After a video of a captive male lion named Rapee appearing to have seizure-like activity at Manila Zoo went viral on social media, members of the public were rightfully upset and left wondering if the lion is receiving adequate care, and called on the zoo to transfer the lion to a reputable sanctuary. Zoo management claims the lion may have suffered stress due to strong winds.
On its website, the zoo claims to hold about 500 animals in captivity on 5.5 hectares of land. In the wild, animals such as African lions have vast home ranges—often hundreds of square kilometers — where they explore, hunt, and raise their young.
In zoos, animals are confined to a tiny fraction of this space, often in barren environments, torn from family members and unable to perform natural behaviors, causing immense long-term psychological distress.
The video shows the lion confined on hard concrete flooring, which is detrimental to musculoskeletal and overall health, and leads to poor welfare and suffering. Chronic stress suppresses the immune system, causing animals to be susceptible to disease and injury.
Undoubtedly, this lion, as well as the other animals at the zoo, are experiencing chronic physical and mental stress as a result of their captive conditions — not just because of high winds. These animals need to be retired to reputable sanctuaries where
they can live in expansive, natural habitats and receive the
care they need.
Anyone who is appalled by Rapee’s suffering should avoid all zoos. Every ticket purchased pays for animals to continue to live in misery.
The city should close the zoo and instead direct the money it is spending on keeping the decrepit facility running on kinder attractions, like parks and sports arenas.
CHRISTINE CAPALDO, DVM, Wildlife Veterinarian, Peta Foundation, ChristineC@petaf.org