Buenos Aires To Shut Down Zoo Because “Captivity Is Degrading”
Read Time:1 Minute, 58 Second
Did you know? Only a minority of animals cared for at zoos and available to be peered at by the public are kept in captivity to conserve their species. The rest are often crowd favorites, such as polar bears, giraffes, and hippos, and live in confinement so that humans might be entertained.
Because animals thrive when they are free to exist in their natural habitats, Costa Rica recently shut down all of its zoos. Now, Buenos Aires is following suit and has plans to close down its one zoo because, in the words of Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, the mayor of Argentina’s capital city, “captivity is degrading.”
“This situation of captivity is degrading for the animals, it’s not the way to take care of them,” says the mayor.
The Guardian relays that the zoo’s 2,500 animals – comprised of 89 species of mammals, 49 species of reptiles and 175 species of birds – will be transported to nature reserves throughout the country. In their new homes, they will live in more suitable environments. The old and sick animals not likely to survive being relocated will remain in their enclosures, but not on display.
The zoo is to be converted into an “ecopark” which will serve to educate the public on “how to take care of and relate to the different species.” It will especially be targeted at children.
Says Rodríguez:
“What we have to value is the animals. The way they live [at the zoo] is definitely not the way to do that.”
Animals that are rescued from illegal trafficking and in need of rehabilitation will also be welcomed at the ecopark, say city officials.
One of the reasons the zoo may be shutting down is because it has been prone to scandals in the past, according to the BBC. For example, the establishment received criticism for keeping polar bears in its notoriously hot city, among other complaints.
According to Gerardo Biglia, animal rights lawyer and long-time campaigner for the closure of the Buenos Aires zoo,
“The most important thing is breaking with the model of captivity and exhibition. I think there is a change coming for which we are already prepared because kids nowadays consider it obvious that it’s wrong for animals to be caged.”
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
Many thanks to TrueActivist
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
I’ve been writing letters to the zoos here in CA for many years, about closing down and I always get the same damn form letter, thanks for your concern but we are doing the lord’s work keeping the animals from being extinct bullshit. I hate zoos and parks that have animals like that and have since I was a tiny Jess. Couldn’t stand to see them with eyes all blank from being where they weren’t supposed to be. When I become empress of the universe all zoos will be closed and the animals sent to live their remaining lives out in sanctuaries world wide. The end 🙂
Jess, you I would trust. The government of Brazil, not so much.
While I agree that sounds really good my suspicion antennas immediately go up anytime a government entity says they are doing anything for the good of the animals. Yes, absolutely, the animals should not be kept in cages for our benefit but the fact that the animals are kept in view of the public also means that they must be care for by the zoo. It has also been where many of our environmentalists have first been exposed to animals they wish to preserve. Who will be the advocates and the overseers of the animals out of the public view? Brazil is a country in crisis; politically and financially. How does it suddenly become altruistic in the midst of their current situation? I hope my suspicions are unfounded.
Well they can’t just let them go. They will have to care for them for life.
YES!!