Zoo planned to sell goats for slaughter

[hassen1]

Many small children loved feeding and petting the goats at The Minnesota Zoo. Naturally, the community – especially the children, zoo volunteers and goat advocates – were all outraged that the zoo planned to sell the goats to slaughter. The zoo opened up in 2000, and has sold animals for slaughter before. The zoo made budget cuts, staff layoffs and closed for the winter in an attempt to save money. Despite the zoo’s efforts, eleven sheep and one goat were sent to auction in the summer.

When the word got out about the zoo’s plans for the goats, the community stepped up and took action. News reports about the goats’ seemed fate concerned many citizens. In the summer fifty people signed up to buy goats and sheep, but most of these people dropped off the list in the fall. The zoo planned to bring six goats and two sheep to slaughter; however, the publicity brought enough people that were willing to pay the $100 that the zoo needs for each animal. The conservation manager, Tony Fisher, told a reporter at the Pioneer Press that he no longer expects to send them to auction. The goats are saved from their previously assumed fate.

[kowiamay]

This type of relationship that people develop with animals in zoos is actually one of the greatest tools that conservationists have for developing a green ethic in our children and ourselves. However, the selling of sheep or goats for slaughter is not uncommon. It only seems outrageous because we are so cut off from the production of the meat we buy in the grocery stores. I'm pretty sure no farmers were railing against that zoo, because they are aware of the connection between our hamburger and their cow.