The animal rights activist urged to help the zoo cafes instead of closing them

Evgeny Ilyinsky, a specialist at the Center for Legal Protection, told how to adapt a zoo cafe to exist in the modern world. In an interview with Radio 1 on Monday, February 2, the expert noted that the initial ban on contact zoos was erroneous, and the key criterion in the issue of interaction with animals should be their socialization.

In his opinion, for animals born in captivity and accustomed to humans, contact with visitors is part of natural behavior and does not cause harm. He pointed out that now anti-cafes with animals are actually in a legal vacuum, which is why any complaints can lead to serious consequences, including the closure of establishments.

According to the expert, inspections in such conditions are dangerous, because at the first complaint, the owners can simply get rid of the animals and it will go unnoticed. Ilyinsky suggested abandoning confrontation and choosing the path of dialogue and support — for example, helping with food or cleaning. He stressed that before a clear legislative regulation appears, it is important to act carefully and precisely, based primarily on the interests of the animals themselves.

On January 12, a five-year-old girl was hospitalized in the city of Balakovo, Saratov region, who was attacked by a monkey from a petting zoo. The owner of the exhibition allowed the girl to feed the primate, but in response, a neighboring monkey injured her finger. 360.ru .

In October, Vladimir Burmatov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, told the National Assembly that a child should be taken to places with a license to get to know animals. You can bring children on excursions to special farms or take them to large zoos.

At the same time, in St. Petersburg, the Rosselkhoznadzor refused an anti-cafe with capybaras to obtain a license to use animals for cultural and entertainment purposes. The inspectors revealed a number of violations, including the use of feed without certificates, the absence of a separate area for keeping animals suspected of being ill or suffering from infectious diseases, writes RT.

In September, 89% of Russians expressed a negative attitude towards petting zoos. Veterinarians claim that being constantly indoors in a confined space harms animals, and they are under chronic stress from constant noise, the website notes. kp.ru .

In July, veterinarian Alexandra Lobanova, in an interview with Izvestia, said that, according to numerous studies, interaction with animals is one of the most effective methods of maintaining a stable emotional state. According to her, a petting zoo is the best solution to relieve stress after a hard week at work.

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