Studies have shown that Panamanian golden frogs have enough toxins in their skin to kill more than 1,000 mice. Zoo animals are often given names, placed on small plaques displayed in front of the exhibit along with a short history overview or a few key personality traits for visitors to read. Putting a stop to zoothanasia is long overdue. Zoo administrators ended up receiving death threats, and … Sign up for daily news from OneGreenPlanet. If animals are not being traded out, another option that zoos consider is euthanasia. Generally, most captive peafowls in zoos are Indian peacocks. Marius and other animals who zoos consider “surplus animals” are killed, despite being healthy, but they are not euthanized. For the sake of minimizing any confusion, we’re speaking here specifically of surplus animals found in zoos. Instead of that why don\’t they release them in forests. Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums tout its SAFE program that leverages zoo audiences to raise awareness for endangered animals. I have deliberately not given simple answers to what are complex issues. Although euthanasia is inherently cruel, trading or loaning animals can sometimes lead animals to the same sad fate, or worse. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Following this act, thousands of people around the world were outraged, and the zoo stands by their decision to do this. As such, zoos can sustain their captive animal populations and the draw of a new baby animal is a great way to get paying visitors in their doors. Because of sport hunting in some regions, the cats in those areas only live to about five years of age. The animals can't be used as breeding machines or they're taking up space that's needed for other animals of the same or other species. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/01/16/killing-animals-at-the-zoo In zoos, many animals are taken from their families and sent to other zoos, or killed when their group size exceeds the space allotted to them. Nonetheless, outrage within the zoo community and among others did not stop Simon Tonge, the executive director of the UK's Whitley Conservation Trust, from claiming that Bengt Holst, the Copenhagen zoo's scientific director who wrote off killing Marius as business as usual, is a hero. Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Many require special care and live for a long time. As morally reprehensible as the practice of killing surplus animals seems, it's a reality and part of business as usual for many zoos. At the larger end of the scale, Copenhagen Zoo has put down leopards, tigers, lions, bears, antelopes and hippos in recent years, as well as … Despite the harm that life in captivity does to zoo animals, both mentally and physically, many zoos run captive breeding programs. Animal Rights, Welfare, and Services (358) Animal Rights, Welfare, and Services charities include humane societies and veterinary services; no-kill shelters, organizations protecting animals from cruelty, exploitation and other abuses; and groups providing animal training and specialty services, such as groups training guide dogs. Breeding programs are set in place to benefit the population as a whole, not the individual. Associated Press articles: Copyright © 2016 The Associated Press. Since zoos are not responsible for the lifetime care of animals, they can get rid of the animals who are no longer profitable or useful. Indeed, I was shocked when I learned this fact and that this large number of animals was considered to be disposable at the whim of zoo administrators. Zoo animals are typically killed for two reasons: to control the population and manage “surplus animals,” or to maintain genetic strength and diversity within a captive breeding program. These surplus animals are often sold and traded through an online database: the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Animal Exchange. Rather than killing those animals, they’d better bring them back to their forests. Western-lowland gorillas are critically … Because animals in zoos are killed for many reasons, such as old age or disease, just as pet animals are often euthanized because of health problems, it is beyond the scope of this list to identify every case where an animal is killed in a zoo. Many arguments can be mounted. As the late Gretchen Wyler has aptly noted, "Cruelty can't stand the spotlight.". I coined the term “ zoothanasia ” … Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction by omission (neglect) or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon any non-human animal. While SAFE does coordinate the placement of endangered animals within zoos, it also devotes resources to the field. Throughout their … Do you have any sources or statics that could be used for reference? ------------------------------------------. At the meeting at which Tonge made this statement, I wasn't the only person who was floored, as I discovered at a break that afternoon. While Gray and I might respectfully disagree about various aspects of zoo ethics, I thought that killing a young healthy giraffe who was considered to be genetically dead would be a practice she would not support. