Photo Gallery: Animals Used for Entertainment

This baby hawk was kept at AWR, in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Despite having survived long enough to become a juvenile, the bird was later found by our investigator, torn to shreds in a cougar’s cage.

Bird cages routinely contained inches of feces, rotten food, and maggots. As if this weren’t bad enough, Azzopardi instructed our investigator to pick out the uneaten seeds that had fallen into this mess and place them back in the birds’ food receptacles!

Alex, who died in August 2003, stares into space in utter boredom. The metal resting platform on which he is lying is covered in filth and swarms of flies.

Many rabbits suffered from untreated eye ailments or were discovered dead in the big-cat enclosures. During one such incident, our investigator watched helplessly as caracals tried to pull a rabbit into their enclosure. The rabbit eventually broke free, but she had been torn open and was in shock; our investigator rushed the rabbit to a veterinarian who put the animal out of her misery.

Edith sits alone in her garbage-strewn outdoor enclosure, a tire the only form of enrichment provided for her and the other social, highly intelligent chimpanzees at AWR.

Improper feeding

Lack of public barrier



Calf and Tortoise

Bear

Cougar

Bear

A baby elephant is trained to lay down.

A baby elephant is trained to sit on a tub.

Three bullhooks are used simultaneously on one elephant.

A baby elephant is being trained to perform a lie-down/sit-up.

A baby elephant is tethered neck-to-neck with an anchor elephant.

Baby elephants are trained in a barn.

A baby elephant is walked in to a barn.
Urgent Alerts
Carnival Is Selling Excursions to Abusive Elephant Facilities—Tell It to Stop!
Carnival Is Selling Excursions to Abusive Elephant Facilities—Tell It to Stop!
Urge Carnival Corporation to stop selling excursions to facilities that exploit elephants for rides.
Urge American West Heritage Center to Stop Partnering with Dangerous Petting Zoo and Notoriously Cruel Bear Breeder Going Forward
Urge American West Heritage Center to Stop Partnering with Dangerous Petting Zoo and Notoriously Cruel Bear Breeder Going Forward
Ask American West Heritage Center to no longer partner with Utah Petting Zoo and Yellowstone Bear World in the future!
Urge Governor Jiménez to Ban Bullfighting at the Feria Nacional de San Marco Festival in Aguascalientes
Urge Governor Jiménez to Ban Bullfighting at the Feria Nacional de San Marco Festival in Aguascalientes
Please urge Governor Maria Teresa Jiménez to ban bullfighting in Aguascalientes.
Urge Verónica Delgadillo to Ban Bullfighting in Guadalajara
Urge Verónica Delgadillo to Ban Bullfighting in Guadalajara
Please urge Mayor Verónica Delgadillo to ban bullfighting in Guadalajara.
Urge the NCAA to Ban All Live Animals at College Games
Urge the NCAA to Ban All Live Animals at College Games
Urge the NCAA to ban live-animal mascots from college games before the next season begins.
Tell Mall that Greedy Reptile Petting Zoo Endangers Wild Animals and Visitors
Tell Mall that Greedy Reptile Petting Zoo Endangers Wild Animals and Visitors
Share your disappointment with the Manassas Mall!