What if all zoo animals were released into the wilderness?

They would die very fast. A very small amount of zoo animals are born in the wild. Those who are born in the wild usually are taken into zoos because they can't survive on their own(broken wings, abandoned as a child, injury, albinism for predators). Most animals come from generations of breeding animals. read more

Most animals come from generations of breeding animals. The outside habitat for most zoos doesn’t fit all of their animals. While Florida would be a better location(note that they would still have no idea what they were doing) to release giraffes, penguins would die within a few days as they have no immune system against diseases carried by bugs. read more

Better selection criteria for choosing animals for release are also required, Jule said. Research shows, for instance, that "animals that are more bold, particularly toward humans, are more likely to die," she said. Similarly animals that are less hesitant about venturing beyond reintroduction areas are at increased risk, she added. read more

Sadly, this often leads people to abandon, release, euthanize or – in the best case scenario – surrender their exotic animals to sanctuaries. For some, releasing their pets into the wild seems the most “viable” option. read more