Animal Rides

[lamna]

I'm wondering what the general opinion is on animal rides at zoos, and what the state of them is in other countries.

Not too long ago a zoo without camel and elephant rides would have been considered strange, but in the UK at least these seem to be a thing of the past.
As far as I know only Woburn and Whipsnade bring their elephants out with the general public, and I've never seen any kind of ride at a zoo.

It seems strange to me, I can understand elephants not being used as a lot of places are protected contact these days anyway. But donkey rides at beaches continue to be popular an non-controversial to all but the breathing-near-animals-is-cruel crowd.

I would personally like to see it return in some form. I know of several zoos that keep camels in merely adequate exhibits and I'm sure they would enjoy the exercise and stimulation of a walk round the zoo.

The same with with llamas, ponies, donkeys and goats. They could be used for "trekking" round the zoo with schools and other groups, carrying the children's bags or educational supplies.

Is it something that could be reintroduced though? Or is it something that once it's gone, it's gone.

 

[Elephas Maximus]

What's about Galapagos tortoises?

 

[cleusk]

Well, horses, camels, and elephants have been used as beasts of burden for thousands of years, so I have no problem with zoos that have animal rides.

The Dallas Zoo used to have camel rides. The camels were provided through some company, so I'm wondering how common it is for a zoo to have a contract with a company to supply the animals for the rides.

 

[gentle lemur]

I think it's probably a combination of the dreaded Health and Safety regs, the Zoo Licensing system and need for public liability insurance. As far as I can see from the HMG website, neither the HSE nor the Zoo Licensing Act forbids animal rides with domestic animals, although they are hardly encouraged: I think that the cost of insurance and the complicated conditions required mean that this game is no longer worth the candle.

Alan

 

[Arizona Docent]

Well, horses, camels, and elephants have been used as beasts of burden for thousands of years, so I have no problem with zoos that have animal rides.

The Dallas Zoo used to have camel rides. The camels were provided through some company, so I'm wondering how common it is for a zoo to have a contract with a company to supply the animals for the rides.

I assume that is the common practice (outsourcing camel rides). My local zoo in Tucson (RPZ) just put up a sign by the old elephant exhibit that it will be used as such this Fall. Other US zoos where I have personally seen camel rides (recently) are Phoenix Zoo, The Living Desert, Philadelphia Zoo. Philly is the only one with even a remotely interesting route - the others are boring dirt lots where they walk in a very small circle. RPZ will be the same due to the limited space they have available.

 

[nanoboy]

Elephant rides were available in 2010 at Singapore Zoo when I visited.

 

[TZFan]

Toronto Zoo offers camel and pony rides. Both jobs are contracted out. I know Bowmanville Zoo is the source of Toronto's camels but Im not sure about the ponies.

Odds are Bowmanville offers camel and pony rides themselves. Until the death of their last elephant last fall they offered elephant rides.

 

[cloudedleopard]

Cleveland has camel rides. Columbus has pony and camel rides. Philly has/had camel, horse, and pony rides. Santa Ana used to have $5 elephant rides.

 

[cleusk]

The Dallas Zoo has pony rides in the children's zoo. Used to have camel rides, but the zoo didn't renew the contract.

 

[snowleopard]

Natural Bridge Zoo in Virginia might just about be the last zoo in the United States that offers up daily elephant rides. Six Flags in California also recently had elephant rides as well.

African Elephant Rides - Natural Bridge Zoo Virginia

 

[IanRRobinson]

I think it's probably a combination of the dreaded Health and Safety regs, the Zoo Licensing system and need for public liability insurance. As far as I can see from the HMG website, neither the HSE nor the Zoo Licensing Act forbids animal rides with domestic animals, although they are hardly encouraged: I think that the cost of insurance and the complicated conditions required mean that this game is no longer worth the candle.

Alan

They're labour-intensive as well. London used to have release keepers from working with the ungulate, primate or cat sections when camel rides took place. Heaven only knows how many staff would be required to safely manage elephants.