Resources

Webinar: Oceans Away from Home: The Suffering of Fish in Captivity

Webinar: A Future without Zoos?

Webinar: The Reality Behind Tiger King: Captive Big Cats and the Need for a Federal Solution

Report: Oceans Away from Home: The Suffering of Fish in Captivity (2023)

Report: Oceans Away from Home: Aquarium Investigations (2023)

Report: Born to Roam: The Suffering of Polar Bears in Zoos (2023)

Report: Selling Suffering: Exploring Online Sales of Exotic Pets in the U.S. (2023)

Report: Their Lives for Your Likes: The Exploitation of Wild Animals on Social Media (2022)

Report: Confined Giants: The Plight of Giraffe in Zoos (2022)

Report: A Legacy of Shame: Elephants in Zoos (2022)

Report: Public Danger, Private Pain: The Case against the U.S. Primate Pet Trade (2021)

Investigation: Downloading Cruelty (2016)

Investigation: A Life Sentence (2005)

Infographic: Sanctuaries Are Not the Solution to the Captive Primate Crisis

There are around 15,000 privately owned “pet” primates in the U.S. and an estimated 75,000 monkeys used in animal experimentation, plus countless more in zoos and used in other forms of entertainment. Sanctuaries like the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary can provide a home for life for just a handful of monkeys, while the fate of the others is left in the hands of their “owners.” As this infographic demonstrates, the infrastructure, staffing, and funding needed to rehome and house every one of the estimated 15,000 “pet” monkeys in the U.S. at wildlife sanctuaries is unachievable and unrealistic, making it clear that sanctuaries are not the solution to the captive primate crisis.

Fact Sheet: Pet Shops, An Ugly Reality

Fact Sheet: Facts about Exotic "Pets"

Fact Sheet: Facts about Captive Birds

Fact Sheet: Facts about Primates as "Pets"

Fact Sheet: Circuses that Do Not Use Animals

Article: The Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets

HowStuffWorks Article: 6 Reasons Monkeys Should Never Be Pets

What Elephants Like

Animal suffering is an extremely delicate subject. Especially when talking with children. “What Elephants Like” is a website (and book) that can help parents communicate the message without getting into the graphic details.

Exotic Animals Incidents Database

Wild animals belong in the wild — not in the confinement of circuses, zoos, aquariums, backyards, or homes. In captivity, wild animals are not able to perform their natural behaviors and many lash out in frustration from psychological and physical deprivation. This situation is dangerous for animals and humans alike. Search our interactive database of attacks on humans, attacks on other animals, and escapes by exotic animals in the U.S.

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Born Free USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN 94-6187633.