Be A Wildlife-Friendly Hero!

#1 Say “no” to zoos or aquariums with your family. 

As wildlife-friendly heroes, we can play a part in protecting animals in our local communities. One big step you can take to be a hero is to say “no” to visiting zoos or aquariums.

It might be fun for you to see wild animals or fishes up close at your local zoo, but it is not so fun for the animals. Zoos and aquariums keep wild animals in small enclosures or tanks. If you were an elephant, would you rather live in a TINY enclosure or in HUGE open savannas and forests where you can walk all day long with your friends and family?

So how can you help? Skip zoos and visit a sanctuary instead. Sanctuaries are special places that care for wild animals who can’t return home to the wild. At a sanctuary, wild animals like elephants have much more land to explore and get to spend their days doing all their favorite elephant things. Sounds fun, right?

#2 Choose your animal companion carefully – remember: wild animals aren’t pets!   

So, your family is looking for a new animal friend – make the right choice and say “no” to buying wild animals to keep as “pets.”

Why is it bad to buy wild animals, like snakes or turtles, as a “pet?”

• Many snakes, lizards, tortoises, and turtles don’t live very long when they are kept in a home – they’re much happier in their natural habitats.
• Just like humans, wild animals have favorite foods that they can find in the wild. It can be very hard to give wild animals their natural diet at home, which can make them sick.
• No matter where you keep a wild animal at home, it isn’t the same as their natural habitat. Reptiles, amphibians, and birds don’t like to be kept in tanks or cages – they like to fly and roam free for miles in their natural habitat. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in a tank either.

Unfortunately, millions of animals have already been sold in pet stores or online. Most of these animals can't be returned to the wild and DO need human care. While you should never buy a wild animal, you can also help by adopting one from a shelter or a rescue. Be a hero to wildlife by keeping wild animals wild! 

#3 Follow the Wildlife Selfie Code

Do you ever feel like you don’t want to be in a picture? Animals can feel like that too. When you go places where you can see wild animals, always remember to follow the Wildlife Selfie code.