Fondation Franz Weber

ZOOXXI

The future of zoos

The issue

For hundreds of years, zoos have put animals on show. Even human beings were exhibited until the mid 20th century. The lure of something “different”, something “exotic” or “spectacular” have always excited people.

Changing social values, however, meant increased moral pressure on zoos. They responded with larger enclosures and assurances of providing “education” and “raising awareness”, as well as an involvement in the drive for “species protection” and “habitat protection”.

But zoos have remained commercial institutions, doing very little for education, species survival or habitat protection. Quite the opposite, in fact. Animals captured from the wild for zoos and aquariums is an activity that continues to harm nature and animals. In Europe alone, zoos kill around 5,000 “surplus” animals born each year.

The zoo of the future is taking on a new role: instead of serving purely as entertainment, it is now making a concrete contribution to animal and species conservation.

Zoos are commercial institutions, doing very little for education, species survival or habitat protection.

The size of their enclosures and the constant travelling are also problematic ‒ along with many other issues.

Zoos should focus on animal welfare worldwide and create centers for scientific research on animal consciousness.

Wild-caught animals for zoos and aquariums continue to harm nature and wildlife.

Zoos sind kommerzielle Institutionen, die sehr wenig für Bildung, Arterhaltung und Lebensraumschutz tun.

Caption EN

So wenig wie in Zirkusse gehören Elefanten auch in Zoos und überhaupt in Gefangenschaft.

ZOOXXI is the zoo of the future!

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Our project

In response, we conceived the project “ZOOXXI”. Animal welfare campaigners and environmental activists linked to Fondation Franz Weber (FFW) as well as 40 professors from disciplines ranging from biology and veterinary medicine to ethics, business, communication and law are all working on the project. To start with, a 360° analysis of zoos will be conducted from all perspectives, to develop findings and guidelines.

Killings, overcrowded cages, and all the suffering that goes with this should be a thing of the past. The ZOOXXI concept does not seek to close zoos, but to turn them into something very different. This requires a genuine education and research programme, with animal protection, species protection and habitat protection always remaining the primary goal.

The idea is to only house local animals, and exclusively within the framework of species preservation projects. Other than this, ZOOXXI sites will be dedicated to caring for confiscated and injured animals until a better home can be found for them.