As a child, there is nothing more magical than the moment when a giraffe's slimy, slimy tongue begins to snatch a cookie from little hands. Or the enchanting moment when a penguin reacts to the movement of a small weapon. Thousands of smiles arise during a visit to the zoo. However, while these smiles may seem like an accurate representation of the zoo, some people may see something different; a sight of animals alone and cold in an unfamiliar and foreign environment. In the 1800s, when zoos began to become popular, their primary function was entertainment. However, over time, many zoos realized that their function needed to be more focused on education and conservation. While many zoos have adopted this new motto of bringing beneficial change to animals in zoos and in the wild, some unfortunately have not. The simple question of a few bad zoos has sparked much debate about whether or not zoos are constructive establishments. Although controversy surrounding zoos has continued since their opening, new regulations and concepts could be the answer for zoos, benefiting both animals and visitors. Early in zoo history, when zoos began to become popular, animals were treated with little respect and were forced into confined enclosures with restricted mobility and movement. Because of this continually passed knowledge and stories, the negative aspects of zoos have created a buildup of people opposed to the idea of ​​zoos. Because of bad zoos and memories of the past, many opponents of zoos believe that zoos still use animals only as a puppet show and nothing more. Other zoo opponents also challenge animal welfare and express concerns about repetitive animal behavior caused by pieces of paper......and systems, which could end up being even more beneficial to the animals and visitors. than anyone could have thought. Works Cited Braverman, Irus. “Looking at zoos.” Cultural Studies 25.6 (2011): 809-842. Premier Academic Research. Internet. November 14, 2013. Draper, Chris and Stephen Harris. “The assessment of animal welfare in UK zoos by government-appointed inspectors.” Animals (2076-2615) 2.4 (2012): 507-528. Premier Academic Research. Internet. November 14, 2013. Fravel, Laua. “Critics question zoos’ commitment to conservation.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society, November 13, 2003. Web. November 21, 2013. Langlois, Jill. “The cheetah could become extinct by 2030.” Worldwide Post. Np, April 24, 2013. Web. December 1, 2013.Russo, Cristina. "Can you worry about an animal you've never seen? The zoo's role in education and conservation." SciencesEd. Np, March 11, 2013. Web. November 18. 2013.