Read the article from a website about animal conservation. The Importance of Zoos When thinking about a visit to the zoo, most people imagine a fun day spent outdoors observing exotic animals. However, a visit to the zoo means much more. Zoo patrons support an organization that benefits both animals and people in countless ways. Here are just a few. Zoos and Education The more we learn about animals, the more we can do to protect them. Zoos provide tours, seminars, and exhibits to teach the public about animal habitats and how animal behavior is affected by where the animal lives. Visitors discover how animals interact and the role animals play in their environment. This helps us better understand why biodiversity, or a variety of life, is necessary for the health of our planet. Zoos also help scientists and researchers learn. By studying zoo animals, scientists have discovered new medicines and new techniques to improve the health of animals living in captivity and in the wild. Their work with zoo animals benefits humans, too. For example, scientists study how certain illnesses are transmitted, or spread, from animals to humans. They use this information to decrease or prevent transmission of some of these diseases. By working closely with one or two species at the zoo, scientists become specialists in their field. They can then pass their knowledge along to other scientists. Zoos and Conservation A critical mission for most zoos is conservation of animal species. Zoos cooperate to preserve and grow endangered animal populations. In the wild, animals face health threats like pollution, poaching, destruction of habitats, and climate change. These threats cause animal populations to decrease and possibly disappear forever. Zoos take in endangered species, set up breeding programs, and work together to rebuild animal populations. Zoos have helped prevent several species, from tiny frogs to big cats, from becoming extinct. Zoos and the Economy By helping animals, zoos also help local economies. Zoos and thei