Across the world, millions of animals are held in captivity for our entertainment or education. Although modern zoos try to create natural conditions for the animals that find refuge there, wild animals suffer physically and mentally from the lack of freedom that these zoos impose. These environments are artificial. A zoo is where wild animals are kept in reserve for display. Zoos are not considered ecosystems because an ecosystem is defined as a “space in which interactions between a community, with all its complex interrelationships, and the physical environment take place” (Enger and Smith 94). Animals in zoos do not interact with every other element of their local environment; therefore a zoo is not an ecosystem. These habitats, however, have advantages and disadvantages for us humans and the animals that live in them. Is the discomfort that humans impose on animals worth saving the lives of these animals? Zoos are essential to say the least. Their main function is conversation. Without captive breeding, many endangered species would become extinct. For example, Micke Grove Zoo is home to over 130 animal varieties representing 50 species including birds, amphibians, mammals and invertebrates. Many of the animals kept at the zoo are classified as endangered or threatened in the wild. Micke Grove Zoo is home to animals from all five major continents. Some of the animals found at the zoo include: lemurs and tortoises from Madagascar, snow leopards from Asia, birds from Mediterranean climates, tropical squirrels and small primates recognized as tamarins. The zoo is also home to animals native to California, such as the mountain lion and golden eagle, most of which have been injured and rescued from the wild. Micke Grove... center of the card... these animals. Although volunteers offer to help maintain the Micke Grove Zoo, they lack adequate training and experience in how to conserve the animals' artificial natural habitat. Therefore, although there are various plants and animals at Micke Grove Zoo, they do not do what is necessary to keep the ecosystem healthy. It is necessary for various species to interact to keep the ecology healthy. Producers, consumers, and decomposers are all limited in what they can do. Humans should know this: the survival of these animals does not justify the loss of their freedom. Works Cited Enger, Eldon, D. and Smith, Bradley, F. Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelations. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Inc., 2010: 94-95. Print.“Nature Works-Ecosystem”. New Hampshire Public Television. nd Web. 8 August 2011. http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwepecosystems.htm