Animal Defenders International Calls for Closure of Big Cat Exhibits at San Francisco Zoo

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PRESS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release

January 7, 2008

 

International Animal Protection Organization Calls for Closure of Big Cat Exhibits at San Francisco Zoo

 

The San Francisco-based international animal welfare organization Animal Defenders International (ADI) is calling for the San Francisco Zoo to cease the public display of tigers, lions and other members of the cat family.

 

The mauling death of a young man and the resulting killing of the tiger Tatiana exposes the challenges of displaying wild animals for public entertainment. The large cat had been deprived of many things that make life enjoyable for a tiger, thus creating a stressful environment. These animals are psychologically damaged by being forced to live constantly exposed to staring and potential harassment by humans. For cats who would normally live in quiet isolation in the forest, this human attention is mental torture. These dangerous animals are not domesticated, even if born in captivity. Their natural instincts dispose them only to life in the wild, where they are able to truly fulfill their needs.

 

Whether the young men tormented the animal or not, she was suffering, and she tried to escape from what was, in effect, a prison. Now a young man has lost his life, and this tiger’s suffering has been brought to an end in an incident full of pain and fear. This is the price of entertainment.

 

ADI’s Program Director Jennifer Blum responded to this tragedy, “Our hearts go out to the family of this young man. The San Francisco Zoo and other zoos around the country should do away with such exhibits. It is just a place of entertainment for people, but for the animals it is a life sentence of enslavement, boredom and depression. Even with the best of intentions and state-of-the-art facilities, these establishments cannot provide the animals with the space and environment they truly need and deserve, and this deprivation results in mental and emotional damage. Not only is this a moral issue, it is a public safety issue as well. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) simply does not have the power to demand that our nation’s zoo exhibit and enclosure standards be met.”

 

In fact, Ron Tilson, who oversees tiger management for the AZA, says their enclosure guidelines “have never been compulsory.” He adds, “In no way do I have the power to implement them or demand that they be met.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) “has only about 100 inspectors, and critics say those inspectors are overwhelmed with the responsibility for regulating more than 200 accredited zoos, thousands of roadside attractions, circuses and other private animal exhibitors.”

 

For the sake of the public and the animals, it’s time we do away with big cat exhibits, and the San Francisco Zoo should take this opportunity to set an example for other zoos.

_____________________________ENDS _____________________________

 

 

For further information, video/ film footage/ photographs, please contact:

 

ADI US Press Officer:

Max Green

or

ADI US Program Director:

Jennifer Blum

 

Tel +1 415 543 2344 fax +1 415 543 2343

Email: usa

ADI US office, 953 Mission St. Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103

 

ADI London Press Office:

Allison Tuffrey Jones

Tel: +44 (0)20 7630 9159. fax +44 (0)20 7828 2179. Mobile: 011 +44 (0)7785 552548

Email: pr

ADI London office, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

 

 

Animal Defenders International (ADI)

With offices in London and San Francisco, Animal Defenders International (ADI) is a major international campaigning group, lobbying to protect animals on issues such as animals in entertainment and their use in experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution and conservation. ADI involves itself in international animal rescues as well as educational work on animals, conservation and environment. In just over a decade, ADI has become a major force for animal protection and has succeeded through its undercover investigations in securing legal protection for animals. ADI’s evidence of the torment to animals has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them. http://www.ad-international.org