Tethered Keeping of Birds of Prey and Owls

Chained birds as a “nature experience”? Between June and October of this year, footage was captured in eight German animal parks.

Criminal Complaints Against Animal Parks

The online video published by PETA shows how birds of prey and owls are kept chained in order to be presented to the public. To take action against this cruel practice, PETA filed criminal complaints against the animal parks in early November for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The animal rights organization is calling for an end to the “tethered keeping” of birds of prey and owls and is fundamentally opposed to keeping birds in captivity.

«“The ‘rulers of the skies’ are condemned in so-called tethered keeping to spend a large part of their lives simply vegetating, just so they can be shown off to visitors at animal parks”, says biologist Dr. Yvonne Würz, PETA’s expert advisor for animals in the entertainment industry. “For the birds of prey and owls, this means a life full of deprivation and suffering. In our assessment, this is not compatible with the Animal Welfare Act – this form of keeping must therefore finally be banned.»

In this so-called falconry-style tethered keeping, wild birds are tethered close to the ground for hours or even days at a time. When they attempt to fly, the animals are yanked back by the short leather strap attached to their feet. Only during flight shows or when falconers grant them “free flight” are the animals briefly allowed to move in a species-appropriate manner. Many of them are kept chained for months at a time. This form of keeping strips the animals of everything that defines their life in the wild.

PETA has filed complaints against those responsible for animal and wildlife parks throughout Germany: Kurpfalz-Park Wachenheim (Rhineland-Palatinate), Tierpark Sababurg, Wild- und Freizeitpark Willingen, Wildtierpark Edersee (all three in Hesse), Wildparadies Tripsdrill (Baden-Württemberg), Wildpark Schloss Tambach (Bavaria), Wisentgehege Springe (Lower Saxony), and Wildpark Gangelt (North Rhine-Westphalia). Under the Animal Welfare Act, an animal must be fed, cared for, and housed in a manner appropriate to its species and needs. In «falconry tethering», however, birds of prey and owls are severely restricted in their natural flight behaviour. PETA therefore considers this practice to constitute a violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Captivity is animal cruelty

The tethered birds — such as falcons, eagles, and eagle owls — are often used in flying displays and thus exploited for entertainment purposes. In most cases, birds of prey or owls are imprinted on humans from a young age and trained through food deprivation. This makes the wild animals dependent and compliant, so that they return repeatedly to their falconer. In some cases, the animals must also serve as attractions, being held on the arm for selfies or even stroked by members of the public. For wild birds, this involuntary contact with humans causes enormous stress. For owls, which are mostly nocturnal or crepuscular, there is the added burden of being put on display during the day, contrary to their natural activity rhythms. Birds kept in chains or locked in aviaries do not reflect a realistic picture of the natural world. Native wild birds can also be observed on a walk in the open countryside. In the view of the animal rights organisation, birds of prey and owls should never be kept in chains — except in the context of rehabilitation measures at recognised rescue centres.