Latest news with #zoos
ABC News
5 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Elephants on a colossal move
For over 150 years, elephants have been major drawcards for city zoos across the world but that is changing, and they are now on the move to bigger pastures. Mike Lorigan reports.
The Independent
30-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Conservationists call for urgent phaseout of keeping great apes in zoos
Conservationists are calling for the phaseout of great apes in zoos where they experience chronic stress and other health impacts. Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation is urging members of the public not to visit attractions that keep animals such as gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans in captivity. In a report released on Thursday, the charity said more than 1,500 great apes are held in zoos across Europe, and of these, more than 300 are found in 21 establishments across the UK. The paper explores scientific literature, decades of observation and case studies that demonstrate the impact of keeping great apes in these environments, arguing that zoos will never meet the animals' complex physical, emotional and social needs. Great apes can suffer from abnormal stereotypic behaviours, chronic stress, obesity, heart disease and poor mental health in zoos, the report says. It also warns of the dangers posed to the animals breeding in zoos, such as traumatic births, high rates of stillbirths, maternal rejection and instances of infanticide. And zoo guidelines have been found to recommend treating great apes with antidepressants to alleviate anxiety caused by living in groupings and enclosures far removed from their natural habitats, according to the findings. Born Free criticised claims that keeping and breeding great apes in captivity is important for conservation efforts. The charity argues that zoo-bred species are genetically and behaviourally unsuitable for release into the wild and would pose serious risks to wild populations. The plea comes after the release of the UK Government's revised standards of modern zoo practice, which are set to take effect in May 2027. Born Free has questioned whether any zoo will be able to meet the new great ape welfare benchmarks in full if they are implemented effectively. In its report, the charity ultimately calls on governments, regulators, zoo associations and campaigners to work together to humanely phase out the practice across the world. Dame Virginia McKenna, Born Free's co-founder, said: 'When I see a great ape looking at me from behind the bars or reinforced glass in a zoo, something in me falters. 'These intelligent, feeling beings do not belong in cages.' Will Travers, Born Free's co-founder and executive president, said: 'Wild great apes and the places they live in around the world are crying out for help. 'Treating them as living commodities, to be stared at rather than admired and celebrated, shows us that, while humans may dominate this planet of the apes, we know the price of everything but the value of nothing.' Broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham called the report 'a distressing catalogue of wrongs wrought upon our closest genetic kin'. 'All the evidence to prove radical change is now imperative is here,' he said. Ian Redmond, the world-renowned great ape expert, said: 'Having had the privilege of spending time with great apes in their natural habitat, where they take their own decisions in life, I find it increasingly uncomfortable seeing their lives in captivity. 'The zoo industry and the Government must take note of changing public attitudes and, based on scientific evidence of ape cognition and ecology, heed the recommendations in Born Free's new report.'
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Conservationists call for urgent phaseout of keeping great apes in zoos
Conservationists are calling for the phaseout of great apes in zoos where they experience chronic stress and other health impacts. Wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation is urging members of the public not to visit attractions that keep animals such as gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans in captivity. In a report released on Thursday, the charity said more than 1,500 great apes are held in zoos across Europe, and of these, more than 300 are found in 21 establishments across the UK. The paper explores scientific literature, decades of observation and case studies that demonstrate the impact of keeping great apes in these environments, arguing that zoos will never meet the animals' complex physical, emotional and social needs. Great apes can suffer from abnormal stereotypic behaviours, chronic stress, obesity, heart disease and poor mental health in zoos, the report says. It also warns of the dangers posed to the animals breeding in zoos, such as traumatic births, high rates of stillbirths, maternal rejection and instances of infanticide. And zoo guidelines have been found to recommend treating great apes with antidepressants to alleviate anxiety caused by living in groupings and enclosures far removed from their natural habitats, according to the findings. Born Free criticised claims that keeping and breeding great apes in captivity is important for conservation efforts. The charity argues that zoo-bred species are genetically and behaviourally unsuitable for release into the wild and would pose serious risks to wild populations. The plea comes after the release of the UK Government's revised standards of modern zoo practice, which are set to take effect in May 2027. Born Free has questioned whether any zoo will be able to meet the new great ape welfare benchmarks in full if they are implemented effectively. In its report, the charity ultimately calls on governments, regulators, zoo associations and campaigners to work together to humanely phase out the practice across the world. Dame Virginia McKenna, Born Free's co-founder, said: 'When I see a great ape looking at me from behind the bars or reinforced glass in a zoo, something in me falters. 