Zoothanasia isn't euthanasia, a mercy killing, because the baboons and other healthy animals who are killed aren't in interminable pain or terminally ill; they're simply viewed as disposable, useless, unfeeling 'surplus' objects. In the case of zoos, 'surplus' boils down to animals who can no longer be used for breeding or for displaying. In other words, they can't generate money for the zoo. Healthy animals should never be intentionally killed in zoos or in other circumstances.
MARC BEKOFF: Two recent examples of zoos in the news raise serious questions about the troubling nature of human-animal relationships. A few days ago, we learned that Germany’s Tiergarten Nurnberg zoo killed 12 healthy baboons because of a lack of space. These magnificent animals were shot, and their bodies are to be fed to the zoo’s predators.
Needless to say, there was global outrage about this heinous decision. It clearly showed people who thought that killing healthy zoo animals, a practice for which I coined the term “zoothanasia” rather than calling it “euthanasia,” is unfortunately alive and well and that following the principles of compassionate conservation could help put an end to this ethically indefensible activity.
Zoothanasia isn’t euthanasia, a mercy killing, because these baboons and other healthy animals who are killed aren’t in interminable pain or terminally ill; they’re simply viewed as disposable, useless, unfeeling “surplus” objects. In the case of zoos, “surplus” boils down to animals who can no longer be used for breeding or for displaying. In other words, they can’t generate money for the zoo.
Some zoo administrators try to sanitize the killing of so-called surplus animals by calling it “management euthanasia”… These two examples show that practices that some people think are simply fabricated for a variety of reasons are not sensationalist attention-getting lies put out by advocates who think nonhumans are more valuable than humans. Rather, they’re easily verifiable facts.
They also show that far too often, people behave in thoroughly self-serving anthropocentric ways and disregard the inner lives of animals — the incredible and ever-growing amount of science that clearly shows that numerous nonhumans are sentient, deeply feeling emotional beings, who needlessly suffer at the hands of humans…
It’s time to get over ourselves and stop wondering if animals are sentient: Science shows they are. There’s no need to embellish what solid comparative research tells us about sentience and the rich and deep cognitive and emotional lives of other animals, and we must use this information on the animals’ behalf. Science matters. Ethics also matter. While people may disagree about what is “ethical” and what is “unethical,” healthy animals should never be intentionally killed in zoos (or in other circumstances)…
What happened at the German zoo and what might happen at the Danish zoo aren’t past history. They’re happening right now as if there’s nothing wrong with it. These and other examples serve as very useful springboards for meaningful discussions and debates about the parameters of human-animal relationships.
It’s not only scientists and philosophers who need to weigh in on how we use what we know on behalf of other animals. We also need to hear from the numerous deeply concerned non-researchers (non-academics, non-professionals) along with zoo workers — many have already weighed in — who want to improve our relationships with nonhuman animals, a move that can enhance their and our own well-being. SOURCE…
RELATED VIDEO: