Lions hanging helplessly bears shaking their heads…
Typical Behavior of Indoor Zoo Animals in Bucheon Theme Park
Yonhap News
Animals in the indoor zoo at a theme park in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, are displaying abnormal behavior, causing controversy, according to Yonhap News on the 1st.
According to reports, the indoor zoo where large predators such as bears, tigers, and lions are kept is only about 1400 square feet. It is relatively small compared to the activity level of wild animals. As a result, the animals show signs of stress and abnormal behavior.
The Asiatic black bear was seen moving back and forth along the glass wall or shaking its head as if pondering, while the white tiger showed lethargic behavior, sticking closely to the glass wall and wandering back and forth.
According to Yonhap News, the female and male lions in the lion enclosure were lying down without moving, and other animals, such as raccoons and wild boars, were also shown to be lethargic or engaging in abnormal behavior such as licking the walls.
Animal Freedom Union said the breeding environment is unsuitable for the animals. Hye Won Lee, director of the Korea Animal Welfare Research Institute of the Animal Freedom Union, said, “For large predators, being confined indoors is a huge stress. It’s like being locked in a room 24 hours a day with nothing to do, like the internet or TV.”
The zoo acknowledged that some animals display abnormal behavior but stated they do their best to manage the situation. A zoo official said, “We are strengthening facilities for enriching animal behavior to ensure animals can live in the best possible environment. While it is true that it would be better for animals to live in a better environment, the zookeepers are always concerned about how animals can live healthily in the given environment.”
They also stated, “The revised law on zoos will be implemented in December, and if the conditions are not met to comply with the new management standards, we will consider options such as donating the animals,” according to Yonhap News.
The revised law on the management of zoos and aquariums (Zoo and Aquarium Act) will be implemented on December 14th. The operation of zoos and aquariums will change from a registration system to a permit system, and suitable breeding standards for each animal will be established through enforcement rules. The law also includes provisions prohibiting acts that cause unnecessary stress, such as experiential activities. Existing zoos are given a grace period of 5 years to improve their facilities following the new standards.
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