Killer Zoo

The killing and maulings by the Siberian Tiger  in SF on Christmas Day seems to be a mystery unraveling. The Chronicle tells us zoo keepers have known since the 1950’s that the tiger’s could access the outside by jumping across the moat. We are also learning that animal care and security have deteriorated at the San Francisco Zoo and at present they have only 1 or 2 security guards to patrol the 100+ acre site after hours. But this is the least of it. It seems that animals are dying due to the horrid life at the SF Zoo.

According to PETA, scientists at Oxford University have concluded that big cats become neurotic when they are confined. (Don’t we all?) Given that the average tiger enclosure is about 18,000 times smaller than the animals’ natural roaming range, it is simply impossible for these animals to express instinctual behaviors, such as stalking out territory in dense forests, choosing mates, running, climbing trees, and hunting.

I just don’t understand zoos, and have boycotted zoos for the last 15 years. We say we have zoos so that we can all learn about the animals that we are keeping in captivity, but what we have learned, over and over again, is that this cruel and unusual environment will provoke many animals to kill. Since 1990, there have been more than 220 big cat attacks in US zoos. Four kids and 15 adults have lost their lives, and more than 50 other people have lost limbs or suffered other injuries after being mauled. 75 big cats, including Tatiana the Siberian Tiger at SF Zoo, have been killed because of these incidents.

The San Francisco Zoo has a lot of changes to make, but they made a good start in 2004 when they closed the elephant exhibit and sent its elephants to a sanctuary. Go to PETA’s Action Center to send a letter to the SF Zoo Director, Manuel Mollinedo, and urge him to make the same compassionate decision for the zoo’s three remaining tigers.