Public mostly see zoos as playing a positive role in animal welfare and conservation, but 51% would like to phase out the keeping of large animals in captivity
For some, zoos are a fun family day out, a chance to see some of the most amazing animals from around the world up close. For others, even if not as bad as they once were, zoos are still cruel and exploitative. But where do the British public stand?
One in five Britons (20%) say they visit zoos or animal sanctuaries at least once a year, with a further 16% saying they visit one every few years. A quarter of the public (27%) say they never visit zoos, while a third (35%) say they do, but less often that once every few years.
Older Britons are the least regular zoo visitors, with just 11% of over 65 year olds going to a zoo at least once a year, compared to 28% of 25-49 year olds, the age group most likely to be parents to young children.
But despite the reservations of animal rights campaigners, the British public are largely positive about the role that zoos play. Just over three-quarters of Britons (76-78%) say that they play an overall positive part in both the conservation and human understanding of animals, with nearly two-thirds (64%) also believing zoos are a force for good in the relationship between humans and animals.
Even when it comes to the welfare of animals itself, six in ten Britons (60%) believe zoos play an overall positive role, against just one in six (16%) who feel that zoos have a negative impact.
As such, it is unsurprising that there is only limited support for banning zoos entirely, as has been advocated by some animal rights campaigners. Just 22% of Britons would support the outright abolition of zoos, compared to 69% who would be opposed. Even among Green voters, the least supportive of zoos, just 27% are in favour of their complete closure.
Nonetheless, much of the British public would like to see the scope of zoos reduced, with 51% supporting a phasing out of large animals being kept in captivity, relative to 35% being opposed.
Support for a gradual removal of larger animals from captivity is highest among Green voters, with 62% in favour, though majorities of Labour (56%) and Lib Dem voters (53%) would also like to see their presence in zoos phased out. Conservative and Reform UK voters are more divided, with both parties’ voters splitting 47% to 41% between opposing and supporting such a change.
Women are more likely to support the phasing out of keeping large animals in captivity, with 55% in favour, compared to 45% of men. Despite what might be expected, there is no statistically significant difference in support for the idea between the oldest and youngest age groups.
Which animals do Britons think are unacceptable to be kept in a zoo?
Around half of Britons (49-53%) say it is unacceptable to keep bears, wolves, elephants, big cats or great apes in zoos, compared to around four in ten (39-43%) saying it is acceptable.
Giraffes practically split the public, with 45% of Britons saying it is acceptable to keep them in zoos and 46% believing it is unacceptable, not much more than the 44% who say it is unacceptable for zoos to include crocodiles or zebras.
Of the animals polled, insects are seen as the most acceptable zoo creature, with 70% of the public saying it is acceptable to keep them in captivity, compared to 22% who see this as unacceptable. Around two-thirds of Britons (65-66%) also believe it is acceptable to keep frogs, goats, lizards and snakes in zoos.
What are Britons’ favourite zoo animals?
Despite Britons tending to believe it is less acceptable to keep larger animals in zoos, they do remain a favourite of zoo-goers. We asked those who at least occasionally visit zoos or wildlife sanctuaries to tell us the three animals they most look forward to seeing at a zoo.
Elephants come out top, with one in five Britons (19%) saying they are one of the animals they most want to see at a zoo. But they have strong competition, with one in six (16-17%) listing giraffes, lions or monkeys as their favourite exhibits.
Tigers are one of the top attractions for one in seven Britons (14%), while penguins are the most popular non-mammal, with 11% of the public saying they are one of the top three animals they most like to see.
Not all Britons are so specific as to give individual species, with some simply saying they enjoy seeing ‘big cats’; overall, a third of the public (32%) say they look forward to seeing some kind of big cat when they visit a zoo, with 23% saying so of some kind of primate.
See the full results here and here
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Photo: Getty
