Animal Sanctuaries: The vital role they play in protecting our planets most endangered species

TW: This article discusses animal abuse.

Sanctuaries become a safe, homely environment for often extremely mistreated animals. It’s a place where they get to live in peace, away from the hands of cruel humans that have caused them so much harm. Some offer rehabilitation to get animals back into the wild and some just become a forever home. So, just how important are they?

“Education has the power to change the world for the better.”

I’m a huge animal lover, whether that be cats and dogs or elephants and monkeys. Firstly, I have never understood how people can put animals through so much. With my love for writing and animals, I want to combine the two in the hope of bringing awareness to others on the importance of maintaining and protecting our wildlife, here and abroad.

I’ve always believed that education is our most powerful tools if we use it effectively. Education has the power to change the world for the better.

As I talk about animal sanctuaries, it’s important to remember that research is key. Doing research helps you understand and identify the importance of sanctuaries and why we should support them.

Sanctuaries and the role they play in combatting abuse

I will always have so much love for those who go out of their way to help these animals that have been so badly treated. It creates a light of hope that there are actually people out there doing what they can for these animals.

There are sadly attractions out there in the world that exploit animals. Animals are often performing tricks, doing rides and obeying demands that cause so much pain.

Many people who visit these places are oblivious to what is really going on, and many see it as entertainment. It is highly disturbing to not only see people support and enjoy watching cruelty being performed in front of their eyes, but to see countries allowing these places to even be open.

The other day, I came across a video on Facebook. It was of two lions that had been kept in a cage for eight years. They were in a circus in Guatemala. However, this story does have a happy ending.

Both lions have an extremely close bond. They were taken out of the circus with other animals by ADI. ADI is an organization that wants to change the world for animals and aims to get governments to ban animal circuses. Both lions were moved to an animal sanctuary in South Africa. After that, the video showed both lions walking on grass for the first time. It’s sad but celebratory at the same time. Now both lions live in peace, in an area where they can roam freely and be lions.

This emphasized the power people have to make a difference. That pushing governments to put laws in place is the first step to create a better world for our animals. Its time people are held accountable for their actions. Immoral businesses should be shut down to end the cruelty.
It shows you how vital animal sanctuaries are in giving animals a new profound love of life. But some unfortunately don’t get a happy ending. There is still more to be done to end this issue.

Wildlife sanctuaries help species to survive in a world that is destroying them.

Turning the blind eye

I also recently came across a video of Phuket Zoo in Thailand. I couldn’t watch all of it. It is astounding that this zoo is still allowed to be open. It has had many controversies. Animals perform on a daily basis, doing tricks and tasks.

They have to pose for pictures and elephants give rides to visitors. Meanwhile, they are forced into cages, starved, and abused. This is not funny, it is not entertaining, it is not cute, and it most certainly isn’t ok.

This zoo already has a record for animal abuse and has come under fire many times. It is haunting to see children at places like this. What are we teaching our children? It is encouraging children to believe that seeing animals in chains and cages is acceptable. It is time to educate not only ourselves, but the future generations too, or this will never stop.

A report by The Sun this year found that the zoo is practically abandoned. A group of Australian tourists came across it. What they saw was animals in dire conditions and starving. This may be due to the recent pandemic and a decrease in tourism.

They state that they went back the next day with meat to feed the animals.

According to The Thaiger, the owners of the zoo are bankrupt and now have filed to close the facility in the wake of the coronavirus situation in Thailand.

The people who came across the zoo have launched a rescue effort and a GoFundMe page to help feed the animals at the zoo.

It showcases the need for countries to act and how there needs to be laws and protection in place. But why don’t they?

To go or not to go

I have always stayed a believer that animals should remain in their natural habitats, and that us people should not intervene. Upsettingly, this is not the case.

Many animals are bred in zoos and have never see the wild. I’m not totally against zoos, but you have to look into it deeply enough.

I have visited zoo’s myself in the past. I agree that zoos do help with conservation and help to educate people on the importance of it. They do keep animals out of harm of poachers, human threats of the wild. However, I have been to zoos in which I believe enclosures are too small.

“They are having to put on shows and do tricks in front of crowds.”

You could support safari and wildlife parks as animals are not housed in enclosures. It’s important to support places that contribute to the success and education of wildlife conservation.

I’m sure you have seen pictures and videos of what marine wildlife go through. Many are in small tanks, swimming in circles for the rest of their lives. They are having to put on shows and do tricks in front of crowds.

There was a news story not so long ago about two beluga whales. They were kept in a waterpark in China. To clarify, they have been taken out of the park. They now take up residence at a sea life sanctuary in Iceland. They will now live in a natural, larger environment.

We should commemorate those who are doing good in this world. But, above all hold those contributing to the problem accountable. This really comes down to governments playing their part in protecting wildlife.

Don’t allow yourself to be fooled

When visiting abroad, it’s important to do your research before visiting any animal sanctuaries. According to PETA, these are just some of the things you should be thinking about before going to a sanctuary.

1. Proper ethical and sustainable sanctuaries replicate a natural habitat, or the animals actually live in a natural environment.
2. If the ‘sanctuary’ offers enrichments such as getting to ride the animals, getting the animals to pose for a picture and watching performances the animals are doing, it is therefore unethical and abusive.
3. Animals shouldn’t be used for breeding purposes.

My love and passion

“It’s bittersweet that some can never be released back into the wild for whatever valid reason.”

There are many reasons why animals end up at sanctuaries. For example, put into the illegal pet trade, rescued, injured, deforestation or that they are orphans, losing mothers to poachers.

It’s bittersweet that some can never be released back into the wild for whatever valid reason. Above all, it’s soothing to know that there are people in the world trying to help.

Admiration for people who volunteer abroad at animal sanctuaries seems like an understatement. Recently, I have pledged to myself that at some point in my life, I will volunteer abroad to help.

I believe we should play our part, as it is humans who are destroying the planet and everything that lives on it. Speaking up about the environmental issues and wildlife crises facing our planet is vital. In conclusion, it’s hypocritical for us to call ourselves animal lovers if we don’t.

Robyn Lawrence

Featured image courtesy of Vita Vilcina via Unsplash.