PETA People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals
February 2018
The University of Canberra has confirmed that it will never again host an on-campus petting zoo as a part of its 'Stress Less Week' for students.
The University of Canberra has confirmed to PETA that it will never
again host an on-campus petting zoo as a part of its “Stress Less Week” for
students. This compassionate decision came after PETA reached out to
university heads, informing them that these exhibits are detrimental to
animals.
Petting zoos are incredibly stressful places the exploited sentient beings,
who, unlike human visitors, cannot leave when they’ve had enough.
A busy space filled with noisy crowds and live music is a highly unsuitable
environment for animals, and being handled and forced into close proximity
with strangers is a stressful and traumatic experience for most species.
What’s more, petting zoos contribute to a cruel cycle of breeding,
abandonment, and killing. Exhibitors take young animals on the road and – if
they survive the stress of transport and handling – typically dispose of
them when they become more difficult to handle or are no longer young and
“cute”. These exhibits can also present a risk to human health: experts warn
that they’re hotbeds of serious pathogens, including E. coli and salmonella,
and the areas surrounding the cages may teem with bacteria. According to the
Health and Safety Executive, infections can spread through direct or even
indirect contact with animals, and in some cases, the resulting illnesses
can be fatal.
The University of East London, the University of Leeds, and the University
of Stirling also all cancelled similar events after learning from our
colleagues PETA UK about the impact that petting zoos have on animals’
welfare.
We hope other Australian universities will follow the progressive lead of
the University of Canberra by implementing policies against featuring live
animals in campus events.
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