Animal Rights Activists Criticize Edinburgh Zoo's Controversial Tiger Interaction Experience

The latest attraction at Edinburgh Zoo, priced at £2,000, has drawn criticism from animal rights advocates who argue that it amounts to exploitation. One Kind, an animal welfare charity, opposes the "Build Your Own Wild Experience" because it allows untrained individuals to engage closely with wildlife. This experience combines lunch for two, a coffee and cake voucher, sessions with four different animals and their keepers, and time to explore the zoo, which includes a notable 30-minute session where participants can feed Sumatran tigers Dharma and Lucu through a wire mesh fence.

Activists express deep concern that allowing the public to interact with wild animals poses serious risks, pointing out that the participants will be without proper training. While a trained keeper is present, there's a significant reliance on inexperienced individuals, which may jeopardize the animals' wellbeing. The charity emphasizes their stance against keeping wild animals in zoos, arguing that their essential needs are often unmet and urging the public to support conservation efforts in natural habitats instead.

In response to these concerns, Lindsay Ross, the events and experiences manager at Edinburgh Zoo, defended the attraction, asserting that it is conducted in a secure manner. She clarified that participants will not hand-feed the tigers directly; instead, they will use tongs resembling litter picks to provide meat to the animals. Ross highlighted measures in place to ensure safety, indicating that visitors will only be allowed in designated areas under the supervision of keepers to prevent any potential accidents. This new offering is inspired by the success of previous private tours featuring the now-retired giant pandas, and many other zoos also provide similar experiences for those interested in animal care.