I've only been to NYC for a few days and didn't get to a zoo. I have mixed feelings about them as the conditions in some are not great. Sounds like this one gives their animals mostly reasonable enclosures. It is the only chance most people get to see these animals in the flesh, so they can serve a purpose for education as well as conservation.
I've not been to London Zoo in a long while. Whipsnade and Woburn are not far from us, so I've been to those plenty of times when I was young and with my kids.
I went through a period of not approving of zoos about 25 years ago. Then started reading articles about how young children in cities don't have any exposure to rural animals, let alone animals from other continents. Plus, there are species who last longer for being in captivity (RIP White Rhinos).
As long as there are morons out there who think killing animals for fun is a good idea, then zoos are a better idea.
Not to mention poachers, but that takes us back to the "they need alternate income streams" discussion.