Fountain: Igualdad Animal.
According to the Barcelona Zoo, on Friday, December 16, Barus, a male Sumatran tiger born at the Barcelona Zoo in 2003, drowned after falling into the water moat surrounding his enclosure following an epileptic seizure. He had suffered from this condition for years and had been receiving treatment since 2007.
At midday today, as a result of one of these chronic attacks, the feline fell into the moat and the workers were unable to recover it quickly enough as it remained submerged in the water in a position inaccessible to the workers both from inside the facility (where Barus was located) and from outside, the Barcelona Zoo reported.
The epileptic seizure continued while Barus was in the water, preventing him from getting out of the pit on his own. This wasn't the first time the animal had fallen into the pit due to an epileptic attack, although on other occasions he was rescued before drowning.
Desde Igualdad Animal consideramos este caso una evidencia más del sufrimiento y las privaciones que padecen los animales encerrados en los zoológicos. Como pudimos constatar en la investigación que realizamos en los zoológicos más importantes del estado español, entre los que se encuentra el zoológico de Barcelona, los animales padecen toda clase de problemas físicos y psicológicos debido a la vida en cautividad. Esperamos que este caso traiga de nuevo el debate social que desde Igualdad Animal venimos creando para cuestionar la existencia de estos centros, avanzado hacia una sociedad donde estos lugares pasen a formar parte del pasado.
It is revealing that the Barcelona Zoo will announce the death of this animal and request the confinement of a new animal through the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), clearly reflecting their view of animals as mere objects of display. Sadly, this tragic death will be replaced by another animal that will spend its life in captivity.
Zoos, contrary to popular belief, are places where animals suffer and endure all kinds of deprivation. Animals in zoos are caged for life, depriving them of the opportunity to develop according to their interests and needs. They can barely interact with other animals of their own species. Many live alongside their predators or among their own excrement in a constant state of distress. Our research has confirmed this.
Vídeo de la investigación realizada en el zoológico de Barcelona: http://vimeo.com/28434118
Fotografías de la investigación en el zoológico de Barcelona: http://www.flickr.com/photos/igualdadanimal/sets/72157627344979775/
Sitio web de la investigación en zoológicos: http://www.VidasEnjauladas.org