The Philadelphia Zoo's stated mission is "by connecting people with wildlife, the Philadelphia Zoo creates joyful discovery and inspires action for animals and habitats" and it positions itself as a progressive institution that "challenges zoo norms."  

But the Zoo still promotes abusive and outdated animal rides  - hiring a third-party operator, "T & T Camels" - from April to October where patrons can pay $6.00 to ride camels, ponies or horses.  T & T Camels has been providing animals for the Zoo, including elephants, for decades - an exploitative and inhumane practice that has no place in a professedly progressive institution allegedly focusing on inspiring respect for wildlife.