Everybody went to the zoo; either they watched a dolphin show or fed the penguins. Zoos have been a part of American culture for centuries. At first, a zoo might have been seen as just a prison cell for animals, but today zoos have been completely transformed. What were once confined cages are now transformed into hectares of land where different species can reside. Opponents of zoos say they are inhumane and harmful to animals. However, zoos are beneficial for several different reasons, including animal conservation and captive breeding, scientific study, health care, and education. Daniel Martin, a writer for mailonline.com, wrote an article about Angela Smith who works as the Labor Party's Charity Minister. Smith is strongly opposed to zoos and believes they should be banned in Britain. Smith describes zoos as “cruel relics of the Victorian era” (Martin 1), forgetting all the benefits zoos provide. Martin writes: “Mrs Smith, patron of campaign group Captive Animals' Protection Society, boycotted an event earlier this year because it was taking place at London Zoo” (Martin). This article addresses the moral injustice of keeping animals in captivity. In response to Smith, David Field, the director of London Zoo, replied: "Saying to stop introducing wild animals into zoos simply shows Angela Smith's incredible naivety as to why zoos exist” (Martin). Field goes on to explain the remarkable things that make up zoos, including the incredible power they have to connect you directly to nature (Martin). First, zoo opponents need to understand that zoos are not what they used to be. When zoos were created, animals were treated like prisoners, locked in small cages. But......middle of document......c.galegroup.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/ic/ovic/AcademicJournalsDetailsPage/AcademicJournalsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Journals&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId= &documentId=GALE%7CA133108724&mode=view>."Minnesota Zoo brings education and conservation to the world of online gaming." Endangered Species Update 23.4 (2006): 156. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Internet. December 1, 2011. “Zoo Research.” AZA Elephant TAG/SSP Homepage. Association of Zoos and Aquariams. Internet. December 2. 2011. .