Reports to follow soon Zoo Awareness Day was first started more than 10 years ago by CAPS. This event raises awareness of the animal rights and conservation issues surrounding zoos. The whole concept of zoos is increasingly under question as our knowledge of animal behaviour, natural history and threats facing wildlife increases. Zoos have historically been about tourism, and providing a 'day out' rather than anything to do with education, conservation and research (the 3 'pillars' of the zoo industry). Many people are now aware of the real lives of wild animal societies, through natural history programmes on TV, books and the internet. An increasing number of TV programmes focussing on wildlife has revealed the wonderful natural history of our own gardens, parks, woods etc, showing that wildlife in our own areas can be as exciting as that of other continents. The increasing awareness of animal behaviour also reveals further the impoverished lives of animals confined to zoos, and the physical and behavioural problems captivity creates. Zoos also play an insignificant role in conservation, with the protection of natural habitats being the only serious way forward to prevent further losses of species.
Across the country there will be peaceful protests outside zoos, information stalls in town centres, and people will be writing letters to local and national newspapers to spread this awareness. For more information on our opposition to zoos see our website: www.captiveanimals.org/zoos and www.captiveanimals.org/aquarium/suffering.htm HOW YOU CAN HELP
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Zoo Awareness Day 2008
Zoo Awareness Day aims to spread this awareness and encourage people to withdraw support for captive animal entertainment facilities. 