Zoo Check Form - BornFree

When you go to the zoo, aquarium, circus, or other place that exhibits animals, look for examples of abuse or substandard or dangerous conditions.

CAUTION: Many of these facilities lack adequate means of protecting visitors from the wild animals they exhibit. Do not attempt to get close to these animals or in any way interact with them. Your safest position is at a distance from them.

Enter the information below. Be as detailed as you can, with photos or video if possible. Send the information back to us, whether on the form you’ve printed out or continuing with this detailed online form. And please contact us to upload videos or photos.

This form may take as long as 10 minutes to complete.

* Designates a required field.

Information about you

First Name (required) Last Name (required) Email (required) Telephone (required) Address Line 1 Address Line 2 City State Zip Code * Are you a member of Born Free USA? YesNo If NO, are you interested to learn more? YesNo * We are always on the look out for "activist members" (these are people who regularly help us with our campaigns). Would you like to join our email list? YesNo

* Did you see staff members readily available to ask for help? YesNo * Did you talk to the staff? YesNo Were they easy to talk to, were you satisfied with their answer and the information given? Please explain: Does the animal attraction offer other entertainment, i.e., shows, talks, amusements, etc.? Please describe: If it was a talk, what information was shared about the animals? Were there any informal educational facilities or formal educational programs? Describe: Did you go to either the informal educational facilitiesformal program How would you rate them? Explain:

* Were there signs outside each exhibit about the animals inside? YesNo If YES, please describe what was on them and whether they were informative: * Was there any contact between animals and the public (such as animal rides or petting zoos)? YesNo What was the animal? What was the nature of the public contact? If there was animal contact, what did you think about the warnings and explanations about safety related to it? * Were there hand-washing facilities? YesNoUnknown

These questions are more specifically for zoos:

Are you aware of their participation in any captive breeding programs? If so, what? Which species? Does the zoo/attraction claim to participate in other conservation programs (such as habitat protection, antipoaching efforts, etc.)? Please describe: Did you feel the enclosures gave the animals enough space and stimulation? YesNo Was there anything that concerned you or that you are unsatisfied about? Can you describe the enclosures, both indoors and outdoors? Was the ground dirt, cement, or something else? Was the barrier between you and the animal steel bars, wood fencing, or something else?

Abnormal Behavior Observation:

You may have seen animals pacing back and forth, continually licking the bars, playing with or eating their own feces or even inflicting physical damage to themselves, known as self-mutilation. All these are examples of "stereotypic behavior," abnormal behavior that has resulted from years of deprivation. Please answer the following considering carefully the animals which you saw. If you are using this form before visiting a captive animal facility we recommend observing the animals for at least ten minutes at intervals throughout your visit and note down their behavior. The abnormal behaviors described below may then become more easily recognized.

Pacing – continuous pacing back and forth.
Head-bobbing – moving the head continuously up and down.
Rocking / swaying – rolling motion from side to side.
Circling – walking round and round, often walking in the same footprints time and time again.
Neck-twisting – unnatural twisting of the neck.
Bar-biting / sucking – gnawing the bars.
Tongue-playing – continuous licking of the bars or wall.
Vomiting – vomiting and then eating the vomit.
Coprophagia – playing with or eating own feces.
Over-grooming – grooming or 'hair plucking' to excess – often have bald patches.
Self-mutilation or abuse – tail biting, leg chewing, head bashing, etc.

Animal: Total time observed: Number of times observed: Your Observations:

If you have taken photographs or film footage please send them to us here at Zoo Check (zoocheck@bornfreeusa.org) or use wetransfer.com or similar file transfer service if you have large files

I am sending you: PhotographsFilm footageLeafletsI am not sending additional materials

* A reminder that Born Free USA does not return film/photographs unless requested. We would welcome a small donation to cover costs if you require their return. This would cover the costs of copying and return postage. Thank you.

Zoo Check Feedback Form: Last Step

What do you know about the future of this facility? Are expansions or renovations planned? Would you be willing to file a formal complaint with the appropriate authorities about the conditions of the animals at this facility? We will help you through every step of the process. YesNo If NO, would you be happy with Born Free USA filing such a complaint on your behalf? YesNo Additional Comments:

Information about you

Information About The Zoo or Attraction

These questions are more specifically for zoos:

Abnormal Behavior Observation:

Zoo Check Feedback Form: Last Step