You should never underestimate your power to help captive wild animals in need. By voicing your concerns directly, you could make a real difference.
Below you will find suggestions on who you can contact to raise your concerns, plus links to their contact details. Scroll down for guidance on what you could say in your letters or emails.
It is important that the zoo or captive animal ‘attraction’ hears directly from their concerned customers & international tourists.
Many places claim that they never receive any complaints about the treatment of their animals, so please make your concerns known.
Local authorities (Councils) are responsible for licensing zoos, pet shops, & other facilities that keep wild animals.
You can find the right local authority to contact at www.gov.uk/find-local-council. Search using the facility’s postcode.
The British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA) is an industry body claiming to represent the ‘best zoos & aquariums in the UK’.
If you have visited a BIAZA member zoo, raise your concerns.
If a teacher or school has arranged for your child to visit a zoo or mobile zoo and you are unhappy about them participating, please contact the organiser to explain your feelings and why you do not want your child to take part.
If you are concerned about a zoo or other captive wild animals in your local area, write to your district or county councillors.
If you are concerned about the zoo licensing & inspection process in the UK, please write to your Member of Parliament – find their details at www.writetothem.com.
Contact local and/or national newspapers & online news sites to report your eyewitness concerns & encourage them to publish an associated story.
Sending accompanying photos &/or videos of the animals involved may be helpful in evoking their potential interest in covering your story.
Online review sites, such as Trip Advisor, are a great source of information & useful for raising awareness of problems at captive facilities & locations around the world. If possible, also post photos to support your review.
Writing a review & providing constructive feedback on a captive facility’s or ‘attraction’s’ website is also great at spreading the word.
The most effective emails or letters are usually short and concise. Around 300 words should be adequate to relay your comments and concerns. Be specific about why you are writing and what concerns you have. Did you visit the facility with your family or friends? Did you pay an entry fee or buy a ticket? If you did, you have the right to raise your concerns about the welfare of the animals you encountered.
Please be polite and courteous. You are less likely to receive an answer if you rant or are rude. You want to be taken seriously by the people you are writing to.
Please send Born Free copies of any replies you receive, either by email or to our UK office (marked FAO Captivity department).
