or visit museums (lively ones) instead

What's a lively museum?! I'm imagining Night at the Museum !

I haven't read anything about this debate but I've thought about it. One of the thoughts I've had is that exposure to animals (in zoos), usually as children, deepens our love for them, I would think (with whatever positive benefits that might bring to the animal kingdom as a whole). There's a reason people are calling for greater representation of minorities in, say, movies: exposure to these minorities creates a positive attitude toward them. Without zoos, most of our exposure to animals would be in the form of food and a small variety of pets. Would that be good?

Also, if zoos go the way of the circus, will pets go the way of the zoo?