Like all fields of human endeavour, people are very curious about zoosexuality. Here are some answers to some of those questions. Like anything involving emotions and opinions, many of these answers may be vague or seemingly open to debate. Every attempt has been made to provide objective information, or at least to identify opinion where it occurs.
No list can ever be truly complete. If you would like to add clarity to an answer, have a question added, or make a comment, please send mail to canine_casanova@hotmail.com. It is hoped that members of the zoo community will add their expertise to this list and improve it for everyone.
This list was last updated on September 18, 2007
The Questions
Do you have any photos or videos of zoo activities?
No. Pictures depicting sex between humans and animals are illegal in the USA and many other countries. Most countries view this material as being similar in nature to child pornography, and as such are very strict about prosecuting those who have such material. No such files will appear on the UZP, nor will I send any image files, photos, or videos to anyone. In almost every case, such material involves insensitive and/or abusive treatment of animals and I have no wish to encourage the market for it. Please don't waste my time or yours by asking for this garbage.
Can you help me hook up with other zoos?
No. Due to reasons such as security and respect for the privacy of others, I do not arrange meetings. If you are looking to meet or talk with other zoos, consult the Zoo ICQ List or look through the forums at www.elitezoo.com.
What is zoosexuality?
Zoosexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person has a profound
emotional and possibly physical attraction to animals. This
attraction is manifested in many ways. These can include patterns of behavior found in other human sexual orientations, and can also include
sexual contact.
Do people really have sex with animals?
Yes, they really do. Zoosexuality has been depicted throughout human history, in nearly every culture. It is not a new thing at all.
What's the difference between zoosexuality, zoophilia, and bestiality?
Let's begin with the textbook definitions.
Bestiality - sexual contact between a human being and a non-human animal.Now that we have some words to define, let's examine them more closely. These three words and their meanings have been a constant source of debate within the zoo community. No matter how much is written on the subject of definitions, the fact remains that each person has her or his own interpretation of what these terms mean. Some view them only as labels and many reject the use of any type of label at all. "Zoo" means something different to each individual, and each is zoo in his or her own way. This section does not proclaim to be the universal truth, but only to explain the basic differences in terminology. Be advised that the author's opinion may surface within this section.
Zoophilia - an emotional attachment to an animal that causes a human being to prefer a non-human animal as a companion and/or a sexual partner.
Zoosexuality - a term very similar to zoophilia, but having somewhat different connotations (see detailed explanations, below).
Zoosexuality, by the very structure of the word, implies sexual activity, or at least sexual attraction. In the case of this word and that of zoophilia, the Greek prefix "zoo" means "pertaining to animals." Because of negative connotations applied to the term zoophilia, the term zoosexuality was coined a number of years ago to help distance zoos from any more negative light than already exists. In very fine terms, all zoosexuals are zoophiles, but not all zoophiles are zoosexuals.
Zoophilia has two very distinct uses today. The one most people are familiar with is the use made by the psychological sphere. To many mental health professionals, zoophilia is a clinical term that describes a mental sickness in which the patient suffers from emotional and/or sexual attraction to animals. As has been the case with homosexuality, zoophilia is very slowly beginning to be seen as something other than an illness. This process has been very slow, and will probably continue to be so.
The second usage of zoophilia is the more literal translation of the Greek words "zoo" (see above), and "philos," which means "to love," or "love of." In this definition, there are literally millions of zoophiles all over the world. All zoosexuals are zoophiles, as are all those who have a true love and respect for animals. Zoophilia need not have anything to do with physical attraction, though in the case of zoosexuality it often does. A perusal of the vast body of work written in tribute to beloved pets, assistance animals, or animals in general will provide many superb examples of the love humans can feel for animals.
Bestiality has long been used as the "dirty" word to define sexual contact between humans and animals. Oddly enough, it also can be used to define "beastly" behavior in humans which has nothing to do with sex, and in fact describes behavior that no self-respecting animal would ever engage in. Within zoosexual circles, the term bestiality usually refers to a sexual relationship in which the human is primarily interested in the sexual aspect and often has little or no emotional attachment to their animal partner.