'These intelligent, feeling beings do not belong in cages.' Will Travers, Born Free's co-founder and executive president, said: 'Wild great apes and the places they live in around the world are crying out for help. 'Treating them as living commodities, to be stared at rather than admired and celebrated, shows us that, while humans may dominate this planet of the apes, we know the price of everything but the value of nothing.' Broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham called the report 'a distressing catalogue of wrongs wrought upon our closest genetic kin'. 'All the evidence to prove radical change is now imperative is here,' he said. Ian Redmond, the world-renowned great ape expert, said: 'Having had the privilege of spending time with great apes in their natural habitat, where they take their own decisions in life, I find it increasingly uncomfortable seeing their lives in captivity. 'The zoo industry and the Government must take note of changing public attitudes and, based on scientific evidence of ape cognition and ecology, heed the recommendations in Born Free's new report.'
ABC News
28-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
The Australians helping to evacuate Ukrainian zoos and caring for animals displaced by war
A shed with hundreds of cows, lovingly locked inside for safety by a fleeing Ukrainian farmer, had been transformed into a mass bovine coffin by the time Marcus Fillinger arrived. As Russian troops approached, the farmer had tried to do the best thing for his livestock. The outcome was the opposite. The shed was directly hit by artillery. The Canberra man answered the global call for help when Ukraine's animal shelters and zoos came under direct Russian fire. "The war is causing terrible stress for the animals," wrote Kyiv Zoo on its website in late February 2022, in the first days of the war. Mr Fillinger is one of three police-endorsed tranquilliser-firearms instructors in Australia and travelled to Ukraine where he was swamped by need. "I was getting a myriad of texts on my satellite phone of people crying for help," Mr Fillinger said. "Their lives were in imminent danger, but they were staying behind for their commitment to the animals — they didn't want to leave the animals behind. "That really spoke to me. That would be what I'd be doing. So [I thought], 'I'm going to go help those people'. What he didn't expect was the number of private, unlicensed zoos supplying the black market with exotic animals. The owners of these private zoos abandoned their animals as they fled for safety. That's what led Mr Fillinger, under the cover of darkness and with artillery fire just kilometres away, to sedate and evacuate an emaciated wolf that had been abandoned for weeks. He would have animals in cages in the back of a borrowed van as he sped through the back roads of Ukraine, trying to avoid road closures caused by artillery fire. He encountered caracals, zebras, bears, wolves, a lion, cows, donkeys, sheep, primates and a buffalo — which he deemed too big to move. "I could potentially save two smaller animals or one larger animal because of access to drugs," he said. "It's quite painful to have to make those decisions." His satellite phone number was shared among hundreds of Ukrainians who would reach out for help. "They wanted me to check on the welfare of their grandma's cat that she had to lock in her apartment, and then actually going there and finding out the apartment doesn't exist anymore and having to text back — it's really difficult," he said. Mr Fillinger has completed two missions to Ukraine, with plans to return and train Ukrainians to care for animals themselves. In 2023, he was awarded the newly-established Ukrainian White Cross Medal which is for foreigners assisting Ukraine during times of war. It was presented to him during a ceremony interrupted by air raid sirens. The former RAAF serviceman said his experiences in Ukraine, which still play like horrific slide-shows through his head, were some of the most terrible of his life. As the war evolved, and the front lines moved, animals would again be thrown into danger. "These poor animals are a consequence of the stupidity and violence of war. "They are the forgotten consequence of war." Nigel Allsopp has completed three missions to Ukraine to care for all the abandoned pets caught in the crossfire of the conflict. The Gold Coast man remembers watching footage of Ukrainians fleeing amidst destruction and explosions when the war first began. "I noticed a lot of refugees had dogs and cats under their arms," he said. When he researched online, he discovered more than 60 per cent of Ukrainians owned pets. "They're a pet loving nation," he said. But many were forced to abandon their pets in the chaos because they couldn't find their animal in time while fleeing. "They feel terrible, like they've had to leave someone they love behind," he said. Mr Allsopp set up a specialised microchip program unique for Ukraine, tagging 5,000 animals he hoped would bring comfort at the end of the war. Mr Allsopp wrote and taught a Ukraine-specific animal first aid curriculum to 600 university veterinary students and taught military animal handlers canine first aid. He wants to return in peacetime — he hopes soon — to help with animal therapy for soldiers suffering PTSD. "We do it because we see the need."
