‘We need to be in the tent rather than out of it,’ Perth zoo boss says when asked why tougher action has not been taken against rogue zoos

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Australian zoos have spoken out against the animal abuses in zoos around the world that were exposed this week but have ruled out quitting the world’s top zoos body, which has failed to act upon the ill treatment.



The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is being taken to court by an Australian conservation group for its alleged complicity in the infamous dolphin hunts in Taiji, Japan, Guardian Australia revealed this week.

Waza is accused of sanctioning a deal under which its Japanese member would get first pick of dolphins for captivity in the month of September, despite publicly opposing the practice of dolphin hunts for meat or capture.

Dozens of examples of harrowing cruelty towards animals in Waza-member zoos have been revealed, contrary to its code of ethics, which demands the “highest standard of animal welfare”.

The videoed abuse includes elephants being beaten in an Indian zoo and dolphins forced to jump through flaming hoops at a touring Indonesian show. At one Waza-member zoo in South Korea, a terrified baby bear was put into a tiger enclosure for the amusement of TV viewers.

Waza has more than 300 individual zoo members, including London zoo, the Zoological Society of San Diego, Toronto zoo and Bronx zoo. It acts as a voice for zoos while also setting regulations for their behaviour.

Susan Hunt, the chief executive of Perth zoo, will be the next Waza president, with her term starting in October. Hunt, who now chairs Waza’s animal welfare council, said complaints of abuse would be taken “very seriously” and that the organisation was working hard to bring zoos around the world up to a standard seen in Australia.

“We need to be in the tent rather than out of it,” Hunt said when asked why tougher action had not been taken against rogue zoos. “The purpose of zoos has changed rapidly and Waza has to move with the membership. It’s very complex dealing with this on a global issue. A bad zoo reflects on every zoo.

“The question of whether Waza can be an enforcement agency is a good one. There is a lot of work still to be done globally.”

Zoos Victoria said it “fully supports” Waza in its role of upholding animal welfare and conservation.

But it added in a statement: “Zoos Victoria are deeply concerned about the alarming allegations appearing in the Guardian and will look to work with Waza in upholding its code of conduct.

“We believe this is achieved through zoos working collaboratively through Waza to progress the issue of animal welfare throughout the world.”

A spokesman for Sydney’s Taronga zoo said the zoo did not support dolphin hunting “in any way” and categorically condemned animal cruelty. “We support every effort to investigate reports of animal welfare breaches,” he said.

“Regional zoos and aquarium associations have achieved many great results for wildlife and have been very effective on bringing any matters raised before regional authorities to take action.”

He said the matters raised in the Guardian’s reporting would be discussed at an international zoo meeting in April.