Re: ZOO
Zoo officials encourage animal killing
January 2011
\The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the body which “represents and links more than 300 member institutions in 35 countries”, has said that “it doesn’t matter” how many animals are deliberately killed by zoos.
The shocking comments came in the wake of news that Edinburgh Zoo has apparently killed dozens of endangered animals who were ‘surplus to requirements’.
Last year, Edinburgh Zoo was forced to admit that it had killed two African red river hogs because EAZA said the animals were not ‘genetically useful’. The zoo has refused to rule out killing further animals, including a second litter of the hogs.
According to the Scottish Daily Mail, almost 40 animals have been killed at the zoo since it’s policy on ‘culling’ was introduced in 1992.
EAZA’s Communications Manager told the newspaper: “It doesn’t matter what the number of culled animals is as long as it is done responsibly and in line with good practice.”
Last year EAZA and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums both defended a German zoo which was prosecuted for breaching animal welfare laws after it killed three tiger cubs because they were not pure-blooded (hybrid).
EAZA said in 2007 that member zoos were being actively encouraged to kill unwanted animals, including tigers, if other zoos did not want them and if they were hybrids. It said that such animals take up space and keeper time.