There is a fourth term that is more universal and less confusing, but should be mentioned in order to help define the others. That term is rape. Rape is, by definition, non-consensual sex. The gender, age, or species of the beings involved is of no consequence. Are there people who rape animals? Sadly, yes. There are a number of very ugly things done to animals in the name of sexual gratification for humans. These include:
The Kinsey Report - This now-famous report has been used as the basis of many theories on human sexuality since the day it was published. Some of the information in it is accurate, but it suffers from huge statistical errors, some of which can be corrected and many which cannot. According to Kinsey, 8% of men and 3.5% of women have had some kind of sexual experience with an animal at some time in their lives. In rural areas, the figure for males rises to as much as 50% of those surveyed. It's important to note that this report is now over 50 years old.
Masters & Johnson - They have relatively little to say on the subject, but their statistics show that 2-4% of men and about 2% of women have had some sexual contact with an animal.
There are other factors to consider when making estimates. Who would fall into the category? Many of those who claimed to have sexual contact with animals did so only once, or perhaps a few times during adolescence, but never continued the practice. Some surveys have found that people have different definitions of sex--for example, some who only received oral sex from an animal did not think that to be "sexual contact".
Bottom line: It's impossible to say, but it is thought that the number of zoosexuals in the general population is less than 0.1%, or less than one person in 1,000. The number of zoo-exclusive (those who only have relationships with animals) is probably significantly less.
What do zoos do with their animals in bed?
Many people are surprised to learn just how "ordinary" most zoo sex is. After all, animals do not enjoy pain, do not feel the need to role-play, and don't have fetishes. While the positions vary and there are differences in mating behavior, the "Tab A in Slot B" principle applies almost universally to all mammals, including humans. Zoos and their animal partners engage in masturbation, oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, and foreplay. There are certain activities that are possible only with certain species, such as the concept of a human male "docking" with a male dog. And it is true that each individual animal will have his or her own preferences for activities. But beyond that, the only really exotic part about zoo sex is the fact that it's extra-species sex as opposed to homo-species sex.
I've heard stories of people "marrying" their pets or other, similar things. How do zoos express their love for their animals?
This depends mostly on the individual zoo. However, the range of displays of affection is about as broad as you can imagine. Some zoos are content to keep their public displays of affection within "normal" limits, such as you would see from anyone with a pet. Some are a bit more involved, and do include marriages or other, similar displays of commitment. Many zoos will give their animal partners some tangible object, such as a special collar, necklace, or other item just as humans do to show their affection for one another. There are those who will proclaim their relationships more publicly, such as showing others a photo of their animal partner and saying, "this is my wife/husband," or having the animal's name tattooed on their person (the human's person, not the animal's). There are even those who will risk arousing the suspicions of others by engaging in somewhat more-than-average public displays of affection. As with sexual activity, the range of non-sexual activity is limited only by the imagination.
Is it true that Catherine the Great was a zoosexual?
The answer to that question is unknown, though Catherine the Great did have a reputation for preferring the company of animals to that of humans in general terms, and in almost every portrait she is shown with an animal (usually one of her hunting dogs or on horseback). However, the story that Catherine the Great was killed when her horse fell on her during sexual intercourse is completely false. More information on this and other zoo-related urban legends can be found here.
Can humans and animals impregnate each other?
No. It is not possible due to differences in DNA structures, body chemistry, and eons of evolution. Very few mammals can successfully cross-breed. Humans are too far away from any other animal within the genetic scale to impregnate or be impregnated by them.
Aren't zoos just ugly or unpleasant people who can't get sex any other way?
There are those in the zoo community who will not like this answer, but the truth is that yes, in a very few cases, this is true. Stereotypes are often built upon the most visible examples of a group. An example: in America we don't see all the intelligent, reasonable people who live in the Middle East region, we only see the fanatical religious terrorists because those are the only people who get vast attention. Is it silly? Of course! It is also very unfortunate.
What's the truth? Almost all zoos can and do have successful relationships with humans. Most zoos have sex with humans as well as with animals. Many enjoy long-term relationships, including marriage. Many who are zoo-exclusive still have human friends and even occasionally have to discourage humans who find them attractive!
Can animals say 'no' or are they at the mercy of the human?
