An Entertainment Abuses Article from All-Creatures.org

Unsustainable 'Sustainable Safari' Petting Zoo

From Animal Rights Coalition
October 2023

The origins of animals in petting zoos raise concerns about their health, genetic diversity, and the conditions they were raised in before arriving at their destination, and Safari Bob’s petting zoo is no exception. He has stated, “As far as knowing everything possible about the animals in our care, that’s impossible and I have screwed up before. But even human doctors…can’t keep some people alive and even kids die all the time.” Reading between the lines one can infer that numerous animals may have died in his care. 

Depressed caged Fox at 'Sustainable Safari'

Last month, despite numerous protests from citizens, including veterinarians, medical personnel, and representatives of the Humane Society of the United States and the Animal Rights Coalition, the Burnsville City Council ignored animal welfare and human health concerns and voted to allow Sustainable Safari, a petting zoo, to open inside the Burnsville mall. With one location already established at the Maplewood Mall, the owner of Sustainable Safari, Bob Pilz, is doubling down on exploiting animals.

Mr. Pilz (aka Safari Bob) states that his mission is to “help others learn about animals and their natural habitats so people will be compelled to make more sustainable choices to ensure a healthy planet where all creatures can thrive.” This is a worthy goal and his best argument for what he does. But the argument fails by his own standards. How does keeping animals in a completely unnatural habitat teach people about the animals’ natural habitats?

Pilz told the city council that he hopes to be accredited by the Zoological Association of America, or ZAA. But it’s the AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, that is the gold standard for the care of animals in captivity. Why isn’t Safari Bob going for the gold?

Here’s why: the ZAA is mostly a collection of roadside zoos and petting zoos, akin to a trade association. It appears that ZAA purposely chose a name with an acronym deceptively close to AZA as a marketing gimmick to give a legitimate façade to roadside zoos and petting zoos that regularly violate the Animal Welfare Act to mislead the public for profit. Case in point, Pilz has logged approximately 25 violations of the AWA to date.

Not only does Safari Bob believe an indoor mall can substitute for an animal’s natural environment, but he also believes the rigorous standards of the AZA are unnecessary standards for his petting zoo to meet.

Pilz claims that every animal he has, has been hand-raised by him personally yet he also claims that all the animals he obtains are purchased, traded for, or donated “rescue” animals. Pilz admitted during the earlier Burnsville Planning Commission meeting that he allows the animals to breed and that all the animals he uses in his exhibits live out their entire lives with him. Does this sound plausible?

The origins of animals in petting zoos raise concerns about their health, genetic diversity, and the conditions they were raised in before arriving at their destination, and Safari Bob’s petting zoo is no exception. He has stated, “As far as knowing everything possible about the animals in our care, that’s impossible and I have screwed up before. But even human doctors…can’t keep some people alive and even kids die all the time.” Reading between the lines one can infer that numerous animals may have died in his care.

Pilz frequently insisted that Sustainable Safari is important because it allows people to have that hands-on, “bonding” experience with animals that they crave, and that these interactions lead to behavior change and to a greater commitment to conservation efforts. Burnsville City Council member Dan Kealey chimed in his agreement by relating that one of the first places he takes his grandchildren to at the Minnesota State Fair each year is the animal barns to see and “bond with” the baby farmed animals. But when asked directly whether those repeated bonding interactions had caused him or his grandchildren to stop eating animals, he said no and added, “…proud to say no.”

While the desire to interact directly with animals is understandable, the reality is that petting zoos send the wrong message to the public about humans’ relationship with animals. Petting zoos contribute to the harmful idea that animals exist for our entertainment and profit. They prioritize the human experience over the well-being of the animals. This teaches children that using animals for our pleasure is acceptable. But shouldn’t we be teaching children to care about animals because they are sentient beings with their own needs and interests?

The Burnsville City Council got it wrong, so stay up to date with ARC activism around this injustice by joining the Volunteer Network. We'll be scheduling protests soon at both locations of Sustainable Safari.

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