“These tragic pictures left me speechless. Please look into the eyes of all the animals. They tell their own story more poignantly than any words of mine. And the message they give is simple. Help us. End this.”
Virginia McKenna
Haunting pictures of animals trapped behind bars in Europe’s zoos have been captured by international wildlife charity, the Born Free Foundation. The powerful exhibition was launched by the organisation to highlight, what they see as, the poor standards of animal care at many zoos in the European Union.
Keith Taylor, MEP and the Green Party’s animals spokesperson, said the images show the “urgent need” to improve conditions and regulatory enforcement, both in the UK and in the rest of the EU.
Elephant in Slovenian zoo
Taylor said: “The EU has been a positive force for so many animal welfare improvements in Britain and across Europe.
“It was the EU that first recognised animals as sentient beings and, consequently, introduced a blanket ban on cosmetic animal testing and the sale of animal-tested cosmetics, ended the use of great apes in research, improved welfare standards for farm animals, strengthened protections for rare and endangered species, cracked down on the illegal ivory trade, banned cat and dog fur imports, and stopped the gruesome trade in seal products. However, more must be done by the European Union to enforce the relevant EU laws and improve the lives of animals kept in zoos.”
The photos were taken by award-winning international photographers, Britta Jaschinski and Jo-Anne McArthur who visited several EU countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Denmark and the UK, this summer to document the conditions some animals are forced to live in.
Marmoset in Danish zoo
Virginia McKenna OBE, co-founder and trustee of Born Free, said: “I should be used to looking at captive wild animals, having done so for over 45 years, but these tragic pictures left me speechless. Please look into the eyes of the macaque, the bear – well, look at all the animals. They tell their own story more poignantly than any words of mine. And the message they give is simple. Help us. End this.”
Zoos are required under a European Council directive to satisfy animals’ biological requirements by providing species-specific enrichment and a high standard of husbandry. Born Free said it aims to show, through these photos, that “many zoos keep animals in sub-standard conditions and EU zoos are therefore not fulfilling their legal requirements”.
Chimpanzees in an Italian zoo
Polar bear in a Latvian zoo
Dolphin in a Lithuanian zoo
Tiger in a French zoo
Giraffe in a UK zoo
Part of Born Free Foundations Animals in European Zoos A Photo Exhibition
These pictures come at as a debate about zoos continues to divide opinion. Last week a Silverback male gorilla escaped from his enclosure from London Zoo. Fortunately, the animal was recaptured without any injuries, but this is not always the case.
Earlier this year Cincinnati Zoo was the focus of public outrage after Harambe, a critically endangered gorilla was shot dead after a child was able to enter his enclosure.
Daniel Turner, associate director for European Compliance at Born Free, said he hopes the collection will help to influence a “greater commitment to improving standards in animal welfare in Europe’s zoos”.
Copied from the article in The Huffington Post – Born Free Foundation’s Animals in European Zoos Exhibition
Personally, I hope these harrowing images will open people’s eyes to see that wild animals do NOT belong in captivity. I should say, open people’s hearts – to feel the loneliness, deprivation and suffering we have inflicted on these innocent creatures, and resolve NEVER to visit or take their children to a zoo.
Grateful acknowledgements to AwarenessHelps for bringing this important and remarkable exhibition to our attention.
JoAnne’s video about her new book “Captive”
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How depressing… but thank you for bringing this to all our attention.
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Heartbreaking, aren’t they? Thanks for sharing. I hope these photos get many many views so people will realise what misery our kind is inflicting on these poor creatures. Wonderful work by JoAnne and Britta. It must have been traumatic for them going through with it.
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Reblogged this on Alexandra´s Animal Awareness Blog and commented:
Please share this information widely, brought to my attention by Animalista Untamed:
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Very moving and thought-provoking report, can only hope that these heartbreaking images will touch and reach more people; and help them to realize that we are not ‘helping’ animals by going to see them in captivity – in zoos or aquariums. They need our compassion and respect; and need us to say no to any form animals of captivity. If there is no demand, there is no interest and to follow will be no product. If enough people demand change, there is potential for change. Visit a sanctuary instead. I love Joanne’s work, it is amazing–I promote her work often. Thank you for the mention, it is much appreciated.
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Very moving and thought-provoking report, can only hope that these heartbreaking images will touch and reach more people; and help them to realize that we are not ‘helping’ animals by going to see them in captivity – in zoos or aquariums. They need our compassion and respect; and need us to say no to any form of animals in captivity. If there is no demand, there is no interest and to follow will be no product. If enough people demand change, there is potential for change. Visit a sanctuary instead. I love Joanne’s work, it is amazing–I promote her work often. Thank you for the mention, it is much appreciated.
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Reblogged this on AwarenessHelps.com.
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Ugh…every time I’ve visited a zoo my heart’s been broken and I’ve regretted it. Several years back I vowed never again. A couple of years ago I moved to San Diego, California–home of a famous (infamous?) zoo and aquatic park with performing sea mammals. Have no intention of ever visiting either.
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