This is one of the most frequently-asked and obviously-answered questions on the list. Can animals say no to sex? Yes! The same way they can say no to other things, like being teased or threatened. Animals have many tools that they are well-trained in using, such as teeth, claws, and hooves. Animals are far better able to defend themselves than humans are, in fact. And if they don't want sex, they will say so in a number of ways, ranging from walking away to growling or other vocalizations to attacking someone who doesn't get the message the first time.
Do animals want to have sex with humans?
Some do, some don't. Just like with humans, each individual has her or his own preferences. Some animals aren't really interested in sex at all, even within their own species. Some, like many humans, will gladly engage in sex with anything they can catch.
Just as animals can say no, they can also say yes to sex, and will if they feel the urge. All animals exhibit some kind of mating behavior, and there's nothing to keep animals from displaying such behavior to humans as well.
Don't animals only have sex to procreate? Can't female animals only have sex when they're "in heat"?
This is a common misconception. While it is true that many female animals will only show interest in mating while they are fertile (in heat, estrus, season, choose your word), they are quite capable of enjoying sex for its own sake. Both male and female animals in most mammalian species masturbate, which has nothing at all to do with procreation. Human females don't have sex only when they are at the peak of fertility, why should animals be any different? And as we can see every day, males of any species are ready for sex just about anywhere they can find it.
What sexual orientations do zoos have with humans? Is it different with animals?
What is very interesting about the sexual orientations of zoos is that they often differ between humans and animals. For example, a zoo who is straight with humans is often gay with animals, or vice versa. A tiny minority of zoos have the same orientations for both humans and animals. No one seems to have a clear idea of why this is as yet.
Hetero-, homo- and bisexuality all exist within the zoo realm. There seems to be a higher than average occurence of male homosexuality among zoos, but there are no accurate statistics so this is purely anecdotal evidence. Some psychologists have theorized that zoos are actually repressed homosexuals, but this seems unlikely in all but the rarest cases. Just as with humans, zoos are often very strict in their adherence to whatever orientation works best for them--in other words, zoos don't screw any animal they see just because it's an animal. In fact, very few zoos are bisexual with either humans or animals.
There are those who prefer not to have sexual contact with humans at all. Such people are called 'zoo-exclusive', and they seem to represent the same variety of orientations as everyone else. There doesn't seem to be any preference among zoo-exclusives for any one orientation, although bisexuality is usually in the minority, as with non-exclusive zoos, and with humans in general.
I see zoophilia and pedophilia mentioned together all the time. Are they really similar?
In a very few ways, they are. In most, they are not. There are several reasons that people place the two behaviors together, but they are based on misconceptions and inaccurate information. The only element that the two have completely in common is that they involve sex.
Let's look at some of the reasons people say zoosexuality and pedophilia are the same.
Consent - Most people believe that neither children nor animals can consent to sex because neither are aware of what sex is or what it entails or means. The simple fact is, once an animal reaches sexual maturity, he or she is aware of what sex is and how it works, and therefore capable of consenting to or denying sexual contact. Whether children have this ability before they are sexually mature, what constitutes sexual maturity in humans, and when children stop being "children" are questions that belong somewhere else.So are zoosexuality and pedophilia the same? Not really. But people find both to be morally outrageous, and so they are lumped together, regardless of what the truth might be.
Predation - Largely because animals and children are both seen as "helpless", both zoosexuality and pedophilia are thought to be predatory behaviors. As discussed elsewhere in this document, animals are quite capable of making their wishes known, and will do so. Therefore, zoosexuality/zoophilia is not a predatory behavior. Sexual predation, like rape, has very little to do with the sexual act itself. It is a far more complex behavior and often does not make distinctions based on attraction. In other words, a sexual predator might very well prey on animals as well as children, for the next reason we will discuss.
Reporting - One thing which sets animals apart from humans is that they cannot "tell on" someone who has abused them. We can see the results of abuse but there is often no way to know any specifics because of the communication gap between humans and animals. Children are able to tell others what happened, but often they don't know exactly what happened and/or they don't know that it is wrong, or why it is. So in both cases, abuse goes unreported.
