Petting Wildlife Sending Mixed Signals

Picture: The boom in petting zoos has pros and cons, as they feature wildlife, including exotic creatures such as the Aldabra giant tortoise, endemic to Seychelles | Photo by Lee Kwai Han

In an article by Macaranga, Lee Kwai Han discusses the impact of petting zoos on the welfare of both wildlife and humans in Malaysia.

Petting wild animals is trending. It is even being touted as a tourist attraction by the facilities. When once, only farm animals were featured, visitors can now feed and touch exotic animals like cockatoos, snakes, tortoises, raccoons and even endangered Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus). 

But studies show that wild animals can be stressed when placed in captivity – zoos included. Animal welfare in captivity is a valid concern.

At one such facility in May last year, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), said his ministry was regulating wildlife petting zoos strictly to ensure animal welfare. NRES’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) oversees the licensing of wildlife trade and management in Peninsular Malaysia.

However, conservationists’ concerns go beyond animal welfare — they are also worried about public health and safety, and ultimately the impact of such facilities on the country’s wildlife conservation efforts.