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions have a prominent mane.With a typical head-to-body length of 184 to 208 cm (72 to 82 in) they are larger than females at 160 to 184 cm (63 to 72 in). 12 Things Dogs Don’t Like That You Are Probably Doing! Choose your pets wisely, and do your research before bringing an animal home. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) said in 2007 that member zoos were being actively encouraged to kill unwanted animals, including tigers, if other zoos did not want them and if they were hybrids. Some people think it would be fun to own an exotic cat. U.S. zoos favor the use of contraception to limit the number of unwanted pregnancies amongst animals, however in Europe, killing surplus animals is standard practice. When we capture animals from the wild and put them in zoos, these animals become commodities. His unnecessary death brought global attention to the heinous practice of zoothanasia. Ethical zoos often transport animals to other zoos for mating purposes to increase the genetic diversity of the captive species. The zoo that's been guilty of this slaughter is called Boras Djurpark. Hundreds of zoos and aquariums accused of mistreating animals. Some zoos simply kill their surplus animals outright. The Shocking Truth About What Happens to ‘Surplus’ Zoo Animals Most zoos are not only great places to get up close to wildlife, but many are also doing their part to bolster dwindling populations of animals … Non-domesticated wildlife, even those born in zoos, keep their instincts for hundreds, even thousands, of years, so these cats do NOT make good pets. The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae and a member of the genus Panthera.It has a muscular, deep-chested body, short, rounded head, round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. The tiny blue-ringed octopus, one of the world's most venomous animals, can kill an adult human in minutes. Females are cautious about interactions, and choose their mate very carefully. Neither were other animals who have been killed in zoos — they were killed because they weren't useful any longer to a zoo's breeding program or other goals, usually dictated by monetary profit. Cute Orphaned Baby Elephant and Giraffe Are The Best of Friends (VIDEO), 5 Reasons Why Pit Bulls are Misunderstood, 7 Awesome Hands-On Ways You Can Volunteer to Help the Environment, Blueberry Pie With a Heart-Healthy Crust [Vegan], does not “fit” into the zoos breeding program, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Animal Exchange. The lion cubs who were killed were neither interminably ill nor suffering from interminable pain. In a BBC News essay by Hannah Barnes called "How many healthy animals do zoos put down?" These rodents are quite common, but zoos do not frequently keep them in their collections. (For more discussion of this point please see "'Zoothanasia' Is Not Euthanasia: Words Matter," "Killing Healthy Animals in Zoos: 'Zoothanasia' is a Reality," "It's Still Not Happening at the Zoo: Sharp Divisions Remain," "Zoos Shall Not Kill Healthy Animals: A Moral Imperative" and The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age.). If the animal is in a public space then the directive is to shoot the animal to kill. A few weeks later, four lions were killed in the same fashion at the Copenhagen zoo because officials had hoped to introduce a new male with the remaining breeding females. After reviewing two months worth of records, Kovich found that 245 of the 290 animals–84 percent–that PETA took into custody were killed within 24 hours. 2 One involves selling small animals that visitors can feed to predators. Our interview was published in a piece called "Zoo Ethics and the Challenges of Compassionate Conservation.". They can survive on their own and dies after that. Opinion: Killing Healthy Zoo Animals Is Wrong—And the Public Agrees. We put them there for our entertainment. Generally speaking, they prefer living in habitats with lots of water to swim in. According to the Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, a surplus animal is one that has, “made its genetic contribution to a managed population and is not essential for future scientific studies or to maintain social-group stability or traditions.”. Basically, any animal that does not “fit” into the zoos breeding program can be considered a surplus. In 1874, Carl Hagenbeck, a German merchant in wild animals and entrepreneur of many Europeans zoos, decided to exhibit Samoan and Sami people (Laplanders) as ‘purely natural’ populations. ", Let's be clear, the animals are not being euthanized, but rather 'zoothanized', If a healthy animal has been put down, the key phrase is "Death by: Euthanasia (cull)". Many zoos routinely kill healthy individuals they refer to as "surplus" animals because they're no longer useful to them. Learn how your comment data is processed. Once the animals are sold to other owners, the people who purchase them can do what they please with the animals. Ethical zoos document and regulate these breedings through studbooks. The reality is, these animals don’t need to be in zoos. