{"id":1429733,"date":"2024-01-05T22:18:40","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T22:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/?p=1082036"},"modified":"2024-01-05T22:18:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T22:18:40","slug":"how-parakeets-are-crushed-to-death-at-roadside-zoos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2024\/01\/05\/how-parakeets-are-crushed-to-death-at-roadside-zoos\/","title":{"rendered":"How Parakeets Are Crushed to Death at Roadside Zoos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine you\u2019re a common shell parakeet\u2014also called a budgie\u2014in constant danger of being crushed to death or badly injured by humans. Bred into existence for entertainment and confined to a crowded cage, you\u2019re forced to endure a repetitive struggle for survival every day. Parakeet aviaries in roadside zoos<\/a> and at fairs often subject birds to these horrific conditions.<\/p>\n

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Dangerous, Exploitative Parakeet Aviaries and Why to Avoid Them<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Interactive budgie aviaries, where visitors can enter and feed the birds, often fall short in providing the animals with adequate space, perches, nest boxes, and enrichment to allow them to engage in normal, natural behavior. Severely crowded conditions make it challenging for staff to monitor the health, welfare, and safety of the birds, particularly during interactions with the public.<\/p>\n

Recent Critical Citations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued critical citations to roadside zoos such as York\u2019s Wild Kingdom in Maine and Wilstem Wildlife Park in Indiana, where the agency noted incidents involving visitors stepping on parakeets. These incidents resulted in serious harm or death, emphasizing the need for improved safety measures in aviaries.<\/p>\n

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Concerns With SeaQuest<\/strong><\/h2>\n

SeaQuest<\/a> locations, including SeaQuest Littleton<\/a> in Colorado and SeaQuest Las Vegas<\/a>, have faced criticism for exploiting budgies.<\/p>\n

In an incident at SeaQuest Littleton reported to Colorado officials, a child kicked, stomped on, and killed five birds, injuring other birds, too. State inspectors from the Colorado Department of Agriculture denied the facility a permit after it failed multiple prelicensing inspections. Officials had concerns about the bird exhibit, which they said was \u201cpotentially dangerous\u201d for the animals. SeaQuest Littleton then transferred about 80 parakeets to a teenage employee\u2014whose family advertised them online\u2014and the birds were given away for free in a hardware store parking lot.<\/p>\n

At SeaQuest Las Vegas, a whistleblower alleged that children had stomped on and killed birds there, too, and that workers had thrown the dead animals into the garbage.<\/p>\n

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Traveling Parakeet Aviaries<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When a traveling exhibitor called Great Parakeet Adventure appeared at a festival in Kansas, a visitor reported problems with it to PETA: They witnessed people stepping on and holding birds, as well as a door being slammed on parakeets\u2019 feet. The visitor claimed that multiple birds were injured, at least two were killed, and one flew away.<\/p>\n

When interactive budgie exhibits take place at fairs and festivals, witnesses report finding parakeets loose near the event sites, likely having escaped from their enclosures.<\/p>\n

Parakeets Are People, Too: Understanding Budgies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Every parakeet is a unique individual with distinct traits and behavior, including affectionate gestures, which underscores the importance of respecting their intrinsic needs. They don\u2019t belong in exploitative aviaries being poked and prodded by humans\u2014as if they were mere objects.<\/p>\n