Animals should freely roam around to their natural habitat. The captivity of animals locked in cages does more harm to them than good.  Zoos do not provide a healthy habitat for animals. This could lead to harm to the animals' welfare because it may affect their behavior and have the tendency to develop physical and mental issues such as repetitive pacing, swaying, and bar biting. It also hinders animals to be with their own species. One primary example of this is how the Marghzaran zoo kept Kaavan and Saheli. Kaavan became known as the "loneliest elephant" after his partner, Saheli, died in 2012 because of the condition "sepsis" due to the infection caused by her chains. Thereafter, Kaavan was greatly affected which leads him to display aggressive behavior.

Animals do not serve us for entertainment. They are meant to be protected! Zoos should stop capturing animals from the wild and their captive breeding programs to reproduce animals. Instead, people should realize how wildlife sanctuaries are what the animals need. In the case of Kaavan, he was moved to the sanctuary of Cambodia in November 2020 and living his new life happily with other animals. We can show our care for animals by tending their wounds and medical needs, giving better habitats for animals, and being an open home for animals to retire.

That is why wildlife sanctuaries would be a better choice for everyone to build a healthy environment for different animals and build a better human-animal relationship.  

Some of the reasons why wildlife sanctuaries are better for animals:

- Despite the fact that both zoos and animal sanctuaries restrict wild animals, the difference is sanctuaries do not breed, buy, sell, or trade animals.

- Sanctuaries are not compelled to be on exhibit for tourists as the animals' safety, health, and comfort are always prioritized. They can be located indoors, outdoors, visible, or hidden.

- Animals at sanctuaries are frequently saved from brutal captivity, providing them with the assistance, healing, and security of living in an environment close to their natural habitat.

Hence, in this petition, we call for all the Filipinos to advocate for animals’ welfare and action for zoos to free the animals! Promote wildlife sanctuaries! So that the Philippines would be a country where animals are in a safe environment, animal cruelty is not a major problem, and citizens are educated about animal welfare.