It has been said the Beijing Zoo will be relocated to a remote suburban area of the capital. The news has aroused controversy. Relocating the zoo is a matter affecting all Beijing citizens. It needs good reasons and feasible procedures. The government should make the decision with this in mind.

　　Of course, letting animals live far from the noisy city will take them closer to nature and allow them to enjoy fresh air and a tranquil environment. But reasons for the relocation, such as resolving problems related to traffic and public health environment are not so convincing.

　　Any popular attraction may increase traffic in the surrounding areas. We should tackle these problems through prudent design and management. Alleviating traffic should not be the sole motivation of the relocation. Nowadays many people associate animal-borne diseases, like bird flu and SARS, with the zoo. So many think that zoo relocation will remove a public health threat to the city. However, there is no proof that this is a legitimate fear. In regard to the prevention of infectious disease, improved sanitation of zoo facilities is more reasonable and cheaper than moving the animals to another place.

　　The Beijing News