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Throughout the years, however, many claims have been made against a number of institutions that have sold animals, whether directly or indirectly, to individuals or establishments that do not have the animals’ best interests in mind. Please consider supporting us by donating! Unlike the many sanctuaries that take in abandoned and abused animals to live out the remainder of their lives, zoos don’t always take care of their animals for life. Please support us! According to a study conducted by students and teachers from several Beijing universities, there are two types of live feeding activities. But not everything zoos do is necessarily within the walls of the zoo itself. Or do you know where could I find statistics or other information on this topic? In England and America, selling bird seed for feeders is a big business. Given the lose regulations surrounding purchasing exotic animals in the U.S., animals can be traded far and with little thought or concern. Exotic animals don’t always make great pets. we learn: EAZA [European Association of Zoos and Aquaria] does not publish these records or advertise the number of healthy animals that have been culled, but executive director Dr Lesley Dickie estimates that somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are 'management-euthanised' in European zoos in any given year. Many try to sanitize the slaughter by using the word "euthanized" or the phrase "management-euthanized," but more and more people realize that they're just trying to mislead an uninformed audience, most of whom are shocked when they learn about zoothanasia. Many zoos have SSP programs in place that are designed to manage populations and keep them genetically diverse. Zoos everywhere have to counter animal-rights activists who regard zoos as immoral, and calm broader public disquiet about keeping animals in captivity. Although zoos frequently promote the conservation of endangered species through their mission statements (which many do), animal welfare often takes a backseat when the monetary value of a particular animal is no longer worth the time and energy the zoo is investing in them. Harambe the Gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, May 2016. The paper trail following where the animals go is not always easily accessible and most cases exposing these transactions have been through undercover work. Baskin asserts that this often ends with the animals being sold to taxidermists or the seller will take the animals to auction where anyone can buy them. This article originally appeared on AlterNet. I guess the meaning of the word "hero," often used to refer to people having noble qualities or to those who have accomplished significant achievements, has taken a new turn. This past year, the world cried for an 18-month old giraffe named Marius who was shot and killed at the Copenhagen zoo in front of a group of students. The term "zoological garden" refers to zoology, the study of animals.The term is derived from the Greek ζώον, 'zoon', "animal," and the suffix -λογία, '-logia', "study of". As an allegedly reputable source, zoos maintain that they only deal and broker with institutions that are accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association that value the welfare of the animal. Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Very few of the zoos who claim to keep and breed animals for the purpose of “conservation” actually do so and if they did, there would not be “surplus” animals, because they would be returned to the wild. Although these plans are often formed years in advance, there is no way to completely control how many surplus animals there may be. Calling Holst a "hero" is a marked perversion of the word. They are stripped of their ability to display natural behaviors and lead a stilted existence filled with stress and boredom. Butterflies reproduce the way other animals do -- sperm from a male fertilizes eggs from a female. SALON ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. Some animals are sold directly to game reserves while others are brought to auction. In an essay by Lauren Lewis, we learn, "A zoo in Sweden has euthanized nine healthy lion cubs since 2012 because it reportedly could not afford to keep them.". Get your favorite articles delivered right to your inbox! But in zoos, many live for 20 or more years. There are also a large number of people who own peacocks as pets or have them on their farm. In Delhi, people toss bits of meat into the air for black kites. Tropical reptiles and small mammals are often traded internationally and may be victims of the illegal pet trade. Many "gold-standard" zoos and aquariums worldwide let visitors pet, feed, and take selfies with animals, a new report finds. Concerning the practice of zoothanasia, I also had the opportunity to interview Jenny Gray, CEO of Zoos Victoria (Australia), about her book titled Zoo Ethics. Surplus animals can also be animals that the zoo no longer finds profitable, cubs that were a big