Shut Down Petting Zoos

Petting zoos (called “contact zoos” here in Georgia) are cruel places for the animals trapped inside.

At Zootopia, located on the top floor of Tbilisi Mall, the animals never see daylight. They are confined to small cages and enclosures, sometimes kept alone – like the toucan – and often exposed to young children who chase and touch them, especially the sheep and goats.

The animals are held in conditions that fail to meet even the most basic needs of their species.

Ruminants, who should spend their days grazing, never see a single blade of grass. Based on what we’ve observed during our weekly protests, their food seems to be rationed to keep them hungry enough to approach visitors – who must buy food from the zoo to feed them, generating extra profit on top of admission fees.

Burrowing animals like meerkats have nowhere to hide. Nocturnal species such as raccoons are forced to live under bright artificial lights all day. And the birds, of course, are unable to fly in their cramped cages.

It’s no surprise that some animals show signs of severe psychological distress. One raccoon, when not eating or sleeping, paces endlessly along the bars of their cage. In fact, it was a video of this raccoon – posted by a visitor on Facebook – that sparked our campaign against petting zoos.

In addition to Tbilisi Mall, there’s another Zootopia in Batumi Mall, and a similar facility called FaunaLand in Mtatsminda Park. (There may be others we haven’t yet identified.)

The many negative Google reviews make it clear: these places are a nightmare for the animals. Our petition calls for all petting zoos in Georgia to be shut down and for the animals to be relocated to proper sanctuaries. Since none currently exist in Georgia, they should either be rehomed abroad or a sanctuary should be established locally.

Please sign and share our petition – every signature helps! The more people who sign, the stronger the message that this cruelty must end.

And while you're here – have you already signed our petition against animal testing?

Important: Don’t forget to verify your email address after signing, otherwise your signature won’t be counted. The confirmation email can take a while to arrive, so please check your inbox (and spam folder) patiently.

You will also be asked to make a donation after signing – please don’t! The money goes to Change.org, not to us. If you'd like to donate to us, click here instead.

Thank you for your support. It means the world to the animals.