A new report released by World Animal Protection reveals the cruelty displayed at some of the world’s supposed “top” zoos and aquariums.
A desktop survey of 1,200 venues with some form of membership link to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums indicates that 75 percent offered visitors at least one kind of animal interaction, such as petting, hand-feeding, animal rides or shows.
The WAP study — titled The Show Can’t Go On — uncovered a multitude of animal abuses, from elephants playing basketball to chimpanzees driving scooters.
At SeaWorld San Antonio, trainers ride on top of beluga whales, forcing them to “wave” at the audience and act out scenes from movies. Dolphins perform to music and “beach” themselves for selfies, while orcas play catch and do flips.
“It is troubling that in 2019 we still have venues such as SeaWorld San Antonio inflicting this level of suffering on wild animals and calling it entertainment,” says Alesia Soltanpanah, executive director of WAP. “Seeing wild animals perform in shows as photo props is unnatural and leads to a lifetime of suffering. These demeaning attractions simply have no place in any modern leading zoo or aquarium while hiding under the label of ‘conservation.’ It is not ‘conservation’ to put animals in small tanks and force them to perform every day. That is called ‘cruelty.’”
WAZA claims to “guide, promote and encourage members in animal care and welfare.” Their guidelines explicitly state that any member facility should avoid using animals “in shows, displays or interactive experiences where animals perform demeaning and unnatural behaviors.”
These ideals are not being enforced. Some zoos allow visitors to pet and cuddle big cats, or use the animals “circus-style” to perform demeaning tricks. Others permit staff and tourists to ride elephants and force these intelligent animals to play basketball or wear costumes. Orangutans ride tricycles, chimpanzees are cuddled and kissed, and monkeys dressed in diapers are passed around to visiting children.
WAP is asking people to take a stand against irresponsible zoos and aquariums. Any facility offering interactions such as those listed here should be avoided.
They also urge anyone wanting to help captive animals to directly email WAZA, asking them to take responsibility for the animals held by their member zoos and aquariums.
“Seeing wild animals being used purely as circus acts and photo props was more like a horror show,” said Audrey Mealia, group head of wildlife for WAP. “This research makes the case clear that WAZA needs to act urgently to stop cruel and demeaning attractions getting away with everyday cruelty – these ridiculous activities should be a thing of the past.”
What’s New…
The animals have never had a choice…there habitat freedom gone by ignorant humans that dont meet there needs…the world as a responsibility to care for these captive animals…we cannot keep turning a blind eye to abuse
STOP abusing, exploiting Animals — Wild Animals do NOT belong in Zoos nor in Aquariums — it is a LIVING HELL for them — transfer Animals IMMEDIATELY to Sanctuaries where they can lead normal, happy, healthy lives and prepare, if possible, for living in their Natural Habitats — get into a line of work where Animals are NOT suffering on a regular basis — it IS all about them, isn’t it — DO the RIGHT THING by our Wild Animals.
There is no place for the exploitation of animals in the 21st century in any civilised society. The use of animals for so-called entertainment is cruel and degrading for the animals and children witnessing it are learning that animals do not merit respect and understanding. What message is that? We are guardians of this planet and do not own it. Future generations will look back with horror at this inhumanity, all in the cause of making money! Horrendous!
WHY IS THERE AN AUDIENCE HERE? WHAT MORON WOULD SIT AND WATCH THIS?
Cruelty needs to STOP!
Please use common sense. We are intelligent enough to understand what is best for animals and that is in their own habitat, not for public abuse.
Close all zoo’s.
Show compassion for animals. Stop this please!
All forms of animal abuse. Needs to Sop!!
SHUT DOWN ALL SEA WORLD’S
SHUT DOWN ALL SEA WORLD’S
Gotta close all those zoos.
Entertainment for morons, ridiculous and unnecessary, stop it
There is a special place in he’ll for Animal abusers
There is so much wrong in that article.
It’s hyperbolic language and lack of resources are pathetic.
I mean they only stated one aquarium and only 2 things in the list could be taken as a bad thing but it’s so lacking in any description of facts that even then it’s useless.
If we want to help these animals and other in this and aquariums then go to zoos and aquariums, equipped with note books and cameras. Write down, video, and take pics of all you see wrong. Play cop to these places and demand them to fix the issues.
