The Issue of Roadside Zoos
Roadside zoos are attractions for motorist across the United States that advertise as a fun way to interact and learn about exotic animals such as tigers, monkeys, and bears. However, these attractions exist because of an anthropocentric (the interpretation of reality exclusively in terms of human value and experience; the view as nature as a tool for humans) mindset which greatly harms the animals involved. Abuse within these facilities are more than common. One example can be found in a Washington Post article titled “Mauling, escapes and abuse: 6 small zoos, 80 sick or dead animals” in which Justin Jouvenal reports on six roadside zoos in Maryland and Virginia which were known to be popular attractions for families. He reports that over a span of ten years, “more than 80 animals have died, been injured or become ill because of neglect at the zoos, and more than 200 others were kept in inhumane conditions, according to hundreds of pages of federal inspection reports, interviews with keepers and court documents. Minor problems were reported at four more zoos.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture does have regulations which are supposed to prohibit abuse although state laws vary in their strictness of enforcement. In states where the purchasing of exotic animals is legal, only an application process through the United States Department of Agriculture is needed to show their animals to the public which excludes the requirement that the owners have knowledge of how to care for the animals. Most are not licensed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which requires more standards. These animals are also acquired from Zoos which are overpopulated. Often when these animals get too old or deemed too dangerous they are sold back into the exotic pet trade.
Most people would disapprove of roadside zoos which involve physical abuse although many people approve of and visit such attractions which do follow USDA standards. One example of such attractions is a Luisiana truck stop called “Tiger Truck Stop” which features a Siberian-Bengal tiger named “Tony the Truck Stop Tiger”. Tony has been living there for 17 years (his entire life). This truck stop has been a focus of critique and has been battling with the Animal Legal Defense Fund for years. On the truck stop’s website they posted a video in defense of their ownership of the tiger: “Tony has been constantly in the company of the people of the truck stop. He has been fed and handled all his life by the same people. He knows his owners and responds to them like a playful kitten. The activists have beaten on his cage and triggered camera flashes in his face to scare him so they can get picture of what they claim is an abused animal. They've thrown packs of cigarettes and other poisons into the cage, trying to make him sick, to save him. Now they claim he is being doused by diesel fuel and has no privacy. Tony’s cage is no where near gas or diesel pumps.” Although this is a defensive statement, the risk of danger that Tony is exposed and subjected to is clear. One does not have to be a supposed “activist” in order to do these acts and most likely is not claiming to be.
The Truck Stop’s ownership of Tony highlights the human tendency to view nature through an anthropocentric view which serves to benefit humans alone. The first sentence of the truck stop’s video is an example: “For 20 years Tigers at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosthead, Louisiana have entertained and fascinated travelers” with the last sentence being “Anyone can come to Louisiana and say they saw an alligator, stop at the Tiger Truck Stop and you can say you saw a Tiger!” . This truck stop’s attachment and justification in keeping a tiger most likely comes from their view of Tony as “a playful kitten”. This favoritism and choice to view and treat Tony as a household cat rather than what he is, a tiger, highlights the issue of speciesism: the assignment of different values or rights to beings based on their species.
Another example of speciesism is the famous ASPCA commercial containing a Sarah McLachlin song and pictures of exclusively cats and dogs. Sarah McLachlin says,“ Everyday helpless animals are abused, beaten, and neglected, and are crying out for help”. Although she uses animals broadly, only domestic animals that we consider pets are given aiding attention of care while non-domestic animals are often seen as excitingly exotic and are given attention for attention’s sake.
Roadside zoos do not benefit animals but subjugate them to a life of confinement. They also do not benefit humans as they do not provide education since cages and human interaction do not accurately reflect the way these animals live naturally.
What can one do to help? Stop going to roadside zoos and tell people to stop going to roadside zoos. One could support of various legislation designed to protect animals. The Animal Legal Defense Fund is the organization fighting against the truck stop. The support of reputable animal sanctuaries is also needed. The eradication of roadside zoos would be one step closer to a less anthropocentric existence.
Citations
Pittman, Arianna. "All You Need to Know About Roadside Zoos to Make You Never Go Again." One Green Planet. N.p., 14 Dec. 2016. Web. 08 May 2017. <http:// www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/all-you-need-to-know-about-roadside-zoos/ >.
Jacquet, Jennifer. "America, Stop Visiting Roadside Zoos – They Make Money from the Inhumane Treatment of Animals." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 27 Nov. 2016. Web. 08 May 2017. <https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/ nov/27/roadside-zoos-america-animal-cruelty-welfare>.
Welcome to the Tiger Truck Stop! Web. 08 May 2017. <http://www.tigertruckstop.com/>.
Elisueson, Anthony. "Animal Legal Defense Fund Litigation Update: Tony the Tiger (from Tony the Human)." Linked in. Animal Legal Defense Fund, 20 Apr. 2017. Web. 08 May 2017. <https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/animal-legal-defense-fund-litigation-update-tony-tiger- eliseuson>.
Jouvenal, Justin. "Mauling, Escapes and Abuse: 6 Small Zoos, 80 Sick or Dead Animals."The Washington Post. WP Company, 18 Sept. 2015. Web. 22 May 2017. <https:// www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/mauling-escapes-and-abuse-6-small-zoos-80- sick-or-dead-animals/2015/09/18/dff46f10-2581-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html? utm_term=.8a984f3dd59d>.
