Put animals’ needs before our pleasure

J TANSLEY is concerned that restrictions and lack of funds caused by Covid-19 could result in the closure of Twycross Zoo and made a plea for financial contributions to help get it out of this predicament. (“Let’s do something to help save all zoo’s animals”, July 8).

Zoo officials have said animals could be culled if the zoo is no longer viable.

This would be heartbreaking and no one would want such drastic action.

In a previous letter about the zoo, Jennifer White from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) asked what happens when the next crisis occurs?

She went on to suggest zoos should be gradually phased out and the first step to achieve this is to stop breeding animals.

Many people enjoy visiting zoos but is it ethical to keep animals in captivity for human recreation?

There are tens of thousands of zoos worldwide holding millions of animals.

However, zoos can never replicate the complex environments animals encounter in the wild nor address their behavioural needs.

People are distressed at the thought of killing animals in zoos but according to the BBC 3,000 to 5,000 healthy animals are killed in European zoos each year.

Patronising zoos ensures this continues. The rationale in favour of zoos is being eroded as many animal advocates dismiss arguments in their favour.

No compassionate person would want one healthy animal to be killed through lack of funds, let alone a whole zoo.

However, this is perhaps the time to reflect on the future and put animals’ needs before human pleasure.

Phasing out zoos by stopping animal breeding and not replacing those which die naturally would be a start.

Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone