The grim reality behind the zoo profiteering scam
Imagine a world in which animals are bred not out of love for nature, but for profit. This has long been a reality in zoos: animals are born, put on display and killed when they are "surplus to requirements". This practice not only affects small animals, but also vertebrates, marine mammals and primates. And now zoos are even trying to legally legitimise the killing of these animals - using flimsy arguments and the guise of species protection1 Zoos must embrace animal death for education and conservation 🌐 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2414565121 .
How does the system work?
- Breeding for mass production: Young animals are constantly bred to attract visitors. They are crowd-pullers and increase income2 Zoos: Profit-driven Entertainment Over Conservation 🌐 https://deannadeshea.com/zoos-profit-driven-entertainment-over-conservation/ .
- On display: The animals are presented in enclosures. Their natural behaviour is restricted, their quality of life is low. The onlookers have to like it, not the animals.
- Killing in case of overpopulation: If there are too many, they are considered "surplus" and are killed - often sold to the public as "necessary management"3 Killing surplus animals – zoos fail to protect species 🌐 https://www.tierschutzbund.de/en/about-us/news/press/notification/killing-surplus-animals-zoos-fail-to-protect-species/ .
- Legal legitimisation: zoos demand that the killing of vertebrates, marine mammals and primates be legally permitted in order to manage their populations "efficiently"4 Zoos must embrace animal death for education and conservation 🌐 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2414565121 .
The myth of species conservation
Zoos claim that they use breeding programmes to create reserve populations and prepare animals for release into the wild. The reality is quite different:
- Hardly any reintroductions: Of the hundreds of thousands of animals in European zoos, only 149 specimens of protected species have actually been released back into the wild in 15 years. In view of the overall figures, this is negligible5 Killing surplus animals – zoos fail to protect species 🌐 https://www.tierschutzbund.de/en/about-us/news/press/notification/killing-surplus-animals-zoos-fail-to-protect-species/ .
- Unlearned wilderness: After several generations of breeding, animals lose their natural instincts. They can no longer hunt, do not fear humans and are unable to survive in the wild6 Captive-breeding reduces reintroduction survival in carnivores 🌐 https://wilderness-society.org/captive-breeding-reduces-reintroduction-survival-in-carnivores/ .
- No real species protection: most zoo animals are not endangered, and real conservation projects only receive a fraction of the income. Zoos are first and foremost leisure parks, not rescue centres7 Zoos: Profit-driven Entertainment Over Conservation 🌐 https://deannadeshea.com/zoos-profit-driven-entertainment-over-conservation/
Case study: Nuremberg Zoo and the Guinea baboons
The absurdity of the system is particularly evident at Nuremberg Zoo:
- Overpopulation through breeding: The guinea baboon group was increased to 45 animals - an overpopulation of 80%. The zoo has lost control of breeding.
- Killing plans: Because the animals are too closely related and no longer fit into the European breeding programme, they are to be killed. Alternatives, such as handing them over to a sanctuary, are rejected if the sanctuary does not take part in the breeding programme - which no real sanctuary does8 Proposed Nuremburg Zoo Baboon Cull Highlights Hypocrisy of Zoo Conservation Efforts 🌐 https://www.bornfreeusa.org/2024/02/26/proposed-nuremburg-zoo-baboon-cull-highlights-hypocrisy-of-zoo-conservation-efforts/ .
- Conclusion: The zoo would rather kill than give away animals without a breeding option. The welfare of the animals doesn't matter, it's all about control and profit9 Nürnberger Zoo will gesunde Affen töten – Pro Wildlife 🌐 https://www.prowildlife.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilung/nuernberger-zoo-will-gesunde-affen-toeten/ .
Legal and ethical grey areas
Zoos justify the killing with an alleged lack of space or genetic hygiene. However, the killing of healthy animals is ethically highly questionable and legally only permitted with "reasonable cause". More and more zoos are calling for this concept to be extended in order to establish killing as a legitimate management tool10 Zoos must embrace animal death for education and conservation 🌐 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2414565121 .
I find that thought disgusting. I don't understand how people can think like that. But it shows impressively and unmistakably what makes zoos tick. Zoos are not places for the protection of species, but profit-orientated businesses. Animals are bred, exhibited and killed - not for nature, but for visitor numbers and revenue.
The claim that zoos contribute to species conservation is a fairy tale. In truth, they are part of the problem, not the solution.
