Sign the pledge to avoid roadside zoos!

As animal lovers, we understand the temptation to want to see our favourite animals in real life, not just in photos, videos or documentaries. But once we understand the inhumane and sad conditions that captive wild animals at roadside zoos face, the decision not to go, becomes much simpler. When we are more informed we can make more ethical decisions, including where we choose to visit this summer and how we use our wallets.

Here’s why we should avoid roadside zoos: 

• Animals live in inappropriate and often small and filthy cages and cannot express their natural behaviours. Roadside zoos have the poorest standard of treatment of animals. 
• Some social animals live completely alone. The social isolation puts a strain on animals’ mental health. 
• Poorly designed, ‘Do-It-Yourself' enclosures are a safety concern for both animals and visitors. Because enclosures often lack sufficient barriers between visitors and animals, injuries and escapes can and do happen. 
• Many roadside zoos promote dangerous interactions with animals. This increases the risk of bites, scratches and other injuries and the transmission of diseases like Salmonella. 
• They mislead the public about wildlife conservation. Roadside zoos do very little, if anything, for the conservation of vulnerable species, despite their claims of contributing to education and conversation. 

This is no life for a wild animal.

Protect the animals you love by pledging to avoid visiting roadside zoos.