Zoos and aquariums are institutions exhibiting collections of live wild animals from different species, usually to the general public. This entry presents key ethical debates about zoos and aquariums, including both objections to their existence in principle, and defenses of their moral significance in the context of nature conservation, including efforts to protect wild species from extinction. The entry also explores a number of practical ethical issues raised by the management of zoos and aquariums, including their acquisition of animals, their ability to ensure good animal welfare, the ways they deal with reproduction and surplus animals, and their effectiveness at achieving conservation goals.
