Keeping great apes: Criminal charges against Augsburg Zoo and nine other zoological institutions

Keeping great apes: Criminal charges against Augsburg Zoo and nine other zoological institutions

Animal rights organization PETA is calling for an end to speciesism towards our closest relatives

The animal rights organization points out that the minimum requirements of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, which have been in force for zoological institutions since 2014ums have still not been implemented at many husbandry locations. At Augsburg Zoo, the three chimpanzees would have to stay in an indoor enclosure that, at just 84 square meters, is more than half the size specified. Although the veterinary authority has ordered the makeshift repairs to the outdoor enclosure, it also conceded that it would continue to tolerate a permanent undercutting of the minimum dimensions. “Therefore, in April PETA filed a criminal complaint against those responsible for the zoo with the Augsburg public prosecutor’s office,” according to a press release from the animal rights organization.

It’s a crime…

“It is a crime to lock up great apes for alleged species protection reasons – but in fact for the amusement of the zoo public,” says biologist Dr. Yvonne Würz, PETA’s specialist for animals in the entertainment industry. “Especially unacceptable is the fact that the Augsburg Zoo disregards the animal protection regulations. Genetically, only nuances separate us from our closest relatives, not to mention the emotional world and complex needs of all great apes. We must break away from the speciesist way of thinking and urgently end the inhumane captivity.”

Species-appropriate keeping of great apes in captivity impossible

In addition to Augsburg, PETA has reported nine other zoos and animal parks with great apes throughout Germany that also violate minimum animal welfare requirements: the zoos in Berlin, Dresden, Duisburg, Halle, Krefeld, Landau and Stralsund, Tierpark Gettorf and Tierpark Schwaigern (“Leintalzoo “).