Tokitae (1966-2023)
Featured Obituary
Tokitae (also known as Lolita) passed away in August 2023 after more than 50 years of captivity. We honor the first anniversary of her death on August 18, 2024.
Obituaries
Remembering Animals Exploited
by the Tourism Industry
Recent Obituaries
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Zola the Wolverine (2013-2024)
Zola, a Eurasian wolverine, passed away after a lymphoma diagnosis at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in September...
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Mypa the Zebra (2010-2024)
Mypa, a 14-year-old Grevy's zebra, passed away while giving birth in September, 2024.
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Little Bit the Sea Lion (1998-2024)
Little Bit, also know as L.B. died after an illness in September 2024 at the El Paso Zoo.
Captivity means death.
The USDA does not require facilities to report deaths in their care. So, there's no way to know exactly how many animals die in aquariums and zoos every year. From media reports, we know that species have included big cats, elephants, gorillas, giraffes, and red pandas (among others), and deaths have been attributed to a wide range of health conditions and accidents, such as falls and choking.
This map represents just a selection of the publicized animal deaths in the US in 2024.
The Myth of Zoo Conservation
Most animals held captive in zoos are not endangered or threatened in the wild, yet the message that zoos and aquariums are champions of conservation prevails.
Don't be fooled–their main focus is to profit off of the backs of animals for entertainment. Accreditation doesn't make a venue ethical either; unfortunately, it's just not enough.
In Memoriam
Each year, billions of animals are brutally killed on farms across the US. These chickens, cows, pigs, goats, turkeys, and countless others may not be named or celebrated by the public in the way that many captive wild animals are. However, their lives mattered just as much, and we remember them.