Zoos have become 'death traps' for animals: PETA

KOLKATA: Concerned over theft of eight rare species of Brazilian monkeys (marmosets) from Alipore zoo, an international animal rights organisation alleged that zoos had become "death traps" for animals.

"The Alipore zoo has a history of neglecting animals it incarcerates. Zoos claim they educate people and save the endangered species, but incidents such as these prove that they have become death traps for animals," the People for Ethnic Treatment of Animals (PETA) said in a release here.

PETA cited electrocution of a giraffe during transportation from Alipore zoo to Nandankanan sanctuary in Bhubaneswar in 2008 as an instance and said the animal died after "suffering agony" for 21 hours.

PETA's India campaign coordinator Arkaprava Bhar said, "The best way to help animals is to conserve their natural habitats and to boycott zoos and other attractions which exploit them."

To protest against the monkey theft, a PETA activist, cladded in a police uniform and dressed like a 'monkey', would stand outside the Alipore zoo tomorrow to draw attention to the dangers that captive animals face and to call on the authorities to shut down the facility for good, the release said.