I've got my own bear, moose, deer, lynx, fox, fisher, and smaller critters on my land up north, although it's hard to get them to pose for me.
Funny, but while living in northeastern Florida, we had lots of small Geico lizards running around in the summer and some squirrels. Here, in our northern Colorado apt. complex, we have rabbits running around and a few squirrels also. Have even had a few elk walk into the front of the complex, from the foothills, to eat some type of berries from trees. Our maintenance girl got a couple of photos of them and showed us.
I have a daily parade of rabbits, squirrel,deer and turkey, in my back yard. I don't relly think one way or another about zoo,s. I know the "animal parks" that are the norm now are probably better for the animals than the old cages. Syracuse closed their conventional zoo about 20 years ago, and opened an "animal Park" featuring cold and cool climate critters. If you are willing to endure an afternoon worth of upstate NY winter to see a few animals, you are a better man than I. If you go in a season that is friendlier to humans, bring binoculars,cus all the cool weather critters are going to be in the shade or their pools.
I hate zoos. I haven't been to one in years, though Houston has a large, popular one. I hate seeing the sad looking animals in captivity, and I hate the SMELL. I also hate horse racing, dog racing, and rodeo. Any "sport" that is considered entertainment but that is thinly-veiled animal abuse is upsetting to me.