel.
A female perches in her cage. Living up to 35 years they mate for life, but who knows if this pair chose each other as mates or were thrown together. We know zoo’s have poor track records for captive breeding because little resembles natural habitat, food, climate or mating rituals. All necessary things for success of future generations.
Click here to learn about real conservation in the wild by the Peregrine Fund
Bald Eagle
This is the Bald Eagle enclosure, the photo show about 90% so it’s very small. The symbol of American freedom how ironic. You can see the tail feathers of the Eagle on a branch. No one at the zoo could say why they have the Eagle. If you really want to save Eagles fight development.
This is a wild Bald Eagle living free high up in the trees.
African Elephants
Elephants cover themselves with dirt to shield them from sun burn. With little access to trees and water they’re orange from covering themselves entirely with dirt as their only means of protection.
Two adult African Elephants in a shockingly small area. Standing there the fence in the back isn’t obvious until you notice the island they live on cuts off access to most vegetation in the background.
The only Elephant in the zoo that had a deep clean waterhole was the sculpture.
Click here to help wild Elephants return to the wild, not another zoo
Alligator
This photo needs no words. Why is the water neon green? This shows the entire enclosure which was the smallest, aside from the snakes, I saw. Alligators and Crocodiles live mostly in water but need land to warm up, dry off, hunt and nest. This one can’t do anything but float.
This wild Alligator travels between several deep water holes in a habitat over 5000 acres. He can choose to where to hunt and rest. As you see they do walk quite a bit on land.
Animals don’t need to serve humans or have a purpose defined by humans to have a right to live on Earth
American Flamingo
Zoo Miami has an American Breeding program but the habitat is so small it takes less than 2 minutes walking slowly to go from end to end. There’s barely any shade and they share the water with wild Ibis and Egrets that fly in. Flamingo Gardens is no better, very tiny enclosure.
They do produce chicks on occasion which are hand raised by humans. That makes it impossible to release into the wild since the parents have little to no contact with their offspring. How is that saving the species? In 2026 this passes for conservation?
Born in captivity this juvenile has no connection to his parents or flock. Hand raised by humans for 3 months he will never be released. How does this save the species?
Really?
A small flock of wild American Flamingos.
Click here to learn about saving wild Flamingos, not breeding them for other zoos
Sumatran Tiger
Two critically endangered Sumatran Tigers are the jewel of this zoo. Their habitat only appears to be large and lush. It’s small for such large animals, surrounded by a steep ditch and the Asian style building is only a façade.
Their habitat doesn’t extend much past the ‘temple’ which is only a wall and doesn’t provide shade or protection from weather.
Why is this tree wrapped in metal? To prevent the felines from scratching as all felines do.
Everyone knows how much cats, all felines, love to scratch.
Click here to learn about saving Big Cats
Most of the shade came from this plastic or metal tube. Must really heat up when the suns hits it.
The critically endangered Jaguar had the same on his island moat
Click here to learn about saving Big Cats
Florida Panther
Shockingly tiny area I was appalled, this photo shows about 90% of the enclosure. The lush trees in the background are blocked by a fence. With maybe 80 panthers left in the wild and an unprecedented explosion of unnecessary development it’s impossible to see how they won’t go extinct. This won’t save them only a ban on development will.
A wild male Florida Panther passing through several thousand acre wilderness. How all big cats should live.
Click here to learn how to help save the last remaining few
Reticulated Giraffe
There were at least 4 Giraffes on their moat island. What looks like lush Africa in the wet season is an optical illusion. They live on a small moat like all the other wild animals and most of the lush vegetation is blocked by either a steep ditch or fence.
The feeding of these animals only teaches children that captivity is ok when it’s not.
A mother tries to comfort her calf born in captivity.
Click here to learn about real conservation
Borneo Orangutan
Critically endangered Orangutans need more habitat not less. Many think they are close to going extinct as their habitat is cut down for palm oil. A manmade product of no real value to humans except as an additive to processed food and cosmetics. This Orangutan lives on a moat with few trees, even though the species spends most of their natural life high in the canopy of forests. Two call Zoo Miami home. To protect from sun and extreme heat this one was lucky to find a torn towel.
Click here to learn how to really save Orangutans
This Chimpanzee is a rescue who lives at an amazing sanctuary that provides quality food, water, health care, large space to run and climb with lots of other Chimps to play with. Every Christmas they open presents
Click here to learn about a great sanctuary which is the example
Rhinos
Similar to the Elephant habitat it’s a very small area surround by a sharp ditch. A fence blocks most of the trees though they seemed to have more shade than the Elephants their watering hole was too small for 2 adult Rhinos and the water didn’t look clean.
