Girl with dolphin at cruel attraction - Wildlife. Not Entertainers - World Animal Protection

The show can’t go on: help end wild animal abuse in ‘top’ zoos and aquariums all over the world by emailing the CEO of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)

Send an urgent email to WAZA's CEO

Along with Change For Animals Foundation, we surveyed more than 1,200 zoos and aquariums linked to WAZA, which claims to represent 'the world’s leading zoos and aquariums' and found that 75% of venues offered at least one type of animal visitor interaction.

We visited 12 of the 'top' zoos and aquariums and confirmed that cruel and demeaning performances and activities, known to cause great physical and mental distress, are taking place, including:

Dolphins performing stunts and being ridden in venues in Portugal, Singapore, Australia and the USA
Elephants performing in shows with props in Japan and being ridden in Canada
Tigers and lions being forced to take part in theatrical shows in France and being used as photo props in Canada and South Africa
Primates being used as photo props in South Africa and the Philippines

These awful types of visitor attractions have no place in modern zoos and aquariums, especially not those linked with WAZA.

Click to email WAZA CEO

Demand WAZA's CEO takes action

You can copy and paste the email below or add your own words to the CEO of WAZA.

Subject: This is cruelty. End it.

Dear Mr Zordan,

I am writing to you because I love animals.

I want to know that leading organisations like yours are taking responsibility for animal welfare, rather than supporting cruel and demeaning shows and visitor interactions.

World Animal Protection’s report, The Show Can’t Go On, highlights 12 WAZA-linked venues offering these kinds of appalling attractions, which have no place in a modern zoo.

You can read the report here: www.worldanimalprotection.org/waza.

Because your organisation prides itself on offering leadership and guidance to ‘the world’s leading zoos and aquariums’, you should proactively take steps to ensure all your members follow your animal welfare guidelines.

I urge you to lead the way by offering clear animal welfare guidelines. You should also monitor and active working with your members to ensure they do not offer cruel and demeaning shows and activities.

Thank you,

Concerned animal lover

Click to email WAZA CEO

Why WAZA must act

WAZA has 282 direct members and approximately 1,200 associated member facilities through 24 different national and regional associations.

WAZA guidelines state that members should not involve animals 'in animal shows, displays or interactive experiences where animals perform demeaning and unnatural behaviours'. Clearly, many venues do not follow these guidelines.