hit the year before might be replaced by newer, younger animals. Zoothanasia: the cruel practice of killing healthy zoo animals This has led to a serval hybrid called the "savanna cat," a serval bred with a domestic cat. For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Please stay tuned for more discussion of zoothanasia and let's hope that it rapidly disappears as the standard operating procedure as more and more people take a strong stand against it. In 1876, he sent a collaborator to the Egyptian Sudan to bring back some wild beasts and Nubian people. This is probably because most animals taken in by PETA aren’t housed for very long. ... which means they eat both plants and animals. People who never previously had gotten involved in any sort of animal activism were outraged, and many voiced their opinions. These acts are not justifiable. I challenge readers to think about the issues in the wicked questions section [of her book], including the death of Marius, and develop their own arguments. A password-protected database that AZA-accredited institutions, certified related facilities, and approved non-member participants are able to access. Copyright © 2021 Salon.com, LLC. ... Peacocks do not usually kill chickens. An early morning email asking, "Do zoos really kill healthy animals?" However, surplus animals are just as easily disposable when they’re coming from the pet trade, circuses and other roadside attractions. I asked Gray if she would have killed Marius, honestly expecting that this was a clear case of wrongdoing and that she simply would say "no." Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos, but also to circuses and hunting facilities. Marius, and other animals who zoos consider “surplus animals” are killed, despite being healthy, were not euthanized. Outrageous. "Zoothanasia" refers to what many zoos do: they kill healthy so-called "surplus" animals as if they're disposable and useless objects. These animals can be adult animals who have been bred with a number of partners and are no longer needed to produce offspring for the zoo. In a failed attempt to justify the killing, the Copenhagen zoo scientists performed an autopsy on Marius in front of onlookers, all in the name of education. Zoothanasia has got to stop, and one way to do it is to call widespread attention to what some zoos call "business as usual" and have people protest loudly. Knowing this, we urge you to be a Green Monster and stop paying to support these institutions. Three-thousand to 5,000 animals isn't a small number at all. Some get transferred to multiple zoos throughout their lives. Let's consider Marius, the young giraffe who became the poster child for zoothanasia when he was killed in 2014 at the Copenhagen zoo. After all, we all have our favorite animals; but don’t allow this smokescreen to fool you: the animals are expendable. People who didn't know that zoos do these sorts of sickening things were incensed. They get their toxins from the insects they eat in the wild. Instead, she skirted around the issue and answered: I agree that there is a difference between a death that is in the interest of the individual (euthanasia) and killing which terminates a healthy life. A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are housed within enclosures, cared for, displayed to the public, and in some cases bred.. 'Zoothanasia' Is Not Euthanasia: Words Matter, Killing Healthy Animals in Zoos: 'Zoothanasia' is a Reality, It's Still Not Happening at the Zoo: Sharp Divisions Remain, Zoos Shall Not Kill Healthy Animals: A Moral Imperative, The Animals' Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age, four lions were also zoothanized at the same zoo, Zoo Ethics and the Challenges of Compassionate Conservation. It’s a sorry game of don’t-ask, don’t-tell, and it’s conducted in a way designed to bury the truth. All rights reserved. If breeding and profiting are the main reasons for establishing the zoos why don\’t release them in jungles instead of killing them. Some zoos allow visitors to pay money to feed live animals to predators such as lions. Only 17 were reported as adopted or in foster homes. A few weeks later, four lions were also zoothanized at the same zoo. They also kill them for destroying crops. I've dubbed February 9 World Zoothanasia Day and I hope that people will make their views known before, on and after that day. They do this because the innocent and defenseless individuals are old or are genetically dead and wouldn't make useful contributions to an on-going gene pool (although some could be used for breeding), or they do this "in the name of conservation." So, it’s, unfortunately, a natural path for groups of lions.”, I'll let you ponder this inane use of the word "natural. Euthanasia is mercy killing that is used when an individual is interminably ill or suffering from interminable pain. Professionals choose specific animals to mate with one another based on their history and genetics. alerted me to yet another case of a zoo killing healthy animals, in this instance nine healthy lion cubs.
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