Education Roles of zoos in the conservation of plant and animal species has dramatically changed throughout time. The zoos of old were solely for entertainment value and personal amusement. Present day zoos are well aware of the issues facing many species of animals around the world. Through habitat destruction, poaching, pollution, and many other factors, populations of certain animal species are declining.
Conservation is just one of four important purposes that exist today for zoos.
The other three are education, research, and recreation. Since many wild populations of animals are declining, threatening the survival of many species, zoos have taken the lead in conservation. The SSP started in 1981 for selected species in zoos and aquariums in North America. Each SSP oversees the breeding of a species to ensure a healthy and self-sustaining captive population that is demographically stable and genetically diverse. SSPs also participate in other activities for conservation.