The recent outbreak of avian flu in New York City’s zoos is a sobering reminder of the precarious lives of animals in captivity.
According to multiple reports including The New York Times and New York Post, more than a dozen animals at the Queens Zoo and the Bronx Zoo are suspected to have died from the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza this week. While both zoos remain open to the public, vulnerable species have been relocated to protected areas within the parks in an effort to curb the virus’s spread.
The Threat to Wild Animals in Captivity
Bird flu is a stark example of how captivity exacerbates the challenges animals face. Viruses like H5N1 can spread rapidly in environments where animals are confined, stressed, and forced into proximity with species they wouldn’t normally encounter in the wild. Captivity inherently compromises an animal’s immune system, making them more vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
Big cats, including those in captivity at the Wildlife Conservation Society, are particularly vulnerable to H5N1. In fact, more than 20 big cats in Washington State were killed by the H5N1 virus and two big cats died at an Arizona Zoo in December 2024. The Wildlife Conservation Society holds a number of big cat species captive, including tigers, lions, and snow leopards.
In the wild, birds would instinctively avoid infected individuals or habitats, reducing the likelihood of transmission. But in zoos, animals don’t have that choice. They are confined to shared spaces that allow diseases to spread like wildfire, especially when proper biosecurity measures aren’t in place. For the birds at the Queens and Bronx Zoos, this means limited chances of survival once exposed.
Factory Farming and Live Animal Markets
The news that New York City zoos have had multiple deaths to H5N1 bird flu comes just days after Governor Kathy Hochul temporarily closed down live animal markets in New York City, Westchester, and on Long Island after “routine checks” found at least seven cases of bird flu. Tragically, all of these animals will be killed.
Just weeks before bird flu cases popped up in New York City, a Long Island duck factory farm, which housed approximately 100,000 birds, killed the entire duck population after H5N1 was found. According to the owner of the farm, the virus “spread like wildfire” through his duck population.
Sadly, conditions in industrial commercial farms allow zoonotic diseases and viruses to spread and mutate rapidly. Animals are confined in close quarters and often in filthy conditions (such as piles of feces), which allows these deadly viruses to not only survive but thrive and mutate—potentially becoming transmissible to humans.
A Wake-Up Call for Change
The Bronx Zoo, just one of five captive wildlife facilities run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, holds more than 11,000 animals behind its gates. With that many animals, including multiple big cat and bird species, deadly viruses like bird flu can easily spread through food (such as for animals on raw diets), staff entering and exiting exhibits, and even native birds who fly over or into the open-air enclosures.
While the Wildlife Conservation Society is taking action to safeguard its animal populations, the bird flu outbreak raises bigger questions about the ethics and sustainability of keeping wild animals in captivity. If these facilities—built on centuries-old models that ignore our current understanding of animal sentience—cannot guarantee the health and safety of their animals, especially amid the global rise of zoonotic diseases, should they continue to exist at all?
At World Animal Protection, we argue that they shouldn’t. In our mission to protect animals, we advocate for a shift away from captivity toward ethical alternatives, such as accredited sanctuaries and Wildlife Heritage Areas, that prioritize the well-being of animals and public education without increasing risk.
What You Can Do
Avoid supporting captivity
Instead of visiting zoos, consider supporting wildlife sanctuaries and organizations that protect animals in their natural habitats, such as Wildlife Heritage Areas.
Educate yourself about zoonotic diseases
Learn how diseases like bird flu impact animals in captivity and the wild. World Animal Protection US’s Bred For Profit report is an excellent resource for information on zoonotic diseases and wildlife captivity.
Speak up for systemic change
Advocate for stronger regulations to protect animals from diseases in confined environments through legislation and corporate outreach. Join World Animal Protection’s Animal Champions community to find out how.
This outbreak of bird flu in NYC is yet another reminder that wild animals don’t belong in captivity and factory farms should cease to exist. The more we confine and commodify animals, the more we expose them—and ourselves—to unnecessary suffering and risk.
For more information on H5N1 and its impact on animals—including companion animals—please check out our Bird Flu: What You Need to Know About H5N1 Avian Influenza blog.