Statement: Death of a Zookeeper at Jerusalem Biblical Zoo

PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker has made the following statement regarding the tragic incident at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo.

The death of a zookeeper at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo is a tragedy, but the leopard is not to blame. Zoos confine wild animals in unnatural conditions, suppressing their instincts and leading to both psychological suffering and unpredictable behavior that puts animals and people at risk.

 

This is not an isolated incident—it reflects a troubling pattern seen in zoos around the world. Captive breeding of leopards and other species does not support wild populations; animals are simply shuffled between zoos to be put on display. Caging animals won’t save them.

 

If zoos are serious about conservation, they should shift their focus to the real drivers of extinction: habitat loss, poaching, and the exotic-animal trade.

 

If you care about animals the best thing you can do is to choose not to visit zoos.