ANIMALS KEPT IN SCANDALOUS CONDITIONS AT INDONESIA’S LARGEST ZOO

First of all, We want to warn you that the following photos may shock some people. I hesitated to publish these pictures which I could hardly look at, but it is beneficial for us all to be aware and realise how critical the situation is in some zoos.

The Surabaya zoo, often qualified as the « zoo of death », is located in Indonesia and conserves more than 2200 animals. The majority of these animals survive in dreadful conditions including a total absence of urgent caring.

The animals are kept in cages and enclosures far too small, and they constantly face a shortage of proper feed. Last month, the last victim was a rare Sumatran tiger which unexpectedly died for unknown reasons. The staff justified the animal’s death by claiming it dies from natural causes, whereas activists point out the horrible conditions at the zoo. The endangered animals that are kept in captivity seem to be more in danger at Surabaya Zoo than being left in the nature.

45 Komodo dragons, a large species of lizard, died after fighting one another in a cage that was far too crowded. An 18-month African lion was found hanging dead in its cage in 2014 and a dead giraffe was found with about 18 kg (40 lb) of plastic in its stomach - rubbish thrown into its cage by visitors.

The director of the zoo said « We've been trying to resolve these issues one by one » and they « hope in three to four months from now we can finally solve the problem ».

Everything needs to be renewed in this place. The facilities are outdated and need to be rebuilt. A serious training session is urgently required for the staff. But the secretary general of the Indonesian zoo and aquarium association confessed they need real funds and support to make things change…

Images copyright to The Inhabitat

Original article by The Inhabitat