A critically endangered One-Horned Rhino.
Critically endangered Black Rhinos are killed on a daily basis for their horns. Only a ban on all horn trade will help save them.
To learn about real conservation click here to learn more about Akashinga
and here to learn more about the Rhino Rescue Project
Grevy’s Zebra
Highly endangered, this male Zebra lives alone on a small moat. The photo may look like he has plenty of space and trees but it’s blocked by the sharp drop off and surrounding ditch. Equines live in families, Zebras live in large groups and cover vast territory. They’re not solitary animals. Best way to save them help to preserve what land is left in Africa before it’s all mined and developed.
A band of wild Horses living on 7000 acres as all equines should be living.
Click here to learn about saving Zebras
Giant Eland, Okapi, Addra Gazelle, Nyala
Their habitat is an optical illusion on purpose. You see this open space and trees in the background, ignoring the ditch and fencing. This looks like a decent area for grazing animals but it’s a small moat surrounded by a sharp ditch these two Gazelle share with a family of Giant Elands. There’s no room to run and most trees are blocked by the ditch. Easy to spoke these animals, a fatal accident could easily occur if one got too close to steep drop off.
This Giant Eland family shares their small habitat with the Gazelles. Born in captivity their offspring will never know freedom.
This Nyala was the only habitat I saw with a working mister on a day of extreme heat.
This Okapi was alone and shared the island moat with a pair of cranes. Just kept walking in circles like he couldn’t believe this was where he lived.
Ungulates, like those pictured above, live in large herds. They forage in huge areas in Africa traveling between diverse vegetation and watering holes. These young Whit-tailed Deer bucks forage and run in an area over 7000 acres. In the photo all vegetation is accessible, not blocked by fences or ditches.
American Black Bear
Black bear hunts are becoming more popular at a time when the population is decreasing due to habitat loss. This won’t save the species. This photo shows 90% of the enclosure, very small. Most of the trees in the background are blocked by fencing
Click here to learn how to help bears
African Painted Dog
African Painted Dog resting on dirt near the edge of their island moat
You can see their habitat is mostly dirt and can be very narrow in places. Wild dogs are pack animals with an alpha breeding pair. They have large territories in Africa.
A wild coyote resting in grass.
Click here to learn about saving the Painted Dogs of Africa
Who supports zoos and the excuses they use
Many schools have field trips to zoos. Like the circus, they teach children all the wrong lessons about wild animals. It’s a cheap way to entertain children and it’s time end it. As violence toward animals, and each other, is at an all time high we should be teaching how to co-exist with species who share this planet. They have as much right to be here and almost all species existed long before humans.
It’s impossible to instill compassion and understanding of wild animal needs when viewed living in cages or on tiny moats. No child can see past that and few teachers tell the truth of the cruelty behind the scenes. Many well meaning people are conned into thinking this helps save a species but rarely ask how exactly does that work? In 2026 ignorance is no longer an excuse. A few minutes on the internet tells the real story of zoos, even the good ones. Captive animals aren’t released, their offspring go to other zoos not into the wild. Make a difference by supporting organizations doing real conservation not a con job.
Smiling faces can’t hide how this exploits animals for cash. Looks like just a dog show. Zoo Miami post on their public page on Facebook July 18, 2026.
How you can help with real conservation
Don’t go to zoos they exploit animals for profit
Educate people about the truth not the greenwashing
Don’t buy into zoo conservation instead support/volunteer with nonprofits who return the species to the wild and protect their habitat
Fight against development, the greatest threat to all species is loss of habitat
Don’t buy exotic pets and if you do never release them into the wild
Thank-you again for you concerns for all animals. I hope the tide is turning but it seems like a long tough fight continues. Please keep up your excellent work.
I subscribe to "More than Just Parks" and "The Wildlife News". They both present clear pictures of what's going on with the push to destroy habitat, kill predators, all that wonderful stuff. In my mind, there should certainly be more awareness and clarity as to what has been and is f**king with our wildlife - as well as our domestic animals.
Yes, this current bunch of dimwits of course is guilty BUT this is decades-HUNDREDS of years of "domination" of other species. Not a particular party or administration. As an example? Look at our Wild Horses - hey its roundup season again!
And capturing and imprisoning animals for human's what? "Edificatio - really? As you said, this only teaches childr…