1. Take Our Survey!

What motivates you to visit the zoo and would poor animal welfare put you off? By collecting data on people’s attitudes and actions, we can effectively inform decision makers on current trends and attitudes towards animal in zoos. This in turn can help them make better decisions on how they keep and manage animals. Take our survey below – it only takes a few minutes and by being involved you can help us help animals worldwide.

2. Shop With Savoo

3. Donate to Wild Welfare

The best way to help us is by giving a donation or by setting up a regular gift (coming soon). Whatever the amount, allowing us to know when we will be receiving funds helps us plan strategically and know what work we can manage in advance. It is not the size of the donation but the consistency of the gift that is important – as it allows us to work in the most effective ways possible to improve the lives of captive animals around the world.

4. Report poor animal welfare

We are working hard to identify where the worst zoo conditions are and you can help by reporting poor animal welfare through our contact page, or by contacting the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) or a regional zoo association. Sadly we cannot help every animal, but the more information we have, the greater chance we have of providing support and solutions that will improve the animal’s welfare. 

5. Only visit accredited zoos and aquariums

We recommend you only visit zoos and aquariums that are members of accredited zoo associations. Accredited means they are either members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) or their member regional zoo association. There are approximately 280 zoos and aquarium that are institutional members of WAZA, and about 1,300 zoos and aquariums are linked to WAZA through their membership of a national or regional association member of WAZA. While not all standards are the same, these zoos and aquariums are supported by a vast network of zoo expertise and experience, providing better animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation practices. It is relatively simple to find out whether a zoo is accredited or not as many of the regional zoo associations have lists on their websites to find zoo and aquarium members. 

6. Be an Animal-Friendly Tourist

Animal cruelty is often unintentionally fuelled through tourism. Many tourist activities involve the exploitation of animals and can fuel on-going cruelty. You can be a responsible tourist by ensuring your actions do not contribute to animal cruelty.

• If you are planning a zoo visit when you next go on holiday, check to see if it is accredited.  
• Do not take part in animal photo or handling opportunities that are often touted in city squares and non-accredited zoos. Many of these animals have been badly handled, or taken from their mothers early to be trained for your entertainment.  
• Do not buy products made from animals. This includes shells, seahorses, teeth and bones.
• Avoid animal rides on non-domestic animals such as elephants, often these animals are not well cared for, have ill-fitting equipment and suffer significantly during the ‘breaking-in’ process and throughout their lives. Even with domestic animals (usually horses and donkeys), be questioning about how they are looked after.

DO look for positive animal-friendly tourist activities that are eco-friendly and that are supported by local animal welfare organisations. If you are not sure, contact your local tourist company and do plenty of research. You can also check a site such as TripAdvisor, that can provide a useful insight into the conditions provided for the animals.

7. Take the Palm Oil Pledge

Palm Oil is in hundreds of products we are using every day. From food items to toiletries, it is used in many different bread, biscuit and chocolate brands and in shampoos and moisturisers. South East Asian rainforest in being cleared at an alarming rate, often illegally, to make way for unsustainable Palm Oil Plantations. This means habitat destruction. Habitat that is home to Sumatran tigers and elephants, and this loss may be contributing to the death of more than 1,000 orangutans annually. But you can help. Check your products for palm oil, choose alternatives or only buy items containing palm oil from sustainable producers. Make a start with these helpful guides: Ethical Consumer, SayNoToPalmOil, Palm Oil Guide. You can also find out if your local zoo has a Palm Oil Campaign and find out how you can support it.

8. Report Wildlife Trafficking

Wildlife Witness is a smartphone app that allows you to do your bit and report wildlife trade. The illegal trade in wildlife is an international crisis, responsible for the loss and persecution of thousands of wild animal species globally. This simple app makes it possible for you to watch out for wildlife as you travel and help make a difference. Get the app here.