Demand Zoo Regulations in Indonesia!!!!

I recently traveled to Bali on vacation and spent a day at Bakas Elephant Tour. I admit I didn't know much about animal cruelty in Indonesia before traveling there, I honestly just thought it would be amazing to get up close and personal with an elephant.

Wrong.

The elephants are kept in awful conditions, chained up in a pen alongside the tour trail. Our elephant, Laura, was so gentle and kind but we could very clearly tell she was in pain with every step she took. She was malnourished, tired, and our guide kept hitting her with a bullhook to control her movements. The tour goes along a very high cliff in North Bali and our guide informed us that elephants are afraid of heights, but we could tell she was petrified! The entire zoo was full of clear signs of neglect with many of the animals in tiny enclosures. They had nocturnal animals in a cage that sat in broad daylight, monkeys alone with nothing to climb on, a boa constrictor in a small cage without room to roam, porcupines closed in tightly to each other trying to avoid the sun...it was miserable, and I left there in tears.

The reality is that Indonesian zoos really don't have any regulations, and the ones that do, are not species specific. Most zoos cost as little as 6,000-10,000 rupiahs, or 50 to 75 cents so owners of these zoos can rarely afford the upkeep it takes to maintain their properties, and their animals. Visitors have been known to throw things at these animals, feed them whatever snacks they want and litter all over the zoo, often resulting in the animals eating the litter. These owners need to increase their prices so the visitor numbers can come down and they can regularly reinvest in PROPERLY caring for these poor animals. I'm not supportive of animals in captivity anymore but we can stop the American tourism to these cruel places by spreading the word. Help me let the Indonesian government know that we will NOT support animal abuse in any of their money hungry zoos until they create humane living conditions for their animals!