I am personally not against keeping animals at zoos, as they

Hear the thoughtful words of Frans de Waal, the great primatologist and interpreter of animal minds: “I am personally not against keeping animals at zoos, as they serve a huge educational purpose, but treating them well and with respect seems the least we could do, and with ‘we’ I mean not just zoo staff, but most certainly also the public.” In these words is found the balance between necessity and morality, between the human desire to learn and the duty to honor the lives of those creatures entrusted to our care. He does not speak with the cold tone of judgment, but with the warm weight of wisdom: if we take animals into our custody, then respect must guide every act.

The meaning of this utterance is layered. De Waal acknowledges that zoos can serve a purpose, that they can educate the young, inspire compassion, and teach the masses about the wonders of the animal kingdom. Yet he warns that education without respect is hollow. To imprison an animal for human curiosity without honoring its dignity is to betray the very lesson we claim to teach. Thus, he places responsibility not only upon the zoo staff, but upon the public—for cruelty is not only in the act of confinement, but in the gaze that treats a living being as mere spectacle rather than as a fellow creature of the earth.

The origin of such thought flows from de Waal’s lifelong study of primates, creatures who mirror us so closely that their eyes reflect our own humanity. Through decades of observation, he revealed that animals are not machines of instinct, but beings of emotion, intelligence, and society. His work shattered the illusion that animals are lesser simply because they lack our language. From this wellspring of knowledge came his words: that if we dare to cage such beings, the least we owe them is care, dignity, and respect.

History gives us vivid examples of this truth. Consider the story of Jumbo the elephant, who in the 19th century was paraded before crowds in London and New York. He inspired awe, but his life was marked by chains, deprivation, and exploitation. He educated the public about the grandeur of elephants, yet he himself suffered in silence. His story reminds us of the paradox de Waal highlights: the power of animals to teach, but the shame of our failure to respect them. Only in recent generations have zoos begun to shift from prisons of curiosity to sanctuaries of conservation, seeking to heal the wounds of the past.

The emotional strength of de Waal’s words lies in his appeal to shared responsibility. Too often, the public views the treatment of animals as the sole duty of caretakers. Yet he reminds us that cruelty also lies in indifference, in the laughter at an animal’s distress, in the thoughtless tossing of food or tapping on glass. The public gaze has power: it can either degrade or uplift, it can either demand cruelty for amusement or insist on dignity for all living things. Respect is not a burden for the few, but a calling for all.

The lesson is timeless: if humanity is to be worthy of its dominion, it must be tempered with compassion. It is not enough to use animals as instruments for education; we must also let them teach us humility, empathy, and stewardship. To treat them with respect is not an act of charity, but a recognition of kinship—for they, too, are part of the web of life. Without this respect, our learning is false, for it teaches only arrogance and exploitation.

Therefore, let your actions reflect this wisdom. When you visit a zoo, do not treat the animals as curiosities, but as beings deserving dignity. Teach children not only the names and habits of creatures, but also the reverence owed to them. Support institutions that prioritize conservation and welfare over profit. And beyond the walls of the zoo, extend the same respect to the animals of field, forest, and sky. In this way, you honor the sacred trust between humanity and the living world.

And so, remember the teaching of Frans de Waal: zoos may serve an educational purpose, but without respect, they betray their mission. Let us make respect the foundation of every encounter with animals, for in how we treat them lies the truest reflection of ourselves. To honor them is to honor life itself, and in doing so, we become more fully human.