Good question! I think it is related to knowing that zoo animals have wild counterparts and the ones in zoos are just (unlucky) specimens to be gawked at. You c

Good question! I think it is related to knowing that zoo animals have wild counterparts and the ones in zoos are just (unlucky) specimens to be gawked at. You convince yourself this somehow helps the conservation of the wild ones through education etc. That's different from unextincting a species but there's no place for them anywhere in the wild world.