On the 21st August, the Museum of Cider in is hosting a mobile zoo event as part of its holiday programme, offering visitors the opportunity to handle and photograph animals being supplied and used by the mobile zoo company Roaming Reptiles.

Alongside the local animal rights group Three Counties Animal Action, Freedom for Animals has written to the venue asking them to cancel this event, and to choose animal-free alternatives instead. However, to date, the event remains scheduled to go ahead. 

We are now asking our supporters to join us and take action for animals, by contacting the Museum of Cider via our online action form and politely urging them to cancel the upcoming event.

 TAKE ACTION 

Mobile Zoos, Mobile Misery

Mobile zoos transport animals between venues for public display and handling. While these events are frequently marketed as educational, they expose animals to repeated transport, unfamiliar environments and regular handling by members of the public - all of which can cause them significant stress and trauma. 

Reptiles have highly specialised environmental and behavioural needs that cannot be easily met in captivity, if at all. They rely on carefully controlled temperatures, humidity, lighting and opportunities to hide and avoid perceived threats. Temporary travelling exhibitions cannot provide these complex conditions, with animals repeatedly transported between locations and displayed in busy, unfamiliar environments. Reptiles have evolved to avoid potential threats rather than seek interaction with people, meaning that remaining motionless during handling may be a fear response rather than a sign that they are comfortable or calm.

Freedom for Animals' 2024 report, Mobile Zoos, Mobile Misery, found widespread welfare concerns associated with mobile zoos. These events also pose public health risks, including zoonotic disease transmission between both animals and people, and injuries resulting from up-close contact. 

Take Action Today!

Please politely contact the Museum of Cider via our online action page, to ask that they:

• Cancel the Roaming Reptiles event

• Choose educational, animal-free alternatives for future events

• Commit to not hosting mobile zoos in the future

 TAKE ACTION 

By speaking up, you can help to encourage this venue to choose compassionate, educational alternatives that do not rely on the use of live animals.

Thank you for taking action and fighting for animal freedom!