Is it possible to “retire” elderly animals to sanctuaries so that the Zoo can make room for younger ones?
Just because animals are aging, it doesn’t mean that we can’t continue to expand our knowledge about their care, habitat, and behavior. It is not always necessary to move animals when they age – in fact, moving them to different facilities may not be in their best interest. In addition, animal sanctuaries usually house animals that have been rescued from abusive situations or from precarious circumstances, and often don’t have room to accommodate many geriatric animals from zoos. In fact, the National Zoo recently acquired two 12-year-old female lions from a wildlife sanctuary that needed to reduce its animal population. We are pleased that we were able to provide them with a new home.
