These are 30 debate topics about animals for students in grades 5 to 12. Animals are one of the easiest ways into debate, because almost everyone has an opinion about zoos, pets or what we eat. They are also real issues that courts and governments keep deciding. SeaWorld ended its orca breeding program in 2016, gray wolves returned to Yellowstone in 1995 and to Colorado in 2023, and in 2022 New York's top court ruled that Happy, an elephant at the Bronx Zoo, is not a legal person.
The topics are sorted into five themes of six questions each. Younger students can start with zoos and pets, while older students can take on science, food and animal rights. Topics marked with a guide link have a full Debatery pro and con guide, with sourced arguments for each side, key clashes and discussion questions.
Jump to: Zoos and aquariums · Pets · Wildlife and conservation · Animals in science and food · Animal rights and ethics
Zoos and aquariums (6)
- Should zoos exist? (Pro & Con guide)
- Do zoos do more good than harm for endangered species?
- Should marine parks stop keeping orcas and dolphins?
- Should zoos stop keeping animals that need huge spaces, like elephants and polar bears?
- Are wildlife sanctuaries better than zoos?
- Should visitors be allowed to touch and feed animals at petting zoos?
Pets (6)
- Should pet stores only sell animals from shelters and rescues?
- Should it be illegal to keep wild animals like big cats and monkeys as pets?
- Should all pets be spayed or neutered unless they belong to a licensed breeder?
- Should landlords be allowed to ban pets?
- Should breeding dogs with health problems, like very flat-faced breeds, be restricted?
- Should pets be allowed in more public places, such as stores and offices?
Wildlife and conservation (6)
- Should trophy hunting be banned?
- Should scientists try to bring back extinct species?
- Should wolves be returned to places where they once lived?
- Should invasive animals be killed to protect native wildlife?
- Should tourists be banned from riding elephants and taking selfies with wild animals?
- Should humans step in to save species that are dying out?
Animals in science and food (6)
- Should testing cosmetics on animals be banned everywhere?
- Should animal testing for medicine be allowed?
- Should governments tax meat? (Pro & Con guide)
- Should lab-grown meat be sold in stores?
- Should factory farming be banned?
- Should schools have a meat-free lunch day each week?
Animal rights and ethics (6)
- Is it wrong to eat animals?
- Should animals like elephants and chimpanzees have legal rights?
- Should selling fur be banned?
- Should rodeos be banned?
- Should bullfighting be banned?
- Is fishing for sport cruel?
How to use these topics in class
- Start close to home. Open with a pets or zoos question. Students can use what they already know from visits and their own animals, then add research for the bigger questions.
- Separate feelings from evidence. Animal topics get emotional fast. Ask each speaker for one fact or example, such as a study, a law or a real animal's story, to back up every claim.
- Assign sides after the topic is chosen. Flip a coin or use the Team Generator. Arguing for zoos when you love animals, or against them when you love zoos, makes students think harder.
- Time every speech. Use the debate timer: 1 to 2 minutes per speaker for younger students, 3 to 4 minutes for older ones.
- Use the guides for a head start. The zoos and meat tax topics have full guides with sources on both sides. For quick practice, try a random speech prompt or the brain-break games between rounds.
Questions teachers ask
What are good animal debate topics for kids?
Zoos, class pets, adopting from shelters, petting zoos and whether wild animals should be kept as pets are great places to start. They are easy to understand and students can draw on their own experiences.
What age are these topics for?
They work for grades 5 to 12. The zoos and pets sections suit younger students, while topics like lab-grown meat, factory farming and legal rights for animals are better for middle and high school.
Are zoos good or bad for animals?
That is one of the most debated animal questions. Supporters point to breeding programs, research and education, while critics say many animals, especially large ones, cannot live well in captivity. The Debatery guide on whether zoos should exist lays out sourced arguments for both sides.
What real-world examples can students use?
Plenty. The European Union banned the sale of cosmetics tested on animals in 2013, California became the first US state to ban new fur sales in 2023, the US Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2022 limited private ownership of lions and tigers, and Florida and Alabama banned lab-grown meat in 2024.
Can I print this list for my class?
Yes. Use the Print this list button at the top. The list is free to use in classes and clubs.
Missing a topic? Request a guide and vote for the ones you want next.