We must share the reality of how animals suffer in captivity! 🐾

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Dear John,

For many, a visit to the zoo is a fun-filled day out for the family. But when the happy crowds have been and gone, the animals imprisoned there do not get to go home. Their freedom is taken from them, for life. ([link removed]) They will live their whole lives in cages so that zoos can use them for entertainment and to make profit. This is why we stand up for animals in captivity.

We'd like to share with you Ernie's story.

This week, devastating news ([link removed]) came to light that a male hippopotamus called Ernie, died at Dublin Zoo after being transferred from West Midlands Safari Park only a few weeks ago.

His story is a devastating example of how animals lives are traded as if they are "stock", to boost zoo ticket sales and provide an endless supply of baby animals to further exploit. You can read the full story here. ([link removed])

This account has been shared with us by a concerned individual, who has been linked to West Midlands Safari Park where Ernie lived between December 2022 - April 2024 (he was born at Flamingo Land around 20 years ago).

The anonymous source stated:

"When Ernie came to West Midlands Safari Park he was beautiful and unscathed, yet very soon after arriving, he was forcibly put in with the female group at the zoo, rather than slowly being introduced. Ernie was sadly beaten up by the group and had to be removed and put by himself in isolation".
JOIN US IN THE FIGHT, AND HELP ANIMALS LIKE ERNIE ([link removed])
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"There was talk of Ernie going to various other zoos, but these kept falling through. Because of this, throughout the last 6 months of his life, there was then talk of Ernie being put to sleep, despite him being a perfectly healthy hippo.

Many of the keepers put their complaints towards management regarding Ernie’s situation. It was devastating to watch him go over to the wall in the water to try and interact with the hippos on the other side, yet never able to reach them. He was left to circle his empty pool alone.

A trade was eventually reached with Dublin Zoo - a zoo which has also seen many accusations of animal welfare and management failings by whistleblowers over the years - and Ernie was moved there, only to tragically die just two weeks later.

He will never get to experience life in his natural environment, or form family bonds as he would in the wild. His hopes for a happy life were ruined by captivity. And he's not alone. The forced separation of families, and exploitation of life, is systemic in the industry.

The importance of animal families is also discussed in our brand new blog; Nature’s Masterpieces: Family Life in the Animal Kingdom. You can read it here ([link removed]) .

Here's how you can help animals like Ernie...

We believe that NO animal should suffer the cruelty of captivity.

Help us to share Ernie's story, and others like him. It is sadly too late to save Ernie, but together, we can fight for animals who are still trapped in these cages, and behind the glass.
* Take part in our active campaigns here! ([link removed])
* Sign our live petition ([link removed]) to close down the notorious Cumbria Safari Zoo.
* Join us as a Freedom Champion, ([link removed]) by making a regular donation to support our work.
* Donate to fund our investigations! ([link removed]) Your one-off donation will go directly towards our campaigns to end the suffering of animals in zoos and aquariums.
* Enter our Spring Raffle to help animals ([link removed]) whilst being in with a chance to win some amazing prizes!

Whichever way you choose to help, your support is vital to ensuring we can stand up for animals who are suffering, and work to bring about positive, lasting change. Together, we can continue to fight for the freedom of ALL animals.
ENTER THE SPRING RAFFLE TODAY! ([link removed])
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We truly appreciate your continued support, and for everything you've already done to help us protect animals suffering in captivity.

For the animals,

Laura Walton
Campaigns Manager
Freedom for Animals

P.S. Grab your tickets for our Spring Raffle here to be in with a chance to win! Thank you for all your support, we simply could not do the work we do for animals without YOU! ([link removed])

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Funds raised from this appeal will support our campaign to the keeping of animals in zoos and other forms of captivity. Thank you.

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