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Zoos much more than entertainment, say industry leaders
Zoo and wildlife park leaders at an annual conference have said the industry was "much more than entertainment" in today's British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums met at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park near Ipswich for its annual conference, bringing together representatives from across the comes after the government introduced new legislation to raise standards and ensure conservation efforts were being Doherty, owner of Jimmy's Farm and TV presenter, said the industry should "always be striving to do better". "The days of when you got to a zoo or a wildlife part for entertainment, they're still there to have a day out, but it's much more than entertainment," he said."I'm very keen to get that across to people because there still is an anti-side to it, but actually the work that zoos and wildlife parks do to preserve our wildlife and habitats is vital."Particularly now under so much pressure, in terms of destruction of habitats, but also climate change." Mr Doherty's farm and wildlife park is home to four polar bears as well as many other of the polar bears was rescued by Jimmy's Farm from Sweden as it was due to be euthanised. The park is also a part of various breeding programmes and conservation research encouraged people to find out more about all zoo's conservation work and he believed the new government legislation would ensure standards were kept legislation updates rules for keeping animals in zoos, including having larger habitats for elephants, the removal of being able to touch fish and cephalopods at aquariums, and phasing out the practice of tethering welfare minister Baroness Hayman said the reform was "long overdue"."We're making sure all sectors have the tools they need to thrive, which is vital in our mission to deliver economic growth and make lives better for people across the country under our Plan for Change," she said. Tyler Whitnall, a director of Hertfordshire Zoo and a trustee of Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, said the new legislation would "bring everyone to a higher table".He added: "[It will] hold everyone to a much higher standard to protect the species in our care, but also what we're doing for conservation in terms of protecting these species in the wild."But also in terms of making sure our teams on the ground are looking after the animals, have the right information and are accountable, so we can make sure that zoos going forward are all good zoos."Without the work that good zoos are doing, most of these [endangered] species would be extinct already." Chris Brown is the head of conservation, science and education at Sea Life, which has centres in Great Yarmouth and Hunstanton in believed those in the industry were "excited" by the government's new legislation."I think we've got an incredible responsibility having animals in our aquariums and zoos, and it's really important to be able to educate the public, but also utilise our aquariums and zoos to be able to advance conservation, research and education," he said."The new zoo standards really make that easier to be able to show and evidence what we do for it."So it's something that's been done for a long time, but not always been able to show the impacts that we're having." 'Not far enough' The RSPCA said in May that it welcomed the government's new legislation, but felt it did not go "far enough to protect every animal".Dr Ros Clubb, head of the RSPCA Wildlife Department, said the charity felt elephants did not belong in zoos, while it was still concerned for animals which were handled, including crabs and starfish, which were not included in the charity did welcome the phasing out of tethering of birds of prey, which it said deprived them of their "freedom to fly and exercise"."A fundamental understanding of the welfare needs of all animals is so important," Dr Clubb added."Zoo visitors should be educated about animal welfare so they are encouraged and informed about how to be kind and compassionate to animals they interact with."Wildlife welfare charity Born Free said last month that "zoos can never fully provide for the complex needs of most wild animal species", and it would "continue to call for the revision of zoo licensing and inspection processes to ensure the animals that are kept are afforded the best possible care". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