Sexuality - In both zoosexuality and pedophilia, sex is involved. Sex with beings that most people do not view as being sexual, therefore such activity must be wrong. In the case of rape or any kind of abusive behavior, it is most definitely wrong, in both cases.
Perception - The most-often used reason is usually the one that's overlooked. A vast majority of pet owners perceive their animals in the same way they perceive their children. That animals are members of human families is a wonderful idea--since most pets see humans as members of their family, it's fair that humans feel the same toward animals. However, humans almost never see animals as beings with any real emotional or intellectual capabilities beyond bringing in the newspaper. People forget that animals reach sexual maturity far faster than humans do, and that mature animals probably have a somewhat different view on life, just as humans do as they get older. This view of animals as helpless, child-like beings doesn't do either animals or children justice.
Editorial Comment
In the author's opinion, sex between beings who are aware of what they are doing and who consent to the contact is nobody's business except those who are directly involved. As a society, we have an odd dichotomy about us--we talk at great length on how awful sex can be, yet we are obsessed with it. We want to know all about what other people do, and then we condemn them for it. This is not a defense of zoosexuality, pedophila, or anything else, it is a statement that human beings tend to judge one another without having the slightest idea what they are talking about. The underlying philosophy should be, "'an it hurt none, do as thou wilt."
Isn't sex with animals a crime?
In some places, it is. In others, it's not. In the United States, the legality varies from state to state. In some countries, even stories about zoo sex are illegal. To learn about the law where you live, consult your local authorities. In most cases, zoosexual behavior will fall into the category of animal abuse.
Do zoos meet one another in real life?
Yes. Like all groups of people with similar interests, zoos will gather to socialize from time to time. Such gatherings are usually arranged and held in relative secrecy to avoid persecution, but there are also groups who meet over lunch or to spend an afternoon in the park. In all cases, caution is advised and practiced.
How do zoos feel about animal rights?
Most zoos support the animal rights movement, but with exceptions. Obviously, a zoosexual would not support anti-zoo legislation. It can be a very difficult issue, because there is a very strong desire among zoos to have the sexual abuse of animals stopped, but nobody outside the zoo community seems to understand the difference between consensual zoo sex and rape. Until that distinction is made, zoos' place in the animal rights movement is often tenuous.
However, that doesn't stop zoos from taking an active part in animal rights efforts. Many zoos volunteer at local shelters and help with furthering pro-animal causes. It is unfortunate that those who understand the needs and feelings of animals best must keep most of that knowledge to themselves lest their reasons for knowing become public.
What about those "donkey shows"? Are they real?
Yes, they are real. Live animal sex shows exist, just as other live sex shows exist. In most cases, the animals are not treated very well and even in the best of circumstances, the animals are only being exploited as living sex toys for the entertainment of the audience. In general, humans are very imaginative. Chances are if you can think of something sexual, someone's already tried it.
Do 'animal sex clubs' really exist?
Yes. The animal sex industry is far larger than most people know. There are animal sex farms where people can go and pay to have sex with animals, many of whom have been trained to provide sex to humans. There are animal swinger groups--people who own animals and gather together for animal orgies. Wherever there is sex to be had for money, animal sex can also be had for money.
Editorial Comment
This kind of activity is indeed sexual abuse of animals. In most cases, the animals are only performing a trick (to use a double entendre) that they have been taught. The animals are usually cared for only as a commodity to be exploited, and in many instances are denied proper care to increase their sexual value. One example of this is to deny animals sufficient water so that they will tend to lick anything they can get close to. This kind of behavior should be reported and those participating in it should be severely punished.
I want to find an animal sex club. Can you help me?
No. I completely disapprove of such clubs and I feel that it is not right for anyone to "pimp out" living beings for sex, whether they are human or animal. I encourage prosecution of those who operate such facilities (see previous question).
On the internet
Books
From the cover: Learn how one person acquired a sexual and emotional attraction towards horses. Included are sections of the damage done by attempting to deny the existence and strength of the author's urges, the final confrontation with self, and the regrowth which came with self-discovery.
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This FAQ is written & maintained by Canine Casanova. For suggestions, questions, answers, and comments, email canine_casanova@hotmail.com.