Safari parks: Safari parks keep animals in larger, outdoor enclosures, confining them with moats and fences, rather than in cages to allow them more space than in traditional zoos. Tourists can drive through to see non-native wildlife living in large, enclosed areas.

Game reserves: Game reserves are large places whose ecosystems are meant to protect native species so that animals can live and reproduce at natural rates. Animals are allowed to roam free and are protected from illegal hunting, which is a threat to many endangered species.

Specialised zoos: While most zoos house land, birds and marine species, some zoos are dedicated entirely to certain species. Aquariums exclusively house aquatic animals. A good example is The Sydney Aquarium in Australia, which is home to more than 650 native Australian species from the country’s major water systems.

Aviaries and bird parks are other types of specialised zoos. A good example of this is the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore, which has more than 8,000 birds of 600 species from around the world.

Conservation: Many animals are threatened in the wild largely due to loss of habitat and hunting and are on the verge of extinction. To protect them, they are often kept in zoos where they are taken care of, and where researchers study and observe their behaviour closely.

Attempts are made to help them reproduce so their species continue to thrive, and when their numbers grow significantly they are re-introduced to the wild.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 18th, 2023