Describe a zoo, safari park or nature reserve where you saw animals

I would like to talk about the Moscow Zoo, which I visited with my cousin's family about three years ago when we were in Russia for a few days. It is one of the oldest zoos in Europe, and it is located right in the centre of the city.

It was a sunny Sunday in May, so the zoo was full of families with children. We spent about five hours there and walked the whole area, which is divided into two parts connected by a bridge. We saw a large variety of animals, such as giraffes, elephants, lions, tigers and a family of pandas, which was my highlight. We also watched the penguins being fed, and that was great fun, especially for my little cousins, who clapped and laughed. The enclosures were quite spacious and designed to look like the animals' natural habitats, with rocks, water and trees. There was also a children's section where kids could touch and feed small animals such as rabbits and goats.

On the whole, I enjoyed the visit, but my feelings were slightly mixed. On the positive side, the zoo was clean, well organised and educational, and there were boards explaining where each animal comes from and why it is endangered. I learned a lot about rare species, and it made me appreciate the work that conservation centres do. On the other hand, I did feel a little sad when I saw some large animals walking around the same small area, and I wondered whether they were really happy. I think zoos are useful if they focus on protection and research rather than entertainment, and this one seemed to try to do that.