#654 Zoos, From Victorian Curiosity to Modern Controversy

2026-02-16

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In this episode, Niall sits down with Cathal Leevy from PAWs — the animal welfare party — to tackle a debate that’s stirring strong opinions: are zoos an outdated concept?The discussion follows recent comments by Ruth Coppinger, who called zoos a “Victorian concept” and suggested they should be phased out, arguing conservation funding would be better spent protecting animals in the wild rather than in captivity — particularly at places like Dublin Zoo.But not everyone agrees. Minister of...

In this episode, Niall sits down with Cathal Leevy from PAWs — the animal welfare party — to tackle a debate that’s stirring strong opinions: are zoos an outdated concept?

The discussion follows recent comments by Ruth Coppinger, who called zoos a “Victorian concept” and suggested they should be phased out, arguing conservation funding would be better spent protecting animals in the wild rather than in captivity — particularly at places like Dublin Zoo.

But not everyone agrees. Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has defended the zoo’s role in conservation, education, and tourism, highlighting inspections by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and its long-standing place in Phoenix Park.

Niall and Cathal explore the ethics of captivity, conservation realities, animal welfare concerns, and the cultural place zoos still hold today — before asking listeners directly:

Are zoos an outdated concept, or do they still serve an important purpose?

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