The Roadside Zoo

A roadside zoo is the kind of place you stumble upon by accident, halfway down a long stretch of road, advertised by a sun-faded sign promising lions, monkeys, or something stranger. Usually small and privately owned, these attractions spark controversy in most but also a curiosity in some. They offer experiences with animals you wouldn’t expect to see up close, often for a worryingly cheap price.

But behind the novelty, roadside zoos tell a more complicated story. With fewer regulations and limited resources, entertainment and exploitation become one. For some, they’re a cheap day out, an easy way to entertain the kids. For me, they raise urgent questions about how animals are kept, displayed, and cared for.

This project explores the uneasy space between curiosity and controversy. The zoos I have chosen, reside within popular tourist hotspots, the Andalusia region of Spain and the Algarve in Portugal. Whether or not the animals benefit from the lifestyle these zoos provide, is for you, the viewer, to decide.