South Korea seizes controversial animal cafe

(CNN) — Caged behind glass, a chubby raccoon runs for a few seconds on an exercise wheel before falling back to the ground. In the front enclosure, a pair of groundhog-like prairie dogs rest on logs under the bright artificial light of a ceiling lamp.

On the other side of the glass, delighted customers sip lattes and take selfies with animals in a scene seen across South Korea.

Animal cafes have gained popularity in the country over the past decade, first with cats and dogs, then with increasingly unusual wildlife species in the age of online virality.

This cafe alone, in Seoul’s trendy Hongdae University district, houses more than 40 species, including porcupines, snakes, foxes and ferrets, according to a sign on the door advertising it as a unique date spot.

But cafes have also sparked controversy, and animal welfare advocates have long pushed for stricter restrictions or even an outright ban on such businesses.

Growing protests prompted the South Korean government to push through a set of new laws that took effect in December, effectively banning cafes from displaying live wild animals unless they are registered as zoos or aquariums.

Experts say that while it’s a positive step, more needs to be done given the law’s limited reach and opposition from business owners who argue their livelihoods are at risk.

“Because it’s all about money… I think the effects (of the law) will be minimal,” said Jang Ji-deok, director general of the zoological management division of the National Institute of Ecology, which advised the government on the law. .

“However, (the introduction of the law) means that things are slowly improving,” he added.

The rise of the animal cafe

Since the world’s first cat cafe opened in Taiwan in 1998, the trend has spread internationally, and in the early 2010s, several cafes opened across South Korea. In a typical animal cafe, customers can enjoy drinks or food while petting or feeding the furry residents, a novel concept especially in urban centers where opportunities to interact with non-pet animals are few.

But animals on display in Korea quickly expand beyond the typical domestic cat: a cafe in Hongdae, for example, attracts visitors with its fluffy sheep and sheep-themed interior.

Kang Esol, a resident of Seoul, said he recently visited the sheep cafe, having heard about it for years. He described the visit as a way to “find peace of mind” after long, frustrating days behind a computer at work.

“When you see the innocence of animals, doesn’t the anger in your heart subside?” he said. “The sheep looked calm and so did I.”

Until recently changed laws, few rules existed. Under previous animal protection laws, only collecting or trading endangered species was illegal. That meant wild animals like raccoons, livestock like sheep, and other animals seen as novelties were easy prey for pet cafes, which were further protected by their official business registration as restaurants or rest areas.

And with growing demand, came huge profits.

“Owners who run cafes, restaurants and other stores but are struggling to run them because they are not selling! Try switching to pet cafes, which are popular these days. Your profits will make a big difference!” advises Korea-based pet business consulting company Avon on its website.

Based on his business model, Avon estimates that it will cost at least $40,000 to start a dog cafe and that he can earn more than $15,000 in net profit per month.

Social networks are also affected. A quick Google search turns up countless travel blogs, YouTube videos and Instagram posts about Korean pet cafes. A Samoyed Dog Cafe in Seoul has over 81,000 followers on Instagram and the line for a table often stretches out the door.

What the critics are saying

As animal cafes expanded, there were criticisms.

Local media reports have noted the small, tight spaces in which the animals live; stress due to constant contact and manipulation by visitors; Health problems due to poor diet, and visitors are often treated to feed the animals; and other gaps in care, such as inadequate breeding or preparation.

Many businesses have rules such as prohibiting customers from picking up certain animals or not allowing children under a certain age to enter.

Kang said the sheep cafes he visited had rules to prevent customers from scaring the sheep. There were also sinks for customers to wash their hands before and after petting the animals.

He said he petted the sheep only a few times “very carefully,” fearing that too much handling would upset them, and spent the rest of the visit watching them from afar “as they ate, chewed, and rested among themselves.”

“When you hear the word ‘animal cafe,’ you might have preconceived notions about animal abuse, but after hearing about it (the cafe), I thought it was a really good system,” he said. “The sheep seemed very healthy and “they didn’t seem anxious.”

But not all cafes have these systems, and the risks can be higher depending on the animal species, experts say.

“Physical contact not only affects the animals, but it can also affect those who touch them, such as the possibility of spreading zoonotic diseases. Despite this, visitors and trainees continue to touch them to get the full experience,” Jang said. National Institute of Ecology.

“The same goes for feeding the animals,” he said, adding that many zoos and indoor cafes close on Mondays “because that’s when all the animals get sick from eating food given to them by visitors.”

A change in the law

Despite years of lobbying, previous attempts to introduce regulations have stalled, including a proposed amendment to the Animal Protection Act that ultimately failed.

But, Jung said, the new law, enacted last month, reflects the government’s growing concern over “incidences of blatant and indiscriminate sale of poisonous and dangerous animals in the country” as well as growing public pressure.

Under new amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, only facilities officially registered as zoos or aquariums can exhibit “live wild animals”. Existing animal cafes now have four years to obtain registration as a zoo or aquarium or, under the law, a grace period with the aim of reducing any abandonment of animals by closing the cafe.

“Many cafes about raccoons and other animals have closed due to Covid-19,” Jung said. The reality is, with the closure of these cafes, many of these animals are being abandoned and so are the places to keep them. off”

Government-run shelters for endangered abandoned animals are in danger of overflowing, so the environment ministry is building more such facilities, including one for non-endangered “exotic wildlife”.

Jung added that licensing of zoos and aquariums sets specific standards for animal enclosures, staffing, disease management and safety and requires periodic inspections.

“With this, I believe that a better environment for animals will be provided as animal welfare education is implemented more,” Jung said.

But the law has worried some business owners, who say the government’s measures don’t go far enough to crack down on cafes or their resident animals.

Koo Jung-hwan, owner of the Meerkat Cafe in Seoul, says he is at a crossroads on whether to enter a legal dispute, close his business or apply for a license as an indoor zoo. Given the grace period, he plans to keep his business open for now, but expressed concern about the possibility of other cafes abandoning their animals.

“The law prohibits animal cafes, but it doesn’t provide options or solutions like what to do with the animals. The government should think about that,” he said, adding that even if his cafe eventually closes, he will keep his meerkats.

“I have to keep them for life because they are my family.” “It is my duty to take care of them,” he said.

Next steps

On the other side of the debate, some activists and advocates say the law doesn’t go far enough because it only focuses on cafes that display wildlife, meaning cafes with animals classified as “pets” or “livestock” are exempt from the rules. is , whether it concerns dogs and cats or ferrets and sheep.

These exceptions “can be taken advantage of,” Jung said, adding that animal welfare laws are “not as strongly enforced” in South Korea as in some European countries with stricter regulations. However, he said, authorities are unlikely to expand the law to include pets and livestock, which could destroy the animal cafe industry and small ranchers across the country.

“Because the owners of these companies have a right to survive, I don’t think the state can impose it,” he said. “It’s like a double-edged sword. Some people… tell us we can’t take it. Take away people’s livelihoods, while those animal rights activists want all these institutions to close their doors.

More proposals are being prepared. Zhang said the government-run National Institute of Ecology has suggested guidelines such as introducing educational programs at animal cafes, requiring visitors to wear gloves before handling animals and limiting them to only one or two minutes with each animal. And although progress is slow, new laws encourage it.

“It’s nice to see that the things I once hoped for are slowly becoming a reality,” he said, adding that the next step is to secure more funding for zoos and aquariums to improve their facilities. “I believe our country can. It”