Keep detailed records and add them to other people’s records, make real cases of fact.
Then work with these places to become much needed rescue, sanctuaries and research facilities.
Just blindly closing them hurts everyone and especially the animals.
Click on the words “a new report” at the beginning of the article for details and pictures not shown
Zoos should be a thing of the past.
Lets end this cruelty of God’s animals and immediately.
The only way this is going to happen if if we take the people who are doing this and put them in the animals places!!!
These are God’s animals and the people should go to and they will for doing this to HELL!!!!!!!! I would be very happy to push the button to send them to hell.
I used to think that zoos were great. that animals had a safe place to live. then I found out how they are treated and the abuses used to train them. as long as there are people involved.. you know things are as good as represented.
Please bring these animals back to the wild or sanctuaries. Zoos should only be made as a sanctuary for animals who can not survive out in the wild.
I sign and comment on these kinds of posts every single day. When are humans going to stop using animals for entertainment? Most of these animals are taken away from their mothers while still very young and they are abused and used for their entire lives. WE MUST STOP THIS CRUEL, INHUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS NOW!!!!!
I pray for the day that all animal beings are treated with respect and dignity and kindness like all human being should be treated as well. We all come from one God. I apologize for some of the comments I leave on this site because the horror stories of animals being abused, tortured and killed was really getting to me. I turned to Transcendental Meditation to help keep me sane where i can continue to help in the fight, but in a humane way without the anger, to stop abuse of all living beings, human and animal, and to protect our environment that will help all of us on this earth. Be Blessed
Get in to the new century, and show animals in their natural environment. Animals are NOT FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT.
After all the negative publicity SeaWorld got I can’t believe that this hell hole is still open to entertain the public through cruelty to animals. Dear public, stop going to SeaWorld if you stop patronizing them they will eventually close they will become bankrupt.
Sick ideas- born in degenerate, sadistic brains of morons. The WRONG are suffering- definitely!
How I would love to see that precious and innocent tortured white Lion attack and kill the vile and evil animal torturing monsters from hell.
DISGUSTING. Sea World and any animal attractions should be CLOSED..
I cant believe this evil behavior is happening especially at places that are suppose to love and care for them? When I was very young I wanted to go to SeaWorld and see dolphins and play with them be friends. I thought they were there because they couldnt survive in the wild and good people were caring for them. I hate these places now that I’m grown up and know how sad it really is.
We have been committing more and more acts of extreme violence against animal abusers and those that protect them, including recently a dog meat restaurant owner in Shanghai and the stupid cop who tried unsuccessfully to stop us from beating him.
We knocked the cop unconscious.
What ever happened to that police officer in Changsha who beat a tied up golden retriever for hours with a stick until it died?
please keep fighting this animals should never be forced by cruelty to preform tracks and acts that are not natural. keep fighting for all these animals please, thank you
if people don’t go to these cruel events, they will stop. PLEASE, PEOPLE…DO NOT SUPPORT ANIMAL ENTERTAINMENT/SHOWS/CIRCUSES!
C’est un comble , une grand-maman de mon âge , à qui on lui interdit de nourrir des chats errants , ce que je fais aussi , tous les jours , et personne m’empêchera !!! C’est de la dictature anti-animal . Continuez Madame , punir une bonne action est absurde et méchant !!
Is it too difficult to appreciate animals just as they are? Why do humans accept these perverted displays of animals as entertainment? Why do humans accept “ captive animals “ as acceptable? Humans must be numb to most of their lives, shuffling from one diversion to another, never spending more than moments looking or listening. The human species is problematic.
What next?
Humans need to find something else to do besides abuse animals for their entertainment. This is outrageous. Those who carry out the acts against the welfare and freedom of animals and those who like to watch the result as entertainment are equally at fault. It needs to stop before we lose what little is left of our own humanity.
This is degrading. Get it stopped now.
What Morons!
The only question is how long it takes to rid ourselves of these cruel spectacles.
Who allows these punks to set policy?
Will people ever learn that animals are not ours to do as we please. Makes one wishes whoever created us stopped at the apes. Just saying.
I agree with you!!!
I agree with you 100%!!!