PETA Statement: Animals Trapped by Flooding in Guangxi, China

PETA Asia President Jason Baker has issued the following statement regarding reports that animals in captivity in Guangxi, China, were left trapped in enclosures during severe flooding:

The tragedy unfolding in Guangxi, China is a stark reminder that animals confined in zoos and other captive facilities are entirely dependent on humans for their safety. When floods, typhoons, and other extreme weather events threaten an area, facilities must act quickly to move animals out of harm’s way and implement emergency evacuation plans. Leaving animals trapped in enclosures as waters rise can be a death sentence.

 

Every zoo and captive wildlife facility should have a comprehensive disaster-preparedness and evacuation plan in place before an emergency occurs. Ultimately, the suffering seen during disasters underscores a broader truth: wild animals do not belong in captivity, where they are vulnerable to human failures and unable to escape danger on their own.