Protesters Aim To Change How Philadelphia Zoo Houses Animals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A group of protesters gathered in front of the Philadelphia Zoo Saturday to begin a campaign aimed at changing the zoo itself.
The group held signs comparing zoos to prison cells for animals, offered up information pamphlets and urged visitors to look into their message.
"Change the Zoo" protest organizer Marianne Bessey says their goal isn't to drive people away from the zoo, or to get rid of it, but they would like to see America's oldest zoo change to a sanctuary model:
"So instead of breeding animals for display, what we're asking the zoo to do is rescue animals in need and have them in a sanctuary setting."
Bessey says she'd like to see the zoo become more of an education center focused on animals, and points to the Buenes Aires Zoo as an example which will move animals to a nature reserve while turning the zoo itself into an ecopark.
Bessey says the group will hold events every other week at the zoo and other locations.