Zoo killings: We all need to ensure that we are not part of the problem

In the last few weeks, the zoo industry has been subject to scrutiny in a way that we have rarely seen before. For once, this scrutiny has not come about as a result of an exposé or undercover investigation by an animal protection organisation, but as a result of a number of very public admissions by members of the zoo industry.

Longleat bred, and killed,
lion cubs to ensure a steady
supply for paying visitors

First Copenhagen Zoo killed Marius the young giraffe, before publicly dissecting him and feeding his body to the lions. Next Jyllands Zoo announced that they too may kill a healthy giraffe to make way for a breeding female (a plan which now appears to be on hold for the time being). Days later and a spokesperson for EAZA admitted that around five large mammals were killed by each of the zoo industry body’s members annually; meaning that thousands of animals are deliberately killed in European zoos each year. Yesterday, it was announced that Longleat Safari Park had allowed breeding of their lions to get “out of control” to the extent that animals were killed on more than one occasion. The breeding, it was confirmed, was carried out in order to ensure a steady supply of cute cubs for zoo visitors to look at.

The news has, rightly, caused outrage amongst members of the public who, for so long, have been told that the zoo industry is vital for the survival of species and that animal welfare is its top priority. Disillusioned and angry, compassionate people are looking for a way to bring these zoos to justice. Petitions to oust the Director of Copenhagen Zoo sprang up immediately after Marius died. Then another to stop Jyllands Zoo from killing the second Marius appeared. Now Longleat and EAZA have been targeted as people demand answers and action.

These petitions do serve an important purpose – they let the zoo industry know that killing healthy animals is not acceptable. They warn these businesses that they will not be supported and they allow people to come together to raise awareness and spread the word. But we must remember that Copenhagen, Jyllands and Longleat are not alone in their actions. The killing of healthy animals is rife across the entire zoo industry – the zoos that have “gone public” in the last few weeks are the messengers, but not the only culprits.

With deliberate breeding programmes, a limited gene pool within captivity, confined living conditions, unnatural social groupings and the ongoing demand for zoos to display baby animals to the paying public, the killing of animals in zoos is not only likely, it is inevitable.

Please do sign petitions, please do attend demonstrations and please do demand answers and action. But please also remember that giving any zoo your custom makes you complicit in the suffering of animals like Marius and the family of lions killed at Longleat. Let us take what we have learned in the last few weeks and use it to ensure that we are not part of the problem going forward. The solution is simple: do not visit the zoo.

Want to help?
 
Whilst it is too late to save poor Marius and the family of lions, you can still help raise awareness of his plight and that of the thousands of other animals in zoos, during Easter Weekend when CAPS will be holding the annual Zoo Awareness Weekend. We will release more information shortly but for now please let us know if you want to be involved and we can send you materials to help. Thank you.