Wild animals should never be kept in zoos. They were born with all the instincts they need to help them survive and thrive in the wild. While that fact may be true, there are still hundreds of thousands of non-domesticated animals still living in zoos today.
Once in captivity, however, animals are no longer self-sufficient. They are, for the rest of the lives, 100% dependent on the zoo staff for food, care, and stimulation. So when a zoo closes, it can't simply, pull down the blinds, padlock the doors and walk away. No, before slapping on the "Closed" sign they first must figure out how they will care for the animals in their care.
Of course, that is the "ideal" situation.
Some zoos, simply choose to abandon their animals, locking the door behind them as their menagerie stares back at them from behind the metal bars. This is exactly what happened to the zoo animals at Parque Zoologico Prudencio Navarro on Spain's Costa de la Luz. After years of complaints from concerned citizens, the zoo finally stopped even pretending to care for its critters and closed shop. This was supposed to be good news for the animal activists that fought hard to push the zoo to treat its animals better but
now, the lions, tigers, and bears have nowhere to go, no dedicated caretaker and have only been provided with water and food because of some unknown good Samaritans who have taken it upon themselves to tend to the animals. Meanwhile, the zoo operators are long gone.
Of course, these heroes can only do so much. According to reports,
the animals are festering in their own feces and urine. Their water moats are dirty and their overall condition is horrific. Additionally, since park staff has left, the security at the park is next to nothing. Dangerous animals could easily escape, putting both people and other zoo animals at risk.
The clock is ticking for these animals. They need to be rehomed to accredited sanctuaries at once so they can get the care they need and finally have a life free from zoo captivity.
Please help Care2 call on Spain's Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) to rescue the animals and find them sanctuaries today. Sign the petition. 