Imagine a zoo allowing its visitors to routinely hug their big cats. As mind-blowing as that may sound, it actually occurs on regular basis at a well-known zoo in Argentina. The Lujan Zoo, located just outside the capital city of Buenos Aires, boasts of amazing encounters with iconic species such as lions, tigers, and bears. Pictures are displayed of people sitting on top of a lion, wrapping their arms around fully-grown tigers, and swinging bear cubs by their back legs! It is inconceivable that a zoo would place visitors in such peril.
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Not only is this zoo playing roulette with the lives of innocent people, it is putting these creatures lives at great risk, for whenever a human becomes a victim of a wild animal attack, frequently the animal is shot and killed, paying the ultimate price for man’s stupidity.
Zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, and sanctuaries ought to be promoting the concept of keeping wildlife in the wild by respecting them first and foremost as wild animals — not pets or objects of twisted entertainment.
Not a shred of conservation and preservation will occur as a result of a frivolous (and highly dangerous!) picture snapped of a tourist hugging a tiger! Bringing these kinds of abuses to the public’s attention is a major step in preventing tragedy and fostering respect for wildlife and a strong conservation ethic in our society.
Concerned members of the public are encouraged to sign the Lujan Zoo Petition online and contact the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the U.S., Mr. Héctor M. Timerman, explaining that forcing animals to tolerate such unnatural behavior is dangerous and inhumane. Argentina has the wrong kind of interactive exhibit and it should be shut down right away.
Contact Information for the Embassy of Argentina:
Embassy of Argentina
1600 New Hampshire Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20009-2512
(202) 238-6400
www.embassyofargentina.us
Born Free USA provides a wonderful tool for anyone interested in helping to improve the living conditions for animals in zoos. If you witness inhumane conditions at a captive animal facility such as a zoo, whether in a foreign country or close to home, please capture what you see with good photos and provide those to us, along with pertinent information at our webpage devoted to zoos.
Blogging off,
Maggie