Guangzhou Zoo (Guangzhou, China) needs to be looked at

[Guest guest]

Hello, I just joined this group. While researching how I can voice

my concerns for what I saw at Guangzhou Zoo I discovered this

group. I have written a letter and have been sending emails to

different organizations hoping that someone one can look into this

further and help these animals. If there is anyone that has

information on who to contact for further assistance, please let me

know. Below is the letter I am circulating. Thank you for your

time.

 

June 20th, 2006

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

I am writing this letter to express my deep concern for the animals

in Guangzhou Zoo - Guangzhou, China.

 

I am an American English teacher currently living in Guangzhou,

China. On my day off, I decided to take a tour at Guangzhou Zoo. As

I walked throughout the zoo observing the different animals, my

heart literally ached as I witnessed the terrible facilities that

they live in. The tigers live in small concrete cages with rusted

bars and they paced up and down with a clear look of hunger and

distress. How someone can walk the path and watch these animals

without crying is an absolute wonder. The elephant in the zoo,

although living in a larger space, is clearly malnourished. The

elephant, by his posture and the obvious begging for food looked

more like a circus entertainer than a creature living in a simulated

natural environment. My heart was torn in two as I witnessed people

taunt the elephant urging him to raise his trunk even more. Noticing

the elephant with missing tusks was absolutely gut wrenching.

 

The Animals in Guangzhou Zoo live in bare enclosures, and show

obvious signs of distress and malnutrition. Bare rusted cages,

concrete, and dirt are all that one can see when touring the zoo.

Most of the animals look as if they haven't been bathed in weeks.

They have no stimulation whatsoever besides the taunting of the

public. Many of the tigers have no companionship of their own kind,

and most of them are obviously bored or anxious, biting their cages,

pacing up and down and in circles. In addition, you can see signs of

extreme suffering expressed in excessive grooming and self

mutilation. This is not unusual, since any living being, human or

otherwise, would suffer similarly under completely unnatural

circumstances.

 

In sharp contrast to this depressing view are the clean, groomed,

and tree-lined walks provided for Zoo guests. How can anyone stroll

along these beautiful walkways yet look at the animals surviving in

such misery? Why must these Animals, in 2006, still suffer so

horribly? It is unfortunate that a country of loving people, so rich

in culture, beauty, and history, could also be a party to such a

disgraceful situation.

 

Please do all that's in your power to help protect and save the

Animals from Guangzhou Zoo, while there is still time. If there are

no resources available, then the Zoo should be closed and the

Animals sent to sanctuaries. I believe that your organization's

noble heart will understand the importance of taking some needed

immediate action.

 

Thank You for Your time.

 

Best Regards,

Luz