Nine animals
died this week after a 3-year-old jaguar named Valerio escaped his enclosure at Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Zoo officials said the killings resulted from territorial disputes among the animals, and that Valerio was just "doing what jaguars do."
This is exactly why wild animals don't belong in zoos in the first place. Please sign this petition urging Audubon Zoo to shutter its doors and send their animals to sanctuaries.According to reports, Valerio's escape was just an accident and no one person is to blame. But that's just the problem. Accidents do happen, and
when you're keeping predatory animals in close proximity to prey animals and humans, those accidents can lead to deadly incidents. Luckily, no humans were injured or killed, but multiple alpacas and foxes and one emu are now gone forever.
On top of that,
keeping animals in zoos is just bad for animals, plain and simple. Wild animals need ample space to roam, to run, to forage, and to explore. Social animals needs to be out in their natural habitat where they can interact with other animals. They should not be isolated in cramped cages so people can gawk at them.
Staff at Audubon Zoo were deeply saddened by the loss of animals this week. But if they really care about the animals, they should seek to give them a better life.
Please sign this petition, and together let's urge Audubon Zoo to shut down and send their animals to sanctuaries where they'll be able to have a better, more natural life.