In zoos and wildlife parks up and down the country, thousands of birds stand in large open enclosures, serenely surveying their surroundings. Flamingos pick their way delicately through shallow water and cranes stand on slender legs watching the world go by. The occasional flurry of wings flapping is seen but, strangely, none of the birds take flight.

Are these birds simply content with their surroundings, choosing to stay conveniently within the boundaries
of the zoo? Is it a deep connection to their keepers that stops them from taking to the air? Or is it something else that holds these birds in the unnatural environment of a UK zoo?

Look closely as wings are spread and you will find the answer...

We have exposed the barbaric practice, of 'pinioning'. Thousands of newly born birds have the end of one wing severed, usually with a sharp pair of scissors and without any pain relief, simply so they can be kept in captivity.

By preventing these birds from flying away, zoos and wildlife parks can keep them in open-top enclosures - giving the misleading impression to visitors that the birds could fly away if they chose to.

Pinioning birds is formally recognised as a 'mutilation' and is illegal if carried out on birds that are farmed, but not on birds kept in zoos. This barbaric practice is BANNED in other countries, but not in the UK.

Let's demand that UK zoos end this too, by signing the petition today.