Activists to protest during Charles Paddock Zoo’s holiday celebration in Atascadero

Animals inside the Charles Paddock Zoo on Saturday will receive gifts as part of a holiday celebration event. Outside the zoo, a group plans to protest “the unnecessary and cruel confinement of animals in zoos.”

In a statement released Thursday by Direct Action Everywhere, the group announced its intent to conduct a protest at the same time the zoo holds its annual “Holiday Magic at the Charles Paddock Zoo” event, which also includes a visit from Santa Claus.

“One activist will take part in a dramatic visual demonstration,” spokeswoman Zoe Rosenberg said in a statement. “She will be body-painted like a tiger and spend the entire two hours in a cage.

“There is no reason that a zoo in Atascadero should have a tiger. If they are actually concerned with helping animals, they would be a sanctuary for injured, local wildlife.”

Direct Action Everywhere’s stated goal is to “see the zoo close down, and send their animals to sanctuary.”

The group previously coordinated a protest of Cal Poly’s annual Poly Royal Rodeo.

The Charles Paddock Zoo recently assisted with the coordinated rescue of hundreds of rare turtles and tortoises from the Ojai Turtle Conservancy, which was threatened by the Thomas Fire ravaging Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. While the reptiles were largely housed in Atascadero City Hall’s basement, the Charles Paddock Zoo provided the animals with hay, heat lamps and other necessities to ensure their well-being during the evacuation.

The Charles Paddock Zoo is a member of the American Zoological Association.

A spokesman for the zoo did not return a request for comment by deadline.

This story was originally published December 15, 2017 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Activists to protest during Charles Paddock Zoo’s holiday celebration in Atascadero."