Zoos and Spanish dolphin continue away from the educational and conservation purposes is justified by the existence of such parks today. At least, it considers the European Commission, which reported a few months ago in Spain before the Court of Justice of the Union because several Spanish regions did not comply with the Law of Zoos, six years after it was approved. The NGO Info Zoos, national benchmark in terms of the struggle for quality-looking zoos both animal welfare and fidelity to the educational mission of these centers, continues to carry out several inspections of zoos in some of the communities included in the complaint against the Kingdom of Spain and, with some exceptions, has found that the zoos of a European country that has more centers still have shortcomings such alarming.
One of the primary objectives of Info Zoos is the promotion of a critical-but rigorous and constructive turn-of zoos. “We believe that knowledge and exchange of ideas is the key that will allow us to have the elements needed to substantiate our views, and thus moving away from preconceived ideas or prejudices of one kind or another,” said Alberto Dies Michelin, spokesman of this NGO, through whose work has achieved the closure of several zoos who persisted in unacceptable conditions. Two good examples are Almendralejo Zoo (Extremadura) and Koki Farms (Toledo), which alarmed the Spanish society with images of animals injured and “stored” as if they were products, dark cage, small and dirty. Other centers have renewed their facilities and parks have looked better for the wild animals that could not be maintained in good condition.
“Many of these zoos begin as a private collection of farm animals which gradually begin to add exotic animals from establishments that have been closed or seized at customs. Unable to find a suitable site for them, authorities often resort to these little parks that just overwhelmed, “explained from the NGO.
Some others are pockets of local exhibitions, as the case of mini zoo de Leon, who decided to get rid of primates possessing and remodel the outdated facilities bears. The Parquet de la Magdalena in Santana, however, has clean facilities and adequate, but nevertheless, does not participate in conservation programs of endangered species (or in the zoo itself or natural habitats of these animals), nor develops educational programs and guided tours to the public that goes to the park. Just these two factors are the most clearly defined in the Spanish legislation on zoos, transposition of a European Directive 1999.
The alleged role of education and conservation of zoos, loses much of its meaning in the dolphin, where live animals kept in pools that are not endangered. According to recent studies by Spanish Info Zoos six dolphin, a high percentage (between 85 and 95 per cent) of activities that are subject to the cetaceans of the Spanish dolphin are not faithful to the aims of teaching and conservation law requires Zoos. “These centers function as ‘circus’ where animals run a series of stunts repetitive learning result of a completely unnatural and far from their natural behaviors, expressed regret at the organization.
“It distorts the role and image of these beings live, wild animals that become mere clowns. Nothing could be further education or conservation which calls from the EU directive, which clearly states that zoos should be basically a commitment to the rehabilitation centers of species, to provide expertise and contribute to improving the conservation status of wild animals, “says Dies Michelins.
Activities such as feeding the whale, surfing on his back or pat, which require contact with the trainer and even children in the audience, are not natural to the species, which can be very endearing at first sight. Therefore, not only does not teach anything to the visitors about the biology or the characteristics of these marine mammals, but they are deprived of living in an environment similar to their habitat and behaving as they would in the wild, something that can cereals a strong stress and frequent mortality.
Several scientific studies have shown that large marine mammals such as whales or dolphins suffer the consequences of living away from their natural environment, impossible to reproduce in a tank of water. These physical and psychological weaknesses are reflected in a shortened lifespan, reproductive problems and even aggression. Also, the constant contact with the water chemistry and excessive exposure to sunlight will generate skin lesions.
In some other cases, environmental quality conditions which are not met. The most alarming weaknesses are lack of access to clean water and food, not enough space available to rest and perform the necessary exercise and a high level of stress generated by the proximity to the public or other animals, both prey or predators. Likewise, biologists also look Info Zoos factors for mental and physical health of the inhabitants of zoos, such as environmental enrichment, which the carrier is as close as possible to where the animal lives in freedom, and a composition of groups similar to that which would be released. The picture of a puppy at a zoo monkey trying to climb canary tree painted on the wall of a cage completely transparent or image of a white rhino going round in circles for hours at a park Valencia summarizes the sense of frustration that Too often suffering wild animals away from their natural environment.
