Ban Zoos And Replace Them With Animal Rehabilitation Centers In Minnesota

 

The purpose of this bill would be to ban zoos due to how horribly animals are treated there. All of them are just

locked, caged, trapped in the exhibits. The only reason the animals are in there is just for human pleasure.

 

They develop a mental illness over time called “Zoochosis.” It is a stress response that causes abnormally aggressive

behavior, pacing, bar biting, plus sensory deprivation. One should only have a wild animal captive if the animal is hurt

or critically endangered. This is torture for animals. No matter how fun zoos can be, this kills animals. We can

redirect the money that governments allocate to zoos to rehabilitation centers, focusing on the care and well-being of

animals. This has never been done in Minnesota before, nor in the US. Some may argue that “Animals are completely fine

in zoos.”, That may be true; some zoos do have a great amount of space, but unless they are critically endangered in any

sort of way, they should not be trapped. They should be out in the wild where they belong; they acquire the necessary

elements in nature that you cannot get anywhere else. Animals receive stimuli from being outside, encouraging growth,

finding mates, and experiencing life. Not experiencing changes in behavior, things that impact mental health, and being

trapped. The “Como Zoo” In Saint Paul has had some reviews of “depressed” animals and compared it to a “jail cell”. Some

other reviews suggest that it's too small, much different from their regular environment. The polar bears are held at

80°, which they can only withstand above 10°. Giraffes can't even gallop around. This is just an example of all of the

other Zoos that have animals treated this way. I have personally seen a stingray in the Minnesota Zoo right up to the

wall and constantly bobbing its head out for air. No state in the U.S has ever done this before, but in 2013, Costa Rica

changed their two zoos into rehabilitation centers. This bill will affect many jobs for zookeepers, but it also provides

them with a secure spot to get a new job at the rehabilitation center. Overall, Animals kept in zoos can give them a

mental illness called “Zoochosis”; they can also develop depression due to how small and how unsupportive their exhibits

are.

 

Stimulation shall be defined as the encouragement of something to make it more active

Zoochosis shall be defined as a psychological condition that affects animals in zoos, causing repetitive and

stress-induced behaviors.

 

 

For funding, 40% will come from the government, which they were using for funding zoos. We can also set up a community

donating fundraiser where they can donate for a good cause and they would be able to give name recommendations to any

upcoming animal in the new rehabilitation centers (40%). We can also have 20% with sponsorships like the Global

Federation Of Animal Sancturaries, Wildlife Support Fund. We would raise approximately $1,500,000.

 

Any organization operating a zoo will have a fine of $10,000 per day after the effective date until it closes.

 

This bill will take effect January 1st 2027.