National Zoo Awareness Day 2008
National Zoo Awareness Day is held twice a year - Easter Bank Holiday and again during August, among the busiest days for zoos.
This bi-annual event raises awareness of the animal rights and conservation issues surrounding zoos. The whole concept of zoos is increasingly under question as our knowledge of animal behaviour, natural history and threats facing wildlife increases. Zoos have historically been about tourism, and providing a 'day out' rather than anything to do with education, conservation and research (the 3 'pillars' of the zoo industry).
Many people are now aware of the real lives of wild animal societies, through natural history programmes on TV, books and the internet. An increasing number of TV programmes focussing on wildlife has revealed the wonderful natural history of our own gardens, parks, woods etc, showing that wildlife in our own areas can be as exciting as that of other continents.
The increasing awareness of animal behaviour also reveals the impoverished lives of animals confined to zoos, and the physical and behavioural problems captivity creates. Zoos also play an insignificant role in conservation, with the protection of natural habitats being the only serious way forward to prevent further losses of species.
National Zoo Awareness Day aims to spread this awareness and encourage people to withdraw support for captive animal entertainment facilities.
Across the country there will be peaceful protests outside zoos, information stalls in town centres, and people will be writing letters to local and national newspapers to spread this awareness.
For more information on our opposition to zoos click here and to read opposition to aquariums click here Don't visit zoos and aquariums - your money keeps them in business.Become a CAPS supporter - you can help to make a difference.
This bi-annual event is organised by CAPS and helps to raise the awareness of the animal rights and conservation issues surrounding zoos.
We would encourage as many groups as possible to hold peaceful protests outside zoos, to set up information stalls in city/town centres, send letters to newspapers etc.
The event is held on Easter Monday, what is traditionally seen as the start of the ‘season' for zoos. This day is one of the biggest days in any zoo's calendar. By participating in this years Awareness Day you can help educate the general public about the suffering caused to animals in zoos and help bring the day closer when ALL animals will be left where they belong - in the wild.
Please get in touch with CAPS to see if there is a protest organised at your local zoo. If there is not any planned CAPS can help you organise one. If you are unable to attend a protest, why not write letters to your local or national newspapers or you could even help spread the word in other ways.
CAPS produces leaflets, fact sheets, posters and a DVD to support our ‘Sad Eyes and Empty Lives’ campaign, which we will send to groups free of charge who plan to hold a demonstration or information stall. (Please allow enough time to process leaflet requests)
Please contact CAPS on 0845 330 3911 or via email info@captiveanimals.org if your need more information or help on National Zoo Awareness Day.
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