We all have those fond and fluffy memories of family day trips to the
zoo, but as we grow up and ask more significant questions and seek real
answers, the soft, free-range wool is pulled from our eyes, and the
truth about captive parks is revealed. There are still over 100
zoo's in the UK today despite glaringly apparent reasons to close
them- as if the sad face of a lonely lion looking
at you through scratched prison bars wasn't apparent enough-.
There is
a wealth of information demonstrating the cruelty of these pet
prisons, but in case you missed all of it, I'll outline a few points
here. One undeniable fact is that animals in zoos quite simply
suffer. Numerous studies have shown the unnatural behaviours demonstrated
by zoo-bound animals. For example, a study found that 54% of captive elephants showed repetitive behaviour and
lions spent 48% of their time pacing. But luckily, these animals
don't have to walk back and forth in their boxes too long because
animals have been proven to die prematurely in zoos. Elephants left
to roam free in the wild live three times longer than those imprisoned
in zoos. Finally, and most shockingly, surplus animals are often
killed in zoos. A Captive Animals Protection Society study found that
no less than 7,500 animals in European zoos can be culled at any time. Putting them out of their misery, at least, right?
Okay,
so on a much smaller and borderline humane scale, there is only one
analogy that comes close to the idea of zoos,
which is the unmistakable feeling of cabin fever. You know that feeling when the sun is baking
the pavement outside, and you're stuck inside, cramming for exams. But
all you can think about is lounging outside in your paddling pool with a Pina Colada lovingly cradled in your hand. Add to this premature
death, forced mating, and a hoard of people staring
at you, expecting you to do something other than lie in the corner in a melancholy state.
There
are always petitions and campaigns floating about on the internet
that you can sign or join to help the fight. Below are a couple of
petitions you can sign if you need to
fight against these pet prisons.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/USDA_Congressional_Agriculture_and_Oversight_Committees_Make_USDA_Do_its_Job_Stop_Cruelty_to_Animals_in_Aquariums_Zoos_C/?pv=36
https://www.change.org/p/please-don-t-let-the-animals-suffer